More Momma Drama

Jealous Playgroup Mommy (JPM) was at it again...

While my son and I have thoroughly enjoyed our other playgroup, we're still meeting up with JPM and her boy. Both playgroups are associated with the Mommy Group through our Church.

As I mentioned before, we're close friends. Our husbands get along. We sit next to each other at Mass almost every weekend. We're always at each other's homes for one reason or another so, as you can imagine, I expected to see her during the week anyway... Why not make it a "play date" for our boys too?

I was delighted we were approached about including another mom and toddler into our lonesome twosome last week. I've been hoping others would join our group. Mostly to make it more interesting, but also to take some of the pressure off me to be there every single week...

This new mom has a son close in age to our kids, plus a five-year-old in preschool. Since we meet in the afternoons, she would have to bring her older kid with her. I told her that was cool with me, but I'd have to "confirm the time with the other mom in the group", which was my way of actaully saying, "ummm, JPM is going to FREAK OUT. Let me make sure it's not in front of you."

I was right. When I called to "check on that time", JPM was really not be happy with that idea of having a five-year-old in her house...

Please don't ask me what she expects to do in four years when her child becomes one himself. I don't know either.

So I suggested that we just meet at around 10 in the morning when the older boy would be in preschool, thereby avoiding that situation entirely... Unfortunately, that didn't work because JPM's son naps at that time, but if "we could get together at ummm, say, 8 am" when her son isn't napping, that would work.

Oh-kay. In a word, NO!

She quickly rescinded on her offer of 8 am when she realized that it interfered with her yoga class and that wasn't enough time for her to workout.

Then, I suggested that we have our play dates at a local park so that there are playthings for everyone... Nope, nope nope. She wants it to be at her house or at least someone else's house because at the park she would have to interact her child instead of occasionally glancing at him from atop the sofa...

Are you sensing my frustration, yet?!

Still, she wants more people in our group and is putting the heat on me. When she asks me why other moms haven't shown more interest, I think to myself, "have you checked the course manual for the prerequisites lately?".

Not getting anywhere, I told her I wasn't going to call back this woman and tell her, "No, you can't be in our playgroup because you decided 2001 was also a good year to breed..." so, she was going have to decide what to do about it.

Wisely, I let this decision stew over the weekend and it solved itself...

By Tuesday, the new mommy and BOTH of her children were welcomed with open arms by my other playgroup. JPM was so upset that we lost another mommy that she agreed to moved our meeting time to 11 am, which accommodates our nap schedule beautifully.

Yes, Internet, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Why, are you shocked?

Another titillating tidbit: I found out that I'm not the only one that thinks JPM is a pain in the ass. In fact, I was chatting with some other people in our Mommy Group this week and at the mere mention of JPM's name each of them stopped me short and said,

"JPM?! Oh! Don't ever, ever, ever be in a playgroup with her! I tried it once and I got out quick... So-and-so even warned me about her, so I should have known better. Do you know her well?"

Boy, do I ever...

Just so you know, I feel really silly about THIS being the biggest conflict in my life at the moment. It's just a playgroup, afterall... but, it's what I have to complain about this week.

I love this girl to death and I didn't want something this petty to come between us.

Photo by xtinalamb