Commentary by Danielle Wilson
I have had it up to the top of my ginger head with mean people! Last week in particular was a doozey. One of my daughter’s besties picked a fight with her, jealous over the amount of time she’d been spending with another classmate. A man completely went off on me in a school parking lot, angry that I hadn’t seen his turn signal. And some old biddy was unhelpful to the point of being obstructive to a friend of mine. Can’t we all get along?
My daughter’s gal pal I can somewhat excuse. She’s at that age where friendships are both sacred and flighty, and girl drama rules. Insecurities, immaturity, and even the lunch menu can create intense situations that no one under 20 can be expected to handle gracefully. It doesn’t help that my child is Miss Sensitive, so the idea that somebody is mad at her, however irrational the reason, sends her into hysterics, which I’m then supposed to “handle.” No can do, my darling. Mom out!
The guy at the school I just don’t get at all. I was in a long line of carpool traffic and honestly never saw his signal indicating his intention to park in a spot he’d already missed. So when he started to reverse, I honked. And kept right on honking until he finally stopped, rolled down his window, and screamed me the riot act. Pardon me, sir, but where are your manners? Rudeness only earns you a spot on my Dill-hole list, which beeteedubs, has just been updated.
The next morning, a former colleague relayed her own mean people story. While requesting her transcript for a job application, the bitter spinster in charge outright refused to forward it because she thought the place of employment wouldn’t be interested in someone who didn’t have the “right qualifications.” What the what? Even if you are cold and dead inside, you shouldn’t treat people like that.
Be nice! If nothing else, showing compassion will keep you off this dance mom’s poo list. Remember, I have melodramatic tweens and frustrated job-seekers as allies. Peace out.
