Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Pre-school board games and preschoolers

Ahem ... as for the original topic, I think saying nothing was the right choice. Surely there are other parents in the group who have noticed this woman and her tendencies; no need for you to call attention to it and risk a battle within the group.

I think I'd avoid an invitation for your kid to play games at her house, though!

This sounds to me like a perfect opportunity to put one of my favorite jokes to work! My mom used to tell this one.

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Two ladies who went to school together haven't seen each other in many years, and they meet up somewhere.

"So what have you been up to? Did you marry Brad?"

"Oh yes, he's the most wonderful husband in the world! For our anniversary last month, he took me to Paris and Rome!"

"That's fantastic!"

"Yes, and our kids are so talented--Susan is at Harvard and Jeremy is starting at Princeton in the fall!"

"That's fantastic!"

"Oh, yes, and I just love my job--I just got a promotion and a corner office!"

"That's fantastic!"

"Oh dear, listen to me go on about myself...what have you been doing?"

"Well, after we got married, my husband sent me to charm school."

"Charm school? What's that?"

"That's where they teach you to say "fantastic" instead of "bullsh*t"!

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I think if I were in your shoes, I'd practice saying "fantastic" to this lady for a while--even if she doesn't know what it means, you do.

Haha...I like that one

Fantastic! I love it! But I wasn't familiar with Topper. DD9 just filled me in! (I find it very odd that my kids are so intrigued by Dilbert's office humor. They've hardly even seen an office!)

BTW, this is the same woman who has gone around telling people that her daughter is a novelist, because she wrote a 30 page story.

Grinity, I don't think I am a perfectionist in any respect. I generally enjoy hearing about the accomplishments of other people's children, and I can understand that what's no big deal for some will be a very big deal for others. It's all in the way things are presented. Everything is given with a "ta dah!" so that it's nearly impossible to have a normal conversation. I'm sure it's an issue of insecurity on her part.

For the record, I'm sorry if I appeared to be bashing junior versions of games. I'm sure they wouldn't keep making them if many people didn't find them entertaining! My family has not found them to be anywhere near as engaging as the regular games, and we've had fun playing BINGO, Candyland, etc. in the early years and then moving directly to adult games. That's just our experience, which I might have presented as part of a normal conversation, had things not been awkward.