mean people suck

as someone who takes an interest in why people do the things they do, my personal relationships are not exempt from my scrutiny. there are people that i, for whatever reason, just do not like. my mother calls it "chemistry," as in "bob introduced me to jane, but i think we just had bad chemistry. i didn't really like her, but it wasn't anything that she said or did that made me feel that way." however, sometimes certain folks that i don't have "good chemistry" with exacerbate things by just being plain mean.

i first came across k. at the private school that punkin used to attend. k's daughter was in punkin's class, and they were pretty good friends. despite the fact that punkin left that school to attend public elementary, they have maintained their friendship through phone calls and play dates, which brings me in occasional contact with k. i have identified some behaviors that "rub me the wrong way" and contribute to my dislike of k. for example, when i would pick punkin up from the private school, more often than not, k. would be there in the classroom hovering over her daughter's shoulder as the child completed her homework. it was well known throughout the class that this particular girl was held to super-stringent grade standards, and when she did make the grade, it was broadcast thoroughly. i do understand why this happened (and probably still does), as k. is a teacher for gifted and talented kids in a public school district. but that doesn't stop me from disliking the woman.

the latest encounter - the one that prompted me to sit down and write this post - occurred just half an hour ago. k. came by to drop her daughter off for a sleepover with punkin tonight. we exchanged the usual pleasantries...thanks for letting us borrow your kid...what are y'all doing tonight? yada, yada. then k. asked me what grade punkin will be in this coming school year, which seemed like a weird question since both of the girls are the same age. i must have been looking at her quizically after i answered her (second grade) because she said, "oh. well, m. is going into third grade at [new elementary school that is trying the international baccalaureate program; parents had to put their names in a lottery to get in]. i was afraid she'd be bored to death in second grade at [regular elementary that they are zoned for]."

am i out of line for thinking that the whole exchange was just mean? first of all, k. knows what grade punkin is going into. there was really no purpose to that conversation except to "brag" about her daughter skipping a grade. i'd add bragging about the new school, but as with new restaurants, i like to let them work out the bugs before i put myself or my family in its vicinity. besides, everyone who put their name into the lottery got in.

ah, why am i even giving this woman a second thought? i have two 7 year old girls in there waiting to have a fabulous pillow fight!