The Snarky Joneses

[Unregistered]

Okay...you know that saying, "Keeping up with the Joneses?"--well, I provide child care for some of the actual Joneses. They both earn high professional incomes and live in a luxurious, pristine home because their kids do the majority of their living at my house. So, my young daughter buys me this garden statue for my birthday. Yes, it's pretty kitschy, but I love it because I love my daughter, and I display it proudly. Their kids are obsessed with it and have to pat it on the head upon entering. This leads to the Joneses repeatedly making snarky, sarcastic comments about it. "Your daughter has excellent taste."--smirk. "Wow, she outdid herself."--smirk. Trust me--these are not compliments. This is bothering me way more than it should. It's just hard to open your home to people and have them be snobby pricks and comment on things that have nothing to do with the day care! (I'm considering buying their kids one for Christmas--he! he!)
I'm not very good at replies, so anyone have a good one?

[blandino]

I would say something matter of fact, that puts her in her place, and hopefully makes her ashamed of herself for beig cruel and snarky and degrading.

I would refer to the fact that you love it because your daughter picked it out, and that is far more important to you than how it looks.

[MamaBearCanada]

"Wow your daughter has excellent taste." " She really outdid herself."


With a smile:

"Yes, I'm very proud of her kindness."

"Yes, I'm blessed that she cares so much she would take the time to think of me and choose something all by herself."

"Yes, I love the gesture even more than the great gift."

"Isn't it funny how material things don't matter when you love your kids, just the gesture?"

[Familycare71]

"Wow your daughter has excellent taste." " She really outdid herself."


With a smile:

"Yes, I'm very proud of her kindness."

"Yes, I'm blessed that she cares so much she would take the time to think of me and choose something all by herself."

"Yes, I love the gesture even more than the great gift."

"Isn't it funny how material things don't matter when you love your kids, just the gesture?"

. I think the last one is my fav!
But I REALLY like the idea of getting her kids one for Christmas!! With the comment- I know your children and YOU love it so much because of how much you compliment it!::

[Starburst]

I would consider snide and snarky comments like that as disrespectful to your daughter (weather she hears/understands them or not). That would be a violation of my policies (respect for me, my family, and my home). Yes, she has a right to her own opinion but that doesn't mean she has to be rude and share them with you.

Some comebacks on comments on your daughter's taste:

"Yes, she does." (just say it with a smile, she might get the hint)

"She saved up for it herself and bought it just for me, and that makes it more priceless than all the Picasso paintings in the world in my eyes." (a little cheesy but hopefully enough to paralyze her in her tracks)

[Cradle2crayons]

Y'all are nice because I would have simply said

" gosh that was rude! I cherish everything my kids give me, regardless of style or price!"

[NeedaVaca]

Y'all are nice because I would have simply said

" gosh that was rude! I cherish everything my kids give me, regardless of style or price!"

and end it with "Don't you?" listen to them stammer for a bit...

[Hunni Bee]

Really? How pond-scummy of them.

More of the mentality of "I pay you so I can say/do whatever I want".

I'd definitely make one of the above comments...and make sure they feel horrible about it.

[Cradle2crayons]

and end it with "Don't you?" listen to them stammer for a bit...

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Holy cow. Sometimes the things people say amaze me.

[Laurel]

I don't care for hints.

Away from the children I would say "I don't like it when you make comments about my child's gift to me. She picked it out herself thinking I would love it and I do because it IS the thought that counts. No comment at all is better than one that might hurt her feelings." Then when she stammers and says she was just kidding or whatever then I'd say. "Well none of us think it is funny, okay?" Saying okay pretty much forces them to answer and feel bad (hopefully).

When I was working in a Montessori preschool years ago we taught the children to say "I don't like it when _____________." It works well for adults too.

Laurel

[Crystal]

I don't care for hints.

Away from the children I would say "I don't like it when you make comments about my child's gift to me. She picked it out herself thinking I would love it and I do because it IS the thought that counts. No comment at all is better than one that might hurt her feelings." Then when she stammers and says she was just kidding or whatever then I'd say. "Well none of us think it is funny, okay?" Saying okay pretty much forces them to answer and feel bad (hopefully).

When I was working in a Montessori preschool years ago we taught the children to say "I don't like it when _____________." It works well for adults too.

Laurel

Exactly this.

[MyAngels]

I don't care for hints.

Away from the children I would say "I don't like it when you make comments about my child's gift to me. She picked it out herself thinking I would love it and I do because it IS the thought that counts. No comment at all is better than one that might hurt her feelings." Then when she stammers and says she was just kidding or whatever then I'd say. "Well none of us think it is funny, okay?" Saying okay pretty much forces them to answer and feel bad (hopefully).

When I was working in a Montessori preschool years ago we taught the children to say "I don't like it when _____________." It works well for adults too.

Laurel

[daycarediva]

Y'all are nice because I would have simply said

" gosh that was rude! I cherish everything my kids give me, regardless of style or price!"

I once had a parent comment on the pencil holder on my desk. My ds made it at camp and I LOVE it. I said something very similar and she stfu.

[kimsdaycare]

I would have just smiled big and told her "Yup, you can always tell which houses are decorated by the love of a child rather than the love of pretty things. It reminds me everyday how much love fills this home. You can't buy that feeling at some trendy store, no matter how much you spend! "

Smile big again and pat the little statue on it's head like it's earned it