How to respond to something this RUDE?

Question

well, my husband and are I both vegetarians and we are raising our daughter as one too. She is 3 now, and when she goes to a friend's house and will be having a meal there I always say "Gretta is a vegetarian, and since she will be having dinner/lunch/whatever with you at your house I was wondering if you wanted me to bring some vegetarian food for her to eat." Usually they say something like "No, it's ok, we're having mac n' cheese, or whatever" because most of her friends' parents know we are vegetarians so they prepare vegetarian meals.

Well, one of her friends who I'll call Ashley's dad got remarred in June to a woman I'll call gloria. Ashley got some new toy and Gretta wanted to go to her house to play with it. Gloria called me (her husband, who is a good friend of my husband, and knows we are vegetarians was out of town) and asked if Gretta could have lunch at their house, I said sure, but told her we were vegetarians. And then Gloria, out of nowhere, started yelling at me and telling me gretta was going to starve to death, what kind of parent wouldn't let their kid eat meat? Was I sick in the head? You can't live with out meat?

I waited until she calmed down and told her that Gretta could not come over. Then I hung up. This convo happened like 15 minutes ago, fyi. I am shocked that she said this, and quite frankly I don't know how to respond.

Answer 1

I am a vegetarian and understand the challenges of eating healthy and as a parent I also know what you experiencing.

If you are a well informed, responsible parent then you are doing everything you can to provide Gretta with a healthy start. Good for you! Don't let that woman's reaction bother you though it's understandably upsetting. It is her problem that she is uninformed and judgemental. You did the right thing in not sending Gretta over there for lunch. It has now been proven that eating a vegetarian diet can help prevent most diseases. And if in the future Gretta decides to eat meat, I am sure she will not stuff herself to the point where she gets ill. In short, there in nothing you can do that you have not already done. You sound like a good mum, Gretta  is lucky.

Answer 2

If they can't respect you as parents then your daughter shouldn't be around them.

Answer 3

wow...this lady sounds crazy!! its obvious she is opinionated but she shouldn't have bombarded you with this. You havent done anything wrong and quite frankly, in the future you should set up meetings through the dad, your husbands friend, as its not fair your daughter and her friend shouldnt play together but this woman doesnt even deserve to be consulted! Good luck!

Answer 4

Wow, that is rude. The thing is your the parent to your child what others say shouldn't matter. Yeah a lil insight is nice but if your child is a vegetarian then so be it. If she goes over to that house then you make sure she has the proper snacks, etc. Having meat in your diet is healthy and nice but then again that's your choice not theirs.

Answer 5

I think you handled it just fine.

How misinformed this woman is.  Sheesh.  

I wouldn't worry about it at all- if you're around her again I would tell her that her Dr. finds her diet perfectly healthy.  I wouldn't trust her not to feed her meat if Gretta was at her house without you there.  I'll bet her husband will give her a thorough talk when he hears about this.

Answer 6

Thats rude. Maybe she prefers meat or something but thats really rude.

Answer 7

I am not a vegetarian, but her standpoint seems to be that your pushing your lifestyles and views on your child, granted I do not know much about the ups and downs of vegetarianism so I’m not going to sit here and judge you, it would seem, putting all things and facts aside, that woman is a nasty * also a little but nutty* piece of work.

I mean who reacts like that? She was over the top.

The only way to react to individual like that is to tell her to * get F*#^@&”

It would seem she’s been thinking about this and just likes to vent her frustrations on people.

Once again, tell her to Suck the Big One, and don’t allow your child over there anymore. She’ll give your kid a BigMac just to “force her views”.

Answer 8

That is not only rude but disrespectful. I have a 11 year old son who is also a vegetarian (has been his whole life). This has been his own decision, and I support him all the way. Ashely's fathers wife, Gloria, just needs a little research thrown her way on the beneficial aspects of vegetarianism. Thing is, I don't know if I would want my daughter in a situation where there could potentially be a threat to my daughters way of life. Set down with Gloria and her husband both. Explain to them in a detailed manner the way of life you and your family have chosen. If they do not except then tell them that you regret to inform them that until they can come to an understanding, or except your way of living, that Gretta can no longer be placed in a situation where this is doubted. You may lose a friend over this, but maybe Gloria will soon come to her senses and apologize. I love meat, but even I have to come to an understanding. Good luck.