when dealing with other parents? I've always hated gossip and never would participate in cliquish behavior in school. It seems inevitable now with my son's friends, not with the children but with their mothers. A few of the  women seem to be very immature and emotionally out of control as far as dealing with conflict. Not just the normal Mama Bear who calms down and all is OK later.  They don't want to sit and smile while the kids play at the park, they either want a best friend or an enemy and if wronged they want sides taken for months, instead of calming down a while later. Most are happy to sit and smile but 2 - 3 constantly create drama and they try to recruit others son their side so to speak.

I'd vote for ignoring the drama queens also.  I can't imagine why moms at a park would have issues!  How sad for the kids to have moms who stir up trouble

Marsha

Cliques are unhappy,  not contented people.  I stayed out of cliques as a teen.  I told myself "people like me for what I am or not at all and it won't bother me."  Then I went to a  of nuns for a stay over with a group of classmates and they were of a clique.  I felt uncomfortable.  I had to listen to their group of talks for that 24 hour period.  One gal told another how she and her boyfriend of 3 years met.  That gal made jokes and poked fun of this young man/boyfriend and said how he acted and such.  I knew immediately she had no love for him and she was using him to be the Prom couple and such.  A year later after high school, she continued to keep him, and for what?  He came home for leave (Air force)at Christmas with an engagement ring for her.  Both parents dreamed of this moment and she said No.  That man was so hurt for the rejection and being led on for years!  I am glad she said no, but what she did was self centered and that is how I view these cliques. They come with baggage and talk with hurt and pains and gossip.  It is best you stay clear or you could be the next one spoken of and it could be a half-truth to a lie and NO One needs that.