https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:08:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1085255 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 11:45:32 +0000 HellOnHeels 1085255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for the responses. Pretty enlightening.</p> <p>I'm pretty close with the parents, so definitely not a stranger or just an acquaintance. The mom is pretty sensitive about advice or comments, so I shouldn't have been surprised to hear that she was offended.</p> <p>Also, I've said this to boys as well. The mom's with boys just laugh along with me and agree. Actually, everyone has, no matter the gender, this is the first time I've heard of someone being offended. Oh well.</p> <p>@ElbieKay: @blackbird: Same here. Thankfully, most of our friends with kids are pretty laid back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084745 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:57:41 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1084745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I first put DD into daycare, one of the ladies told me DD was "bossy". It didn't sit right with me. If I were to hear it now, I think it would have to be someone who is close to me and it would have to be said in a joking manner for me to brush it off. Because I work so hard to have my child behave and be respectful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084713 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:44:33 +0000 yoursilverlining 1084713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Offended? LOL, no. If I got offended over every small remark others make - including the light-hearted ones - I'd spend my entire day's energy on what other people think.</p> <p>My LO *is* bossy; it is what it is. Most toddlers are bossy from time to time (if not most of the time), that's part of learning to socialize and express themselves and interact with others. I think "bossy" is a totally normal toddler description. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084674 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:31:34 +0000 regberadaisy 1084674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarbear: haha she IS! I think it's the older sister syndrome. She likes to tell the adults what to do. That doesn't fly! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084669 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:29:10 +0000 swurlygurl 1084669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on the context and relationship with that parent. My SIL and I are very joke-y about stuff like that (in fact, she calls our kids bossy all the time), so it wouldn't bother me. If the other mom at daycare said the same thing in the same context, I would probably be a little taken aback </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084628 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:13:45 +0000 GrapeCrush 1084628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say my kid is bossy, because he is! I honestly wouldn't be offended if anyone else said it either. </p> <p>@locavore_mama: I got that from your niece ;) she loved telling G what to do. Haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084619 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:08:03 +0000 Mrsjets 1084619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's just an unnecessary comment. Like, if a baby is crying would call her miserable? It's one of those if you don't have something nice to say...situations IMO. So I guess I'd be offended lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084605 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:00:11 +0000 Mrsbells 1084605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To be honest I think most parents would prefer not to hear sarcastic remarks about their LO especially not whilst their LO is acting out </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084581 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:53:12 +0000 looch 1084581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was described as bossy and still am. My son, however, puts me to shame. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084580 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:52:38 +0000 mrs.cookie 1084580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I would be, my DD is bossy! Very :)<br /> And my DS is a pushover. I actually once googled "how to help two year old to be more assertive".<br /> I hope that I can bring out the best of those natural qualities (ie being a leader for my DD, being so caring and gentle for my DS) as well as build in resilience ... And keep my sense of humour! I think it all depends on how it's said, and I don't think you should feel worried about having said it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084574 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:47:17 +0000 Lozza 1084574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I generally don't mind commentary on LO's behavior (he's two, and even when he's behaving badly it's still well within the normal range for a two year old), but I might be a little ticked off if it came off that a person's comment was directed more at my handling of LO's behavior than LO himself (basically what @Mrs. Pen: was saying- I'd only really care if I thought there was an implication that I was letting LO boss me around). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084564 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:41:14 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1084564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think how I'd feel would depend on who said it.<br /> DH = fine.<br /> MIL = war. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084558 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:38:50 +0000 regberadaisy 1084558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BananaPancakes: haha yup. And honestly, in my experience, most kids settle it on their own. DH's niece who is 5 is really bossy and loves telling other kids what to do. She tried to tell my niece and nephews who are older what to do. The whole weekend they kept telling her to stop telling them what to do. It was kinda comical watching this 5 year old telling 9 year olds what to do. We really never intervened and they played together just fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084533 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:19:35 +0000 LemonLong 1084533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I heard one of my LOs tell one of the babies she was a crabby baby. It really rubbed me the wrong way. It felt like teasing or name calling. I think if she wanted to verbalize the child's behavior it would be better to say, "You must feel sad because you miss mama. that's okay. She'll be here soon!" I personally try to avoid labels that might have a negative connotation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084525 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:12:29 +0000 BananaPancakes 1084525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: Same here. I've rarely met a kid who wasnt bossy in some way or another. </p> <p>My son is very opinionated, and I've heard lots of people call him out on being bossy. It doesn't offend me because its true. As long as I know he's not getting away with it, it doesn't bother me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084515 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:02:23 +0000 regberadaisy 1084515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends on the situation and tone. </p> <p>I would think I wouldn't be because honestly I think all kids are bossy! Mine included. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084513 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 06:59:06 +0000 blackbird 1084513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope-I don't think it's a big deal. I also fear for not having any mom friends now lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084509 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 06:50:45 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1084509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: This. About the sexism.</p> <p>I read a Kindergarten report of mine and the teacher commented I was bossy. My dad was proud of me as he flipped the word to mean- leader, doles out tasks, takes initiative. But, truly its negative and almost always applied to girls. </p> <p>I don't know if I would be offended and take action. You were verbalizing behavior you saw. What I wouldn't like is that you said while joking which sounds like you were teasing or making fun of my child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084464 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 05:57:03 +0000 ElbieKay 1084464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a facetious sense of humor and am terrified about socializing with other moms when I have a kid. Jokingly telling a toddler s/he's being bossy is definitely something I would say in a (good-natured) way. If this many people get offended by that sort of comment then I am not going to have any mom friends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084409 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 01:54:03 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1084409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be a annoyed. If the person that said it also has kids, it's kind of implying that my kid isn't normal and their's was super angelic and patient at that age. If the person didn't have kids, I'd want to point out how all toddlers are that way at a certain age. But since I wouldn't want to offend the person, I'd probably not say anything and just vent to DH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084398 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 01:02:13 +0000 erinpye 1084398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HLK208: hahaha I love your kiddos! And I guess I would revise my answer to say that it does depend on who says it and how well that person knows my child. If you said it, I'd most likely be right there witnessing the behavior, and probably agree with you. If a parent who doesn't really know me or my child said it, I'd be annoyed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084394 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 00:48:12 +0000 HLK208 1084394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: B = bossy ;)</p> <p>I would be a little annoyed, I guess. I wouldn't mention it and I'd probably move on easily. When others say it, it's kind of judgy toward my parenting. When I say it about my own child, it's usually truthful lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084386 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 00:29:19 +0000 erinpye 1084386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be offended, especially because typically only girls get labeled with this negative term, and I have a huge issue with the way girls are treated vs. boys in our society. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084355 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 23:41:18 +0000 shopaholic 1084355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mmmm. I can see anyone feel defensive about it. Things said jokingly still usually stems from truth. If it wet someone I was really close with and I referred to LO as bossy myself, but I'm probably a bit sensitive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084323 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 23:11:12 +0000 keiki_mama 1084323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Considering I was a "bossy" kid--I wouldn't be offended. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084315 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 23:04:18 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1084315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be offended in the slightest way, def not enough to talk to you about it or to care for longer than 5 mins. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084289 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 22:48:41 +0000 Freckles 1084289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be a bit offended if it is someone who doesn't know her very well. I guess even said in a joking way, i would probably be a bit defensive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084171 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:58:46 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1084171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think on occasion the term bossy could be misconstrued for letting the child push the parent around and control them so in that sense I see how it could be taken personally. I probably wouldn't *like* it if someone called my child bossy (or on the opposite end of the spectrum, a pushover) but if it were true I wouldn't be offended. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084155 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:52:08 +0000 MamaMoose 1084155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Meh... I wouldn't be offender. If the shoe fits right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/offended-by-lo-being-called-bossy#post-1084139 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 21:45:13 +0000 Rubies 1084139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I would be a bit offended...just because the term "bossy" is negative and no one wants to hear their kid being called anything negative by anyone. I'm only not offended when my brother calls DD bossy because he says it in an endearing way. </p>