"I had to fight bullies as a kid. Now, apparently, even calmly confronting passive-aggressive white Seattle behavior makes people melt into fear."

Note: some of these responses have been pulled from this Reddit thread.

"One meeting, I'd had enough, so I pointed out that technically breastmilk is an animal product, so her son wasn’t vegan like she claimed, and just sat back and watched her fume."

"I made a post about seeing a cartoon in the movie theater, a PG-13 movie. I always watched movies before taking my kids to see them so I could decide if it was appropriate (my kids are autistic). In my post, I commented about a mom bringing in an infant. I mentioned it wasn’t appropriate, for one, because the decibel level is loud enough to damage an infant’s hearing, and second, the baby cried through the whole movie. And of course, the mom didn’t leave with the baby; she paced by the side of the theater while the kid screamed.

They lost it on me. Called me names, told me I was wrong, made fun of me for going to the movie in the first place, and told me I had to expect kids at a kids' movie. Yeah, kids, but not a baby, and I still expect parents to parent. I dropped out of that group immediately."

"My mom is a nurse, so I tried to educate them, but they wouldn't hear of it. To them, everything was demonic: Halloween, Christmas trees, hearing noises on a baby monitor, Hatch alarms, etc. I finally blocked the group after one woman said she visited a local museum and knew the dinosaur bones on display were fake, so dinosaurs were fake and a government psy-op. As a dinosaur-loving girl, I'd had it with science denial."

"All these low vibrational, insecure basic Orange County b’s peaked in high school and are trying to regroup old AF as moms. Stop playing with me and know, any real ones eventually see right through your TWO faces."

—Anonymous, Wouldn’t you like to know, Female, CA

'You’ll change your mind one day' (never did).

'You wouldn’t understand, you’re not a mom' (mmmmk).

'Your life must feel so empty” (it’s very full, but thanks).

Then came the constant rumors about my body. 

'She must be struggling with infertility.' 

'She and her husband must have a dead bedroom.'

Eventually, I sent a text telling the ringleader to keep my name out of her mouth, and I haven’t spoken to them again. The fakest bunch of women I’ve ever met. Catty to the core, and completely incapable of accepting someone who chooses not to be a mom."

"People can be seriously petty. I chose just to move on. I was really trying to make friends at that point and it didn't work, so now I figure whoever happens to be in my circle is who I will invest my time in, until they prove otherwise."

"This led to a flurry of group messages where I was informed that they enjoyed having me as a playdate mom, but that they just didn't click with me the way they did with each other. In addition, they made some really hurtful comments about my oldest son that I still can't repeat without crying. Needless to say, I stopped hanging around them. After that, social media was a free-for-all, with them posting about their best friend group, hanging out, etc. 

It was heartbreaking. But looking back, I can see all the ways they weren't friends to me at all, or actually even good friends in general, to anyone. Because they're not even friends anymore! I, however, have found a core group of amazing friends that have stuck with me through a lot, and I'm outrageously thankful for them."

"I’ve always hated groups of girls, there’s always BS like this happening. I’d rather listen to my own thoughts and be lonely than go through that again. It just makes me sad for my baby, who might have less social contact until he gets older."

"The wisdom I can share is to focus on yourself and your family, invest in an incredible therapist, and find ways to grow some thick skin. I’m currently reading the book Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins, and it’s been an inspiring read.

I hope you find some comfort in knowing that others share similar experiences and do not give up. Your people are out there and are looking for you, too."

"I met a lady in a bar once with her husband who’d just moved here, and we chatted, and I thought we hit it off. She even asked for my number. I asked her a week later if she wanted to grab a drink and never heard back (four months ago). Lastly, I made a Facebook group for working moms. I had over 100 moms join in the last year. Created multiple events; different times, different themes, even offering to host a girls' night and have a separate play area close by the movie room for those who have to bring their kids. Not one single person ever came. I’d say I created at least one event per week. Idk if it’s this generation, where I live, or whatever, but I'm so effing lonely and longing for female friendship. But I’ve kinda given up. I just can’t take the rejection anymore."

Note: Responses have been edited for length/clarity.