Why do women have to be so mean to each other?

I've heard people saying how mean other women are towards each other. I've seen it with my own eyes, and experienced it. But not like how I did tonight.

I am utterly shocked at the words that came out of this older woman's mouth when I told her to mind her own business. I mean seriously!

Let's start at the beginning. M is gone for the weekend. Booger was having a hard time listening tonight. We were going to Panera to pick up dinner, he wasn't listening when I was trying to talk to him. So as I was getting out of the car I told Booger "if you can't be respectful when I'm talking to you, then I will do the same to you." Maybe it was harsh, but at the moment I was over it. This lady walks up to me and tells me I shouldn't speak to my kids that way. I told her to mind her own business, she doesn't know the situation. Then she proceeds to call me an a@%hole! Like seriously?!?!? Then I said "wow! Thanks for using such nice language around my kids" Then she proceeds to tell me I am a horrible mother and never should have been one! Can you believe it?!?!? How rude! I don't care how horrible you thought what I said was, you do NOT say something like that in front of my kids! Why can't people mind their own business??? It's not like I was being overly mean to my son or beating him in public (not that I do in private either) but geeze!

I know it shouldn't bother me what someone else says. I know I am a good mom and I love my kids more than anything in this world. But I refuse to raise disrespectful kids.

Why do women have to be so mean and rude to each other?

Kat