Just a vent....I guess :)

[babydom]

So I have had this stituation for the last 4 yrs and it's just getting worst. Before I start I'm just very annoyed and looking to vent to feel better. Lol. I know some may not agree with me but thats ok

There is a home daycare five doors down from me. She opened a yr before me and only had two kids through an agency. When I moved in and came on the scene she was very nice and welcoming and I helped her ALOT in regards to her business. Well now I know she was only nice to get info and grow her business. Which I totally don't mind helping newbies. Giving advice. Telling them about rules. Stuff they'll need. Don't mind. But in this case she has copied me in EVERYTHING!!! I mean everything she copies me. Yes I'm going to sound like a toddler here lol. She took word for word from my ad to use in her ad to advertise. we both have toys set up out front. But she waits for me to do it first. I'll put out my slide. Next day her's is out. I'll bring out my ride on cars next day hers are out. I put my slide away for winter next day hers is away. She copies me right down to toys. She gets her kids together and walks by my house to "see" what I have. One day I had a Spider-Man scooter out. Next day guess who has a Spider-Man scooter out?!?! I bought a new slide from toys r us. Next day she has the same one. Just last wk I bought foam swords to go with my castle slide and she walks by my house today and her two boys have the same swords. And she brings out and lines up all her toys as in like "see I have the same." She ALWAYS walks by my house to "show" me what she has. Like today walking by with the swords.

I just don't get it. It is sooo annoying. I try not to let it bother me. Thinking well she needs the help she's looking up to me or something. But four yrs later and still doing it. Our back yard is super small so all our playing is done out front. So it's just not that I cant void the stares and copying.

Sigh......what would would u do? Like I said I know I'm sounding like a toddler.....she's copying me. But she gets all her clients by using my stuff, ideas, supplies, words. I can't have anything my own. And then outsiders think whose idea was that first or think maybe I'm copying her.

I don't talk to her anymore as when I first opened I did play dates almost every day and fed lunch to both our kids and she never had me over said she couldn't handle all the kids over in her house. But really it was to get over in my house to see what I have. She constantly asks questions on what to do in stituations. I just feel so used .
I keep my distance now as I've seen the true her and I don't agree with some things she does. Having 8 kids at one time for a few mths. Or like today leaving a child napping ALONE in her house while she was at the bus stop.

Sorry that was so long