How to deal with people who won't shut up.

Yes, I feel that you're right about the broken record thing and being clear about the boundary instead of just trying to change the subject as I've done in the past.

I too, would have a hard time telling her directly to stop. Can you find the mom on Facebook and send her a private message telling her how uncomfortable she is making you feel. I think not having to face her directly might make it easier to confront. Do not let her keep you from going to the market! I so miss my country farmers market that like yours was a real social outing for me. I would go even when my garden was exploding just to say hi to my farmer friends. Here in the city the market just doesn't have that social feel.

That might be worth trying. She actually sent me a friend request on FB recently that I've been ignoring :)

Ugggh. I would absolutely be you in this situation and not know how to respond. And I would have given exactly the same responses up to now that you have! You've been up front about everything, and changing the subject without being rude is precisely what I would have suggested since you want to continue going there and want to continue speaking to these people.

But like you've already said you've answered your own question - you need to flat out day please stop commenting on my body, it makes me uncomfortable. I think that is legit all you need to say. You don't need to get into any more details. If she gets into more things or asks questions I think you can just put a stop to everything and say that's the end of discussion. I feel for her daughter and that's super awkward but since you don't have a close relationship with them that's frankly not your concern. Your concern is that she stops making you so uncomfortable you can't go there anymore.

It's such an awkward thing - my boss makes comments about how thin I am. I've only been there since November and I've had to go down a few sizes in my uniform and she's made a few comments - nice ones- about it in terms of how she's going up in sizes and I'm going down. My weight loss hasn't come up really beyond that since it's been mostly level since starting there so I haven't said anything there. So awkward, stop commenting on my body!!

Right - I definitely know that I can't fix the dynamic between her and her daughter and, that ultimately, it's not my problem. But I should stand up for myself at least and I should not let this drive me away from the market. Especially not with tomato season quickly approaching!

Gee don't let this person drive you away from the market. Maybe you go to the market, visit the other vendors first, go to this one as your last stop and buy what you want and say "gotta go" and leave. Perhaps this is a chicken $$$$ way out.

But I wouldn't be reluctant to say "lets not talk about my weight - its so boring" and see if that works. Repeat as needed. Enjoy the veggies. Diane S

Thanks. This is definitely what I'm realizing I need to do. I appreciate the script suggestion!