You know the drill…!
Hassled and a bit late, you head up the road on the school run, desperately hoping you remembered to put mascara on both eyes and don’t have toilet paper stuck to anything. You get there and there’s a sea of parents all milling about, tripping over their beloved smalls and trying to hear themselves over all the screeching. Everyone has one thing in common:
Not enough coffee.
An array of outfits: pyjamas, running gear, suits, uggs, clubbing gear…boden. Occasionally you see a tiger onesie sneak through the gates. That’s so going to be me one day…
The kids do their thing and you try to say ‘hello’ to people you know, while keeping one eye on your youngest. You just manage to catch him before he pulls down the Year 1 teacher’s elasticated skirt…
‘Oh he’s alright,’ she gushes as she blocks him from a second attack. Not to be outdone, he darts between the Year 2’s and heads for the climbing frame.
It’s no good, I’m going to have to actually move.
I manage to intercept him, just as a very nice lady I’ve never met before asks me if my eldest would like to go on a playdate. I gulp at her, stutter and lunge for the small just as he shins up the centrepiece of the out-of-bounds adventure playground.
The bell rings.
Someone else moves into my view and I ask them how they are but don’t have a clue what they say: my middle boy urgently wants to know if I’m picking him up. I always do, so I’m not really sure where this question has come from and when I look up, the person has gone.
Suddenly the playground’s empty with only a few parents and a couple of the little ones about, and the playdate lady is nowhere to be seen…
I’m sure it must be the same for everyone who has a very small child in their brood, a nursery to get to and a job to get to after that. Weeks / months / years can go by without having the chance to talk to most of the other parents. When I finally get the chance to talk to any of them, I’m absolutely bowled over by the growing and incredibly eclectic and impressive mix of talent, knowledge and fun that I’m partially unknowingly surrounded by every morning and afternoon. It’s a classic case of hidden treasures in the playground. If I need any information or advice about anything at all – personally, professionally, for the kids or for me, it’s all there on a plate. I do find most people are absolutely lovely and others, like me, usually a bit frazzled but still appreciate a quick nod and a smile as we whizz past each other.
I wish we could all talk to each other more, worry less about feeling shy and not take any notice of the preconceptions we inevitably form about others. I know my perception of people isn’t a patch on what I learn from them once we get talking.
I learnt something invaluable from my Dad – people love to talk about themselves, so if you ever you want to get a conversation going, just ask them about them.
Do you often chat to people you don’t know or do people you don’t know ever come up to chat to you?? Would you find it strange or uncomfortable, or would you quite like it??
****
To receive our posts straight to your inbox do sign up at the right hand side of this page (or sign up at the bottom of the page to receive news from the International Elf Service). Do also have a browse through our other posts and come and join us on Facebook for lots more!
Don’t forget Elfie’s Birthday Letters are now available in the shop.
I am always flustered in the mornings on the school run, I usually do stop for a chat as if I’m there then it’s not a work day, but it could always be improved by coffee! x
I think the only solution is to have a coffee stand in every playground…! x
I am really shy, in the playground i often time it that i get in just as Miss C is coming out of class so that i don’t have to stand around like a loner in the playground while the other mums are congregated in their groups chatting to each other. I would never go up to someone and start a conversation, i don’t mind if someone approaches me to start a conversation though.
It can be really stressy in the playground can’t it? That’s lovely to hear – that others are potentially up for a chat and it’s not just be being a chatty pants and imposing myself on them! Thank you so much for reading and commenting x
I’m horribly shy in most social situations but I have felt more comfortable chatting to strangers since I added a baby to the mix. I think you start to see each other as fellow survivors who also wipe butts which are not their own. After that image small talk is easier for me.
Actually yes that’s true – babies / children and dogs too do help to break the ice and everyone feels they share the same common ground.
Oh how I am envious of the fact of talking to people. I really struggle doing it with most people unless I know them. I met someone new yesterday with a mutual friend and after I found out that I seemed really nervous but from my point of view I was more forward than normal. :/
I do often wonder though which wonderful people I’m missing out on. It’s great when you find the hidden treasures in others.
Oh don’t be envious, it’s so hard! My Dad would say ‘don’t be so silly, they’re as nervous as you but they just hide it better. Just talk to them about them and you’ll be off. You don’t actually need to be interesting yourself you know.’ I know if I feel intimidated by someone I’ve had it but I’m pretty everyone gets into that situation from time to time. I think it’s lovely sometimes just to say ‘hello hope you have a lovely day, sorry but I have to rush’, smile and trot off. One doesn’t even need to sound intelligent….!