Get a Life

Ok, so as I've mentioned, I'm initiating my Social Development Program, which roughly translates to 'Get a Life and Get Some New Friends'

My attitude is pretty much: I've got nothing to lose.

So firstly, I joined a mommy's forum where I figured it would be easy to meet like-minded people (with kids) who perhaps also wanted to meet new people. Well that was easy... there seem to be loads of ladies similar to me, posting questions about teeth and poo and drool and 'does anyone want to meet' etc etc. I replied to some post requests from people in my area about meeting, and one lady seemed particularly interested. I really thought we'd hit it off because she sounded very friendly and both our kids are similar ages. So we emailed back and forth a couple of times, and I eventually suggested that we meet up the following week for a blind play date, and then I suddenly got the cold shoulder. I mean, was I being to pushy? Didn't she like me? This wasn't right! Was it me, not her? I couldn't help but take it personally, because there must be some reason she decided to stop the emails with all the exclamation marks and smiley faces :-(

So next up was going forth into the field. Yesterday I took my son to an indoor play venue. I invited 2 moms from his school, but both were busy which turned out to be a good thing, because I 'picked up' another new mommy friend. We eyed eachother out from a distance initially, and then luckily my little boy wanted to go jump on the trampoline so we ended up next to eachother. Small talk began, and I really thought she was nice. New in Jozi, home all day with her daughter etc etc, kind of hinting at how she could also do with some mommy friends... perfect! We went our own ways for a while and then I saw that she was preparing to leave so I walked over to say goodbye. Oh my goodness, what an awkward moment... I felt like I was on the dating scene again - just without the smudged mascara. She took out her phone and did some oohing and aahing about shopping with her daughter, and I nodded and sympathised, and then almost at once we both blurted out something about swopping numbers and meeting up again. Geez, I couldn't believe how silly I was behaving. So i gave her my number (and name - we'd been anonymous till then) and she said she'd call so we could meet up.

And here I am, a day later, wondering if she'll really call, and if she is thinking of me too. I mean, HELLOOOO? I'm not 22 and on the prowl. I'm 35.

It's amazed me how many people in this virtual mommy world are also trying to reach out to other people, but there is times a sense of desperation. Not me of course. I must say though, that's it's quite exhilarating, knowing that at any time in my bold new venture, I could meet someone that i really click with and find myself with a BNF (Brand New Friend!)