Should I try a friendly gesture with our neighbours?

[highlandslife]

DH and I have one 2.5 yo. Due to being born in Covid we missed out on potential opportunities to make friends with other new parents, and I feel like I don't have any friends with DC, plus we don't have any family support. We moved to a new area on London last Spring and in the summer another family moved in the next door apartment. They seem pretty similar to us - similar ages, moved from the same area and also have a 2.5 yo. So far they generally keep themselves to themselves, (as do we) but there are polite chats when we bump into them in the communal hallway, take in a parcel etc and they seem nice.

I was wondering if it would be weird to reach out as it's Christmas and invite them round for a drink with their little one. Was thinking at around 6pm an hour before both toddlers bed?

Would this be a weird thing to do? How would you word the invite so they have a clear get out of they don't fancy it? I wouldn't want them to feel like they had to decline and then keep bumping into us in the building! I know some people just aren't interested in getting to know their neighbours, and to be fair in London people don't generally like to impose. (They are from US if that makes a difference).

I'm a bit socially awkward at all this but it just seems so silly to never be any more friendly as they live next door - we could have things in common.

Do it!! They might be feeling a bit lonely and appreciate the gesture. Having spent a few years living in London (I'm a northerner) I call bullshit on nobody talking to each other , I always found Londoners a pretty friendly bunch !!

Crikey some of the responses on here just go to explain all the threads I see where people have no friends! It's a lovely idea to have them over. Just invite them round and if they say no then you've lost nothing. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I really enjoy meeting new people and making new friends and I just don't take it personally if people knock me back.

My only thought would be to go for slightly earlier when the toddlers will be in a better mood? 3 or 4 maybe?

We did this 17 years ago and we've been good friends ever since!

No harm at all - maybe say is morning coffee or 6pm wine better for you?

I'd send a card. I'd put something casual like: We should get the children together for a play; it'd be lovely for (childs name) to have a friend next door. Put your name and number and hopefully they will respond with thank you for the card. We should definitely sort out a playdate. Then you suggest drinks at yours, give them an alternative too. Come round for drinks at ours on Friday or we could try out the soft play sometime after Christmas. That way they can politely give you the brush off if they aren't keen.

I think this too indirect and amount to nothing. Having lived in the UK for 15 years I have learned that “we should get together sometime…” means nothing at all. I think you should be direct but pleasant. Giving two alternatives is great though, one evening and one morning/daytime suggestion.

Thick, lazy stereotyping?

Ok thanks, I was just checking.

Nope & you're very rude.

Try reading what the OP wrote & my reply.

or do you need emoticons to explain things to you?

6pm would be a terrible time for us, we start the bedtime routine not long after 6 and trying to pull a 2yo away from a good time to go to bed would be impossible without a tantrum at that time of the day.

But an invite for a coffee and playdate at 10am would be ideal.