to dread school pick-up and toddler groups ?

[plumpydumpty]

It's more the thought of having to do it. Most of the time, i get there, i chat to someone, and it's fine.

On a few occasions, someone who's been friendly with me for weeks/months, doesn't want to talk to me for a while, and then they are friendly with me a few months later.
I end up thinking "have i offended this person?" or "is there something going on in their personal life?"

At work and socially i never had this problem. I tended to just get on with everyone.

So do other people experience this confused feeling of "why is so and so being a bit off with me?" in the school playground ?

I could, if I was bothered! Tbh, I arrive at school at drop off and pick up time and just stand and people watch, it can be quite amusing sometimes.

If I want a chat I'll smile and say hello but 9/10 times I just keep myself to myself. I have a good group of friends and I really cba with making pointless chit chat with people who the only thing I have in common with is their dc go to the same school.

Seems to be fairly common thing unfortunately, the playground brings out childish behaviour in parents!

Being a parent throws you in with all kinds of other people that you might otherwise have nothing to do with. As you say, people can have a lot going on, all kinds of issues that can manifest themselves in unreasonable behaviour.

If you are generally confident in other areas of you life it's probably best just to forget it - it's their problem, not yours.

I wouldn't worry about people not talking to you or take it too personally as long as you are friendly and say hi then its all good you are really there just to pick up your child you dont need to be friends with anybody. in the nicest possible way It is not all about you and folk have other things going on and some just like to dot about the playground chatting to people but not getting to close,

fwiw DD2 has had the same BF for 10 years and I have known her mum for all those years and she still blows hot and cold it is ok though I just think thats how she is, and one of dd1 friends mum has never ever spoken to me