To hate trying to make small talk

[PumpkinPie2016]

I am a secondary school teacher so spend my entire working day communicating with people - pupils/other staff/parents. I also have additional responsibility so communicate with groups of staff. I have no issues with communicating in my job at all.

However, for some reason, I am really bad at making small talk with people I don't know well. I am about to take DS to a birthday party and I am dreading it because I don't know the school parents well and for the life of me I cannot make small talk to save my life.

I honestly don't know why - I promise I am a nice person and want to be friendly!

Does anyone else find making small talk virtually impossible?!

Me too OP. Strangely enough I’m a pretty sociaiable person with a fair amount of friends etc and if it’s at a party or something and there’s alcohol I’m okay

However, just general making small talk during the day, or whilst doing my hobby etc I really struggle. Most people that walk their dogs around here have made friends, stop, chat and make conversation with each other etc. Me on the other hand will say hello when passing and that is it, and tbh it’s how I want it likewise if I’m with people that I know I won’t likely see again, I just can’t be arsed. I think people round here think I’m stuck up or moody, when in reality I just don’t enjoy small talk.

It's just practice!