I walked faster so I wouldn’t have to talk to them

[Excitedformondayforonce]

Am I weird?

Was having a lovely relaxing dog walk in the woods after dinner with Dh & Dc. Had been gardening all day and in pjs, so just pulled a pair of leggings and top on, hair not really brushed properly and in a ponytail.
Where we go by our house, we never really see anyone, except neighbours we know well. We were halfway around and I was in front by quite a bit with Ddog on the lead, when I heard Dc chatting away and another family behind us. Dc ran up and fold me it was someone from her school. They then ran back to chat with them with Dh. Ddog was pulling on the lead and does need to walk at a quicker pace, but as I got down the hill, they wouldn’t have been able to see me, I thought do I go back/wait and walk with them on the walk and be sociable (never met them before) and ignore the fact I look a mess or just get home, so I walked home quicker as I just didn’t want to be sociable.
Dh asked where I went and I said I was desperate for the loo
Is this weird?

What if they ring your doorbell? Hard to believe, but I've heard of this happening. I even watched a true crime documentary where someone phoned someone else.

Bonkers isn’t it.

Surely not! The horror!

Same.
Depressingly 🤣

That's horrendous!!

What did your daughter say about it, assuming you old her?

My kids friends often say hello if I see them out and about. Always have done from youngsters to teens.

Batshit!

It's sod's law that when you go out not expecting to be seen, someone who recognises you will appear 🙃

No you were not unreasonable.

Hahhaha, what on earth? What's wrong with you 😂. Its only 937am and mumsnet is testing me this week

Op, it's happened now but you need to try and address your social anxiety. We've all probably avoided people we cba to chat with but dashing off leaving your dh and dc behind is odd yes.
Just smile, say hi nice weather yes and move on. No-one will be wanting your life story.

Why would anyone, other than babies, wear PJs outside???????

No, it's not weird.
I questioned something like this about a decade ago, now I'm not bothered.

Tbf she said she put leggings on over so no-one would've noticed anyway.

Just sad really, the justifying by saying hair only in a ponytail as if anyone would even care. It's far stranger to run away from a dh and dc when others chat than it is to wear leggings and have a ponytail for a dog walk.

You’re not northern then? 😂

I would have been tempted to tell her to fuck off, and her glaring mother too.

This reminds me of when dh and I went to a nearby shopping centre. I do occasionally bump in to people there so I should’ve been less scruffy but we bumped in to a family friend who is very glam - who lives nowhere near us! She was v keen on going for ‘a quick coffee’ and I felt a bit self conscious w no make up and my skin wasn’t great at the time either. Oh well …
Sometimes I see local acquaintances out and about and if I’m not in the mood for a chat I hang back so I don’t catch up with them. Really depends on my mood though.
Im a sociable person but I don’t always like to see people randomly. If they see me I’m friendly though.

Nah, I’ve often gone out of my way to avoid people if I’m not feeling sociable or not feeling good for whatever reason. Interactions are optional.

Love the gif. I had such a crush on Adam back in the day. He was gorgeous.

That's the time to ring 999 and start sobbing and shaking. The police will immediately arrest them and throw them in jail for eternity.

This is why I love Mumsnet, please never change 😁

Of course YANBU. I actually quite like bumping into others and stopping to chat, but I do sometimes take a different route to avoid people if I CBA to talk or if I look particularly rough!

Acknowledging neighbours, acquaintances or friends by stopping to exchange a few words when you see them in public is entirely normal and not in the least bit rude.
However it would be extremely rude to ignore them.
It is also less than polite to greet them brusquely and hurry on by, unless you apologise, with an acceptable excuse for doing so. EG - “So sorry, I’m running late and have to be at xxx 10 minutes ago.”

Reminds me of the time I got out of bed with flu and threw on whatever was on the floor to take dd to the shop for something urgently needed, she said come in we won't meet anyone , I looked like a bag of shite , we met everyone 😂

Not unreasonable at all.

You were prioritising the dog - walks are generally nicer for a dog if they can go at their pace, stop when they want to etc., and than can be difficult if you meet people while out on a walk.

DH was able to facilitate DC chatting to their friend.

Everyone happy.

😅I like being out, just not encountering others. I even walk ahead of Dh & Dc as I want a moment’s quiet

Just walk the dog alone then, put headphones on and no one will try to chat.
Not interacting is fine it's the running off from your actual family that isn't.

Yes 🤷🏻‍♀️🌿🪴

I'm southern and moved to the north with my partner almost 10 years ago now. Being talked to and said hello to is a common occurrence, and you have to be prepared for it on dog walks!

I also go running alone, and the amount of neighbours out walking who flag me down to get me to stop so they can tell me a story about their new sofa or whatever is incredible! Obviously when running you can't keep stopping and starting, so I now wave and shout "hello!" and then carry on running.

Luckily I was friendly anyway, yes there are some of from London who actually are, and have always said hello to bus drivers, thank security guards when I leave a shop, etc. The really amazing thing is I was crippled with anxiety as a child. I had to do SO much work to overcome that.