I am a socially awkward and anxious person. I can (broadly) function in the real world, and mostly manage to pass for a normal adult, but new and potentially awkward things always throw me!
I got a message from another school mum suggesting a playdate. Bit weird as her daughter isn't really one of DD's friends - I know the name, but I don't think they ever play together. No issues - I met the kid on a class trip and she's quite sweet - but they're just in the same class, not really mates. I didn't want to be rude, and assumed she meant a park trip that I could maybe throw open to some other kids, so said yes, we were free - and suggested a park. She's asked us to their house! DD is not thrilled about the prospect and I'm wishing I'd just said we were away the whole half term week. But I feel like it's too late now. I don't know the mum at all so it's going to feel a bit awkward sitting making small talk with her.
So! My anxious over-thinker's questions are: how can I politely excuse us after an hour? How do I polite but firmly avoid to committing to reciprocation or repeat? And how do I play it with DD - because I feel like I'm not modelling the sort of "be in charge of your own happiness" assertiveness I'd like to teach her! (Yes, I realize it's just a playdate and hardly a great drama to play with a random classmate for an hour - but she doesn't particularly want to, and my only reasoning is "because mum feels too awkward to say no". I've said that it's nice to be invited so we'll just go for a bit.)
My aim is to not be rude but also not bounce DD into more playdates she isn't keen on. Also, politely, I don't need to be told I'm an idiot and it's really simple and I'm lucky I have such tiny problems to worry about. I know this - but I am very bad at this stuff.