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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Playground Phobia!

12 replies

MooMooFarm · 21/09/2010 20:48

This is kind of daft sounding I know, but I seem to be developing school playground phobia Confused
We moved to a new area a couple of years ago so all the mums seemed to know each other. I literally spent about a year picking up my eldest from class with nobody making eye contact with me. I would try to smile and say hello to people, and they would either stare at me like I'd just asked them for a shag, or would say hi back then keep walking!

Eventually a couple of the mums started letting me 'join in' with their little huddle, probably mainly because my son was friends with their sons. However some days I would walk up and they would say hi and start talking, then another day they would be having a quiet little giggle about something and I would go and stand there near them like a lemon, not being acknowledged at all.

Its got to the point now where I time it most days so I wait in the car until I just about have time to get to the school door as the children are coming out, so I don't have to do the 'do I try to talk or dont I' thing.

A few weeks ago the mum huddle were talking about having a night out, right next to me, without acknowledging me. They were saying how many people they need to get to book so they can fill a table at this dinner dance place. Anyway, yesterday morning one of them ran up to me and said 'ooh we were wondering if you fancied coming on our night out, blah blah blah.' I said 'oh yes sounds good' (trying to be friendly, cos as much as it annoys me, I do want to be liked and have friends there!!). Turns out after talking to one of them this afternoon about the plans, that somebody else has backed out, and Im thinking thats the only reason I'm being asked....

Ive spoken to (non-playground) friends and family, and they say these mums are probably just jealous of me cos Im gorgeous (ha ha!!) and they're all fat and ugly (he he!!). Ok so my mum said that and she's a little bit biased....

Ok so the last paragraph not withstanding, what is the problem here? I really have tried to be nice and friendly, but its like the playground is this cliquey club I am not allowed to join, and I am really starting to dread school pick up times. And do I go on the night out or do I say stuff them???

OP posts:
nancy75 · 21/09/2010 20:53

when you find the answer let me know, after a year of being ignored i now just sit in the car!

TotalChaos · 21/09/2010 20:53

I have similar issues at DS's school - people are very insular, and if you haven't grown up/live in a certain area it's hard to "break in". I would definitely go on the night out, see if that breaks the ice a bit, but don't go with too high expectations iyswim. Just think of it as being like with work colleagues -you are thrown together with people you don't necessarily have any common interests etc with, but may as well make the best of it.

FairgroundTown · 21/09/2010 21:09

I get this a LOT, because I am the only bloke, but it just takes a long time. When our lad was at nursery it took 2-3 years before the mums trusted me to talk to; and in school I a now finding (after 2 1/2 years) that the same is happening... slowly!

So, even though you've given it a couple of years, and this SOUNDS like a really long time, maybe you need to give it more.

(I don't suppose I'll EVER get invited on the night out, but...)

The strangest one is that there is one other mum who will talk to me on-line and in private (our sons are good friends) but will totally blank me in the playground.

animula · 21/09/2010 21:42

Invited on a night out after a mere two years? You are storming. Took me five. Though they are now a group of fantastic friends.

I think it's just hard for some of us. But go, and concentrate on getting to know them, and working out if there are people in the group you might actually click with.

I know it's hard, but put all the worried thoughts about how they might feel about you in a box, and sit on it, and concentrate instead on what you think they're like, and whether you like them. You have been invited, after all. Which means your company is anted.

animula · 21/09/2010 21:45

Fairgroundtown - btw, I can imagine it is difficult, but nice to hear it's also working for you ... after an (eyeblink!) 2 1/2 years.

perfumedlife · 21/09/2010 22:11

I agree it can be hard to get talking to others for some reason. For me, it brings back the awful memories of starting school myself.

I would go on the night out if i were you, there may be one or two women you really click with. Makes the next few years more bareable if you have someone to chat with.

Failing that, take a newspaper, but for god's sake don't take a tabloid like the Sun, thats a whole other can of worms.Smile

dignified · 21/09/2010 23:01

I think theres a huge emphasis on the playground freinds thing . If you met any of these women through differant circumstances would you actually want to be freinds with them ? Are they your sort of people ?

arabella2 · 22/09/2010 09:52

Is your son's school in a snobbish / rich area? I ask because me eldest went to a nursery in a totally different area to ours for three terms before I realised local was best. The area the nursery was in is an affluent one where I think people really fancy themselves. I swear in the whole of those three terms I too never spoke to anyone - and even the way the mums spoke to each other was distant and frosty I thought. Eventually I did strike up a conversation with one mum and she was also not from around there. Another mum eventually invited me to the sports day of an elder child of hers because my son had started being friends with her twin daughters. But though she was kind we were really like chalk and cheese and I felt nervous about saying the right thing and sounding the part. All the kids from that nursery were going on to the local school which I knew nothing about and of course was not our local school and I felt kind of fraudulent. Not saying all this applies to you because of course you are in your own area.... but I do think the richer people are the unfriendlier they seem to get. Now that my son and his two younger sisters are all at the primary school up the road we are all having a much better time and I have my own little circle of friends and the school seems quite open and friendly in general... like a second home in fact, the staff too are lovely.
I would go out for the dinner because then you'll get a better idea of whether there is anyone there you actually want to be friends with and you can take it from there.
I agree too that it comes as a shock that you have been thrust back into a playground situation - brings back memories. I spent a whole year stressing about a woman who though I had spent some time with her in the park with a mutual friend, would also never acknowledge me at school. I have since spoken to other people who says she does the same to them and have decided she is the one who is rude and strange.... not me the one who is not worth liking. Obviously we can't all the suited to each other but I am sure there are lots of people out in the world who would love to be your friend MooMooFarm.

arabella2 · 22/09/2010 09:52

sorry, meant "my" eldest

WhenwillIfeelnormal · 22/09/2010 12:00

This sort of behaviour by parents in playgrounds makes me really cross; it's as though normal warmth and good manners go out of the window. I'm not surprised you're feeling like you do, OP.

Assuming you've got a few years of this ahead of you, it makes sense to attempt making friends. At infant and junior school, when the DCs' social invitations are controlled by the parents, what sometimes happens is that some parents will only issue invitations to DCs of "preferred parents", without letting their DCs the freedom or choice to see who they want, outside of school. This makes it very lonely for children - and especially lonely for DCs who are "different" in some way, perhaps because of their faith, race, class or disability.

I also think that schools and PTAs should be far more proactive about this, especially in extending the hand of friendship to "new parents" who have just joined the school community.

I was lucky in that when my DS started school, the other parents were in the main, a lovely bunch and we were all in the same boat. Friendships were formed easily, but we all had a policy that as soon as a new child joined the school, we would all invite that DC round for tea and without being pushy, include the new parent instantly, empathising with how difficult it can be as the "new Mum or Dad in the playground".

When my DD started school, the parents in her year group were not as friendly or open as the other group, but what worked in that instance was to open the house to whoever she wanted round and not to get overly concerned when the reciprocal invitations were slow to arrive. Eventually she formed her own friendships with girls who wanted her to visit their houses and it became more of a two-way thing.

A few things might help.

DO go to that meal. Sometimes when parents are "off duty", they loosen up a little and you will see more warmth. Do also disclose how difficult you have found it, making new friends in the area - and how you would value getting to know more people. Some of these parents might be making assumptions about you being aloof or disinterested, when in reality it has been a coping mechanism. A little self-disclosure goes a long way in new relationships.

Keep issuing invitations to whoever your DC want round for tea/play. Remember too, to encourage their friendships with DCs who are "different" and who might be marginalised, but don't force any friendships that aren't wanted.

Look out for the parent in the class who is also sitting in her car/looking lost/playing her I Pod. It's possible that she is feeling just as insecure as you.

At pick-up times from parties/play dates, try to get conversations going with parents who are better when off the school premises. For some people, being in a playground evokes all sorts of memories of their school-days and they are far more natural and warm on neutral or home territory.

Offer to help at PTA events, consider joining this group. Also give some thought to school governance, if you can offer that level of commitment.

Both of mine are at secondary school now and the adult friendships that have lasted and which I treasure, are with parents whom I would have befriended in any other situation, i.e. work, the running club etc. That said, I've made some lovely new female friends through the DCs' secondary school friendships.

DaisyDaresYOU · 22/09/2010 12:13

Nancy your lucky you have car Blush i wish i could escape it aswell.i look like a lemon,everyone seems to have someone to talk to exept me.I actually think its cos im the youngest there and i look in my teens

MooMooFarm · 22/09/2010 13:16

Ah thank you for all your replies, you really have made me feel better - just wish I could stick you all in my pocket today when it gets to 3 o'clock!

BTW - it's not a particularly posh area, just a 'normal' suburb (can't be posh with me living there Grin anyway!

You have all inspired me to get off my fat arse and go to the do, anyway, even tho I would rather be sitting on the sofa with a big bag of doritos, watching Xfactor with DH rubbing my feet (or maybe I'm starting to talk myself out of it again!). And as u all say, I might actually start to make some friends that way. And funnily enough, I did put my name down on a list this morning to volunteer to be a parent-helper in class and at events, etc (just so I can spy on my own little ones really!), so maybe something will come of that too....

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