Is it really possible to be true to yourself without falling out with people all the time?

[Nonalphamum]

Because I'm finding that it's bloody hard to do so!

Any tips on how to do it?

Nonalphamum and Chumble, I wish I had friends like you. I have a lot of 'friends' that I can't trust because half the time I see them they say one thing to someone and another behind their backs. So many of the school mums are fake with eache other and have hidden agendas. It drives me insane. I just want a couple of honest, trustworthy friends! You did the right thing OP and you'll find people who really appreciate that x

Yes - honestly - the friends who are worth your time are the ones who will be honest with you to your face and won't say something entirely different behind your back. If you can be that person too, you will be absolutely cherished, but by the right people. Tactful honesty and assertiveness scares the weak!

For those of you still at the school gates - It really is like the school playground all over again. Thoe mature and responsible women are regressing to age 13. A lot of them will be hormonal, sleep deprived and going through a difficult time as well so anything could happen.

My advice is to find a couple of people that you really get on with and focus on them. They will probably be the quiet ones that hang back, like you. Invite them for a coffee or whatever, they will be as nervous as you are so don't be shy. Whatever you do, don't waste your time with the cliques.

wise words wonderingagain

Am overseas and interesting how relatively uncliquey/fake it is at the school gates! Think it is a peculiarly British/small town thing. either that or I'm the oddball foreigner permitted not to toe the line due to nationality

It is interesting op, that you say that you think you are trying to be friends with too many people.
I have seen threads on here before like this, and I wondered about them whether they were trying to be friends with too many people.
It is impossible, imo, to stay friends with absolutely everyone you meet.

Salbertina in UK schools there are the villagey types and the oddballs/ foreigners - I alway hung out with the oddball foreigners as they weren't so up there arses about playdates and booking life 6 weeks in advance. It was more - 'come round' - 'OK'. Done. No 'back for tea' nonsense, you feed them without question. Their children actually like food too and aren't afraid of playing outside.

The villagey types set up competing cliques and glare at each other across the playground and fight over the best position at the school fair and organise press campaigns for governor elections.