Anyone else feel like an outsider?

[Crazymama]

Ever since my Ds started nursery I have tried really hard to speak to the other mums and be friendly, but No-one ever seems to want to take the time to speak to me. i always say hello to other mums when passing them in the playground. There is one mum in particular looks at the ground or away when I pass her just so she does not have to say hello!!

People obviously dont perceive me as someone that they can chat to. I never know what to say, find conversation ackward and quite often say something downright stupid, through lousy attempts to chat to people.

I do see a one or two people out of school, but its always me that has to initiate the plans.

Some days I feel like everyone else knows each other, and they all conspire to ignore me for some reason! My DS rarely gets invited to parties. I know that alot of the mums from school socialise together.

I feel like I want to move away from here because I feel like such an outsider! Its crazy because DS is settled in nursery and will soon start the school which is excellent.

Does anyone else feel like an outsider in their neighbourhood? Does anyone have any tips on how to chat to people, and how I can make real friends rather than just people that I can say hello to!

Reading the above, I feel I have gone mad, and maybe I have. Please tell me someone else feels that same...

See, lots of people want you to stay...

I faced/face this situation moving to a city where I knew NOBODY except ex and me not the most sociable person in the world; I am just not the type to start chatting to strangers even though I would very much like to have more friends esp friends with kids!

I did however meet a few very lovely ladies including one good friend who lives just round the corner from me, using this site:

www.netmums.co.uk

(or it might be netmums.com)

It is 'arranged' by region so your register according to location and then click on the 'Meet a Mum' facility and put and ad up (free!) or answer an ad (also free!).

Yes I do feel like an outsider it is v.hard to make friends; it's easy to say "oh why don't you invite people round for coffee" but much harder in practice to go from a shy "hello" at the school gates to an invitation to your house.

My ds made a good friend at nursery who then had to move classes, I tried hinting to his mum, ie "oh it's such a shame, it would be great if they could meet up again," to which she just went, "Yeah..."

I didn't push it! I mean, maybe she didn't want to. V. hard to know if other people want new friends (even if you are feeling brave that day!) or if their lives are already full.

Good luck to all those who feel the same

I never said hello to anyone. I often got suspicious looks, being the only dad.

A year on, loads of the mums talk to ME, lots more dads do the nursery run.

I'm a sexy bastard, though, so who can blame them?