question about the school run

[Sally202021]

Hi, it would be really helpful to hear your answers about these questions. Thanks in advance :)

what would you think if you were waiting to pick up your child from school/nursery and another mum came over and said hello but they were shaking and avoiding eye contact? How would you respond?

How do you feel waiting to pick up your children from school/nursery in that social situation?

what would you think if you were waiting to pick up your child from school/nursery and another mum came over and said hello but they were shaking and avoiding eye contact? How would you respond?

I’d think they had horrendous social anxiety and were making a huge effort to make a friend to chat to at picking up times so they didn’t feel they were standing alone like a lemon.

I’d say hello back, ask them whose mum they were, chat about the weather, ask what they got up to at the weekend, etc.

I would think they had anxiety issues and would make conversation as best as I could, however I also struggle with small talk so unless the other person is a chatter conversation is often awkward and stilted.

How I feel about the school run, I either stand on my own and busy myself on my phone or I make a beeline for parents I know are very chatty and the conversation will flow because they will just talk and I won’t have to try and think of things to say

Usually I'm late so don't have time to chat to anyone. 😅

I would just be kind and say hello 👋

I'd probably think Parkinsons or MS.

But I did know someone in her late fifties who I initially thought had a medical condition because she shook. It turned out she was an alcoholic.

I wouldn't know. There are several reasons what this could be

What do you think?

I would say hello back and introduce myself.

I'd chat. I am not hugely interested in making friends but I can fill up space with small talk if needed. If someone approached me I'd be chatty and kind with them as approaching others tends to need some courage.
The shaking I'd assume was a medical issue or anxiety and I wouldn't comment on it.

I'd say hi back and chat. If she's like the next time I see her I'd ask if she's ok. It could be anything.

I’d assume a health problem and ask if they were ok and needed to sit down or have a sip of water or something

I'd say hello, but if there was no real eye contact, I probably wouldn't chat. But I'm not a chatty person and struggle to make small talk.

Happy to stand in friendly silence though!

I'd make small talk and then casually ask if they were cold because you noticed they were shaking

I would be at the kindest I could be.

If the shaking was very visible, I would enquire if they were alright. I would, of course not want to intrude, but if they came over to me, then I would not ignore it.

I would ask them if they were ok or needed something as this would be unusual at my children’s school

I'd think that either they had something on their mind or that they had a medical condition