I dont suppose any of you would like to join the socially awkward society I am going to start?

[MumofTrioTrioIwanaTrioIwant1NW]

free membership Or is it just me?

Am annoyed at myself for being socially awkward (several instances today in company),

I do try thats the annoying thing I just dont seem to be able to be anything else! pah!

Please come cheer me up somehow

Can I join? I find it really difficult to start conversations, though once I know people I'm fine. When talking I have to actually physically think about my responses to people's words... the socially correct thing to say.

My friend tells me she thinks she's shy but in actual fact could start up a conversation with a brick wall.

Define "hover back" and how do you know you look socially awkward?

I nearly went into meltdown on Friday as me and the dc's have been invited to our first proper playdate by someone we just met (who was very nice BTW).

I take years to get comfortable with people. But I am looking forward to meet up with this mum and her dc's, just need to pluck up the courage!

Goodluck meglet!

By hover back I mean literally I would stand alone waiting for the dc in playground rather than just barge into a group chatting that I have known for years. I even feel my face twitch sometimes

when nervous

The trick is to ask lots of questions. People are flattered if you are interested in them. Then let them do the talking. If you are lucky they will ask you questions back, so you don;t have to think of something to talk about, you jsut respond to the questions. Don't get too personal too soon though.

Good lord.

If you all go round being awkward and shy, no one will ever speak to anyone...

I shall soon start masterclasses.

That's what I'm hoping for Hully! I need a masterclass!

Small, step-by-step instructions....

See, that's one thing I wish I could do Mumoftrio. I wish I would chat to kids. They mostly just look at me like I'm very odd.

I actually panicked at toddlers' group a few weeks ago when a small girl came up to me waving a bit of half chewed dry apricot. All I could say was, "erm... no thanks."
Luckily said child's mother turned up just then and rescued me.

My dad always says that children are great for making friends. You see who's children your's are playing with, and you strike up a conversation about kids, and then you go from there. Having said that, I haven't actually tried this method, so have no idea how easy it is, or how effective, but in theory it should work.

Eleanor- shy my arse

WMMC, you never strike me as shy either. You must have good tips for covering it up, both of you? Maybe lots of people feel more awkward than they let on? I try not to worry- everybody wipes their own arses afterall. Except me, of course, being royalty...I hope Jeremy Kyle does anyway, having just heard he never wears underpants.

Right. Rule no.1. Get your own name. Something that's about you, not your role. trust me, it's important.

I think I should join. I have an unerring knack for saying exactly the wrong thing to people I'm trying to get to like me. It seriously never fails. I've made comments that are meant to say 'you look nice today', 'I love your house', 'your kids are great, and I could really learn from the way you deal with them' etc, but they've come out all wrong and as I've heard them irrevocably leaving my mouth, all I've heard is basically the equivalent of 'you were fat before weren't you', 'oh my gosh you managed to finally clean something' and 'so it was your DS who pushed my DS in the nettles What a surprise'. Gah. Still, they're still talking to me...

{grin} I'm thinking!

ffs

I am good with children (I work with them)

there is only so long you can have a convo with a 2yo before you start looking a bit odd though...

MrsMJ...your pretty face will always get you through

MrsC...you are very approachable and sweet, just be yourself x

Can i join??
I never know what to say to new people.
So i either say nothing or everything. People must either think im weird or rude.
I can't even drink through it at the moment..bloody breast feeding

Oh God, I'll join. The worst is at work - the people I work with are ok, mostly, but clients I find bloody awful. Especially as there is pressure from work to 'build relationships' with them, 'reach out', etc etc, puke.

Can I not just do my job, at my desk, and go home? Please? Cos really, let me loose in front of clients and I will just look at my feet/blush/have awkward silences. I do have a brain - you would never guess it in such situations though, my mind goes blank.

HotSprocket, if DD hadn't weaned so I can finally drink, I'd think you were me...

AF, that's lovely, and really made me smile, thank you

The problem is now i just talk about dd i think...i'm one of those annoying parent types