Hi IMs
I have a question regarding making friends at your kid's school.
I'm a 25yr old single mum, and my daughter has started prep this year. I'm new to the area and really want to make friends. But being a young single mum with extreme social anxiety I'm finding it really hard to engage with the other parents at pick up and drop off. They all seem to have their own groups already, through older kids already at the school, having their kids go to daycare/kindy together previously, that kind of thing.
My attempts to start conversations have faltered and died out pretty quick and no one has attempted to start talking to me.
I'm down to volunteer at the tuckshop and start in a few weeks, and I'm planning on getting involved in the P&C, but what can I do to make myself seem more approachable to the other parents? I dress well, I keep a friendly expression on my face, I don't stare at my phone constantly, but I'm still a total loner.
What am I doing wrong?
3 Replies
This year i decided to put myself out there to make friends, its a bit sad but i found being honest and letting people know youre looking for friends has helped. Im now part of three different private message groups all of women who also want friends and arrange meetups.
I cant say Ive met any close friends yet but I have more casual friends so its a start.
alternatively you could invite the whole kindy class down to the pool or park for a family social and see what happens.
How old is your child and where abouts are you from? Im from sydney and also looking to make more mummy friends.. im 27 and my daughter is 2
I got on committees when I moved to a country town. Birthday parties were good too, no-one dropped and ran until kids were older, offer the host a hand and you just get chatting.
Attend the working bees, fetes, sports carnivals. Keep saying hi to the other mums, throw a compliment here or there 'what a pretty dress' or 'oh you're Billy's mum, I met him at the tuck shop today, he has such lovely manners' or as you leave from drop off, ask a mum who might be standing around chatting 'where's the best coffee around here?' You'll find out the mum hangout and you potentially get chatting at the cafe to school mums, or other people from the area.
A good opener is always to smile and say hello, comment on the weather, compliment them or ask if they have a child at bla bla school. Compliments are my usual, as I notice color, and people respond well. Makes them feel good, happy, and they'll remember you.