In past four years we've moved twice. We came to this place in QLD 2 years back when I was almost 8 months pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. I never worked here ( stay at home mum ATM), so zero work friends. I tried going out to mothers group, play groups meeting other mums, tried to plan more coffee catchups and at the end no one makes an effort but me. My bub is now 20months old, I still have no friends but only acquaintances.
I understand as you grow old making new friends is hard but I have started doubting myself alot these days, I don't understand where I am falling short. I have even started feeling socially awkward. My daughter also needs social interaction and play dates for a healthy social development. May be I am thinking alot, why it is this hard to make new friends? I don't mind making efforts and be there for people but never recieve the same.
And now we are moving to WA for good, moving to a house we built but never got to stay there. So its kind of exciting time for us as a family. It would be a new beginning for us. However, now I have no idea how to start socialising at the new place and be more approachable and likeable.
Clearly I am struggling to make friendships and I have been so isolated that now I don't even know how to approach others, I will ask you ladies - whom do you find frienship worthy? What attributes you'd look at? How would you start getting social at a new place? Any tips you think would help?
8 Replies
You dont need to be more. Just breathe. Thats the stress talking and blaming yourself and putting even more pressure on so youre even more anxious next time. Just breathe and enjoy the fresh start. Good riddance to having noone close to leave behind, and now that your childs not a baby youll probably be more able to chat and meet up. If not, my advice is get a job. It helped me more than anything I tried while staying at home with kids.
thank you makes sense. Once we settle down at the new place and we figure out the new daycare. I am gonna start working again, I do have good work exp. So hopefully things will work out 🤞
Are you near Ipswich? I go to a lovely playgroup here with 6 kids between 18 months and 4. Would love for you to join :)
I am also moving back to WA next year and looking forward to it. I have a school aged child and found it great for meeting other mums and creating friendships.
Thanks lovely, that would have been great. However, we are in Gladstone and moving to Perth in 2 weeks.
As your kid gets older and starts doing activities such as childcare, footy, dancing etc. you can socialise there. Say hello to other parents often, always have a smile on your face. Be approachable. Offer to volunteer in the canteen and to help organise a fundraising event. Get on a team of some sort :)
Find a hobby, play a sport like netball or tennis and just get yourself out there.
thanks you so much for all the suggestions. I think volunteering will be a great idea to help me go out and meet new people.
I felt like you when my kids were little truth is it’s hard when your kids are young to maintain a social life once my kids started school that’s when I made some really great friends my kids birthday is always the first one of the year so giving them a party and inviting all the kids is how I made my friends we were all new so it worked then they started sports and I’ve made another group of friends through their sport I tend not to socialise with people from work I like to keep that seperate being in a manager role but don’t change who you are to fit in you will find your circle
May I ask where you're moving to?
I have a 3 year old son and we live near rockingham. I too am shit at making friends :)