A Birthday Party Gone RIGHT!
If you’ve been around awhile, you may recall that I’ve discussed being an introverted mom before (see that post HERE) and also followed that up with a post about a preschool birthday party gone so-very-wrong (which you can find HERE). But today, friends, I am happy to report that I went to a preschool birthday party…and SURVIVED.
Cue the victory music.
On Sunday evening, Harlyn and I ventured out to a Princess Tea Party Birthday. And it is so much easier to be a normal human being when your kid is in her glory and not losing her mind every 10 minutes. #justsayin
We were one of the first to arrive, so we headed on in, greeted the birthday girl and her mama, and Harlyn went over for her princess makeover. After Princess Ariel painted Harlyn’s nails teal, she got her make up done, and by that point, all the other girls and moms were arriving too.
I started by talking with a mom who I had talked with a little at the failed party (and whose daughter is in H’s class again this year). And then a mom who no longer has her kids at our preschool came with her daughter, so we talked to her as well. From there, I actually felt pretty okay. I had a base of two moms by that point, so even as the party continued and we split up, I at least knew I could wander back to them if needed.
Since the girls had a little tea party with Ariel, I moved to another area to see H better, and ended up talking with a few different moms as well. And because Harlyn’s teacher from last year was there (who just ADORES our sweet girl), I also had another easy-in for someone to talk to.
The party was about an hour and a half or so, and we totally made it. Harlyn didn’t cry. I didn’t want to cry.
Now, I’m not saying I’m about to take H to all. the. parties. I will still only go to the ones where Harlyn is great friends with the kid and she would enjoy the party. This means that she will only go to several parties this year. I’ve already RSVP’d “no” to a few so far. I just don’t think it’s necessary at age 4 to go to them all!! And I don’t want to buy a gift for every kid she goes to school with—past and present! BUT…I will take her to the ones that, like this one, are right up her alley.
After the party, Harlyn told me she’d had SOOOO MUCH FUN!!!! And that she couldn’t believe Ariel was there. She had such a blast that it made me so happy I’d pushed past my own discomfort and taken her. I hadn’t wanted to go because I didn’t want a repeat of the last party. But we do almost anything for our kids, don’t we??
I think what makes it even harder for me to find my groove at these things is that the other moms talk to each other several times a week. They knew each other from last year, and now a lot of our kids are classmates again this year. But I rarely make an appearance at the school. Because I work, my MIL is the one the other parents know. In fact, like 3 different moms at the party commented on how great my mother in law is, and she totally is—but it just points out even more how much I’m not around. So when I suddenly have to be with the moms, it’s like having to infiltrate an existing mom clique. And that is not easy–especially as an introvert!!! Sometimes it kind of makes me feel like the geeky middle schooler trying to fit in. A lot of the preschool moms don’t work or work part time, so they are around more. Although I don’t think anyone’s actually judging, it can feel weird to be on the outside.
Anyway. Rather than letting those feelings keep me from chatting up the other mommies, I went for it. How hard could it really be to find something to talk about, even if I am an introverted mom? I found out that I am actually NOT the only working mom—one is a meteorologist who is just currently working from home so she has the flexibility to be at the school more than I can. And ALL of us have sassy, spunky 4 year old girls who are like mini teenagers at times. 🙂
Here’s hoping the next party we go to turns out just like this one!
