I Don’t Want Any New Friends.
OK. That’s not exactly true.
Especially since I just got back from the I Heart Faces Conference and made several lovely new friends… and everyone should always be open to new people in their lives. But generally. I am 43, my son has started middle school – and I am feeling, well… tired.
Recently I attended Back to School night and Bryan couldn’t go. He waved goodbye and the words “Meet a bunch of new people!” wafted after him as he walked out the door.
Meet a bunch of new people.
My heart absolutely sank.
When did the prospect of that become so incredibly daunting?
The process of Back To School night included parents changing classes just as the kids do, moving around the very large and scary school together en mass – including lunch period. Lunch period, which – during middle and high school – was the worst. That feeling of “who do I sit with?” – and wondering who was laughing behind my back.
Am I having PTSD as my son enters this time in his life? Is this why all the parents who already knew each other from elementary school huddled together in the lunchroom?
I joked that I was perfectly fine with THEM as my friends, all the way through the next three years. Why branch out? I am comfortable.
Of course I will make friends with any new pals of Dex’s. Of course I will be friendly at school meetings. Of course I will look for friendship opportunities as they come, just like the conference this weekend.
But run out and “meet new people!” – ?
No.
I am not there right now and that’s cool with me.
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I feel ya. I don’t want to have more obligations to new people. I like to be good to my friends, and it’s a lot of energy to be good to even more new friends. Don’t feel bad at all!
Thanks! I feel so anti-social! LOL.
Totally agree. It must be a 40s thing.
I can relate entirely! After moving a few years ago, I had to make new friends or live in a town knowing no one. Now that we moved back to CO, I feel exhausted by the mere thought of starting over again.
I feel like I don’t even have time for the friends I already have.
Haha. Well I like you guys as friends for sure.
Last summer I thought I made some new friends. I found out that I was wrong. It was a really shitty discovery. Apparently lots of women never grow up.
Hey Aimee,
This made me chuckle and grimace – as an echo of my recent comment : “I don’t have the energy to make new friends…”
A lot of us are there with ya, and fine with it!
this hits close to home. Like Bethany, I just don’t have the capacity. And like Jessicam, I have gone through that too, nurturing the relationships of parents of my 1st born’s friends only to find out it wasn’t mutual or was just temporary. Add into it if you have more than one child and it’s the first child for your child’s friend’s parents and they are all gung ho and you are just ‘oh dear, how can I duck out of this room without hurting anyone’s feelings’……
Agreed. There is a certain kind of fatigue that sets in when you face another year, another class, another teacher and group of parents with whom you now have to interact. Blech. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when I have kids and two schools and two social spheres.
glad you are open to new people too – would love to meet you one day.
I like how you are honest – thats what makes people attractive!
Sorry, I’m grandfather claused in by association: Diane and Dana will agree. 🙂
Good post thank you