When we first moved to Jacksonville (4 1/2 years ago-WOW!), Adam quickly FORCED me to get a job. Why? He would come home from work and I would absolutely overwhelm him with a need to 'use my words' (there's some theory out there that by the end of the day a woman needs to speak 30,000 words vs men using 15,000. That's probably a pretty accurate difference in how the sexes communicate). I didn't have any friends there, yet, and I wouldn't talk to anyone throughout the day. He would get home from work and I would pounce on him and just talk,talk,talk,talk....poor guy.
Then I got a part-time job at the outdoor gear shop, "used" all my words during the day working in retail and everyone was happy!
I think the same scenario has played out this week. Adam has been out of town for 7 full days now and I'm dying to 'use my words' on anyone, anywhere...it's pitiful, but I make myself laugh to think about it.
Example #1: Thursday I went to the nearby park with both girls. Ainsley played/slept happily in the Baby Bjorn, so I was able to play well with Elise. However, there was a friendly mom who started talking to me early on...man, would she come to regret that! She was so sweet and we traded 'pregnancy/kid/husband stories' for a few minutes, then she walked away following her kid to a slide. She had another friend with her and they were clearly catching up on old times, talking about college memories, etc... I was SHAMELESS and kept hovering so they would include me in the conversation. They would move away a little and avoid eye contact with me, but I kept moving in on their conversations...after about an hour it was time to go home-I'm pretty sure they faked the "our kids are getting tired, we've got to go now..." line!
Example #2 (this is so humiliating): Friday afternoon we headed to Publix for groceries. Ainsley (once again in the Bjorn) was super happy, and Elise was being great, too. Two people in a row stopped us and said how cute the girls are, which is always sweet, but I was on a mission to get groceries and get home. We're in the Apple juice aisle and this guy/wife with a 3ish year old keep commenting on how smiley Ainsley is. I take it as 'invitation for friendship' and just start chatting with them...so much for my "mission". After a couple SECONDS of small talk, they AGAIN say "your little one is just SO happy..." Then I, at a loss for how to return the compliment b/c their kid is throwing a total fit, I say, "yeah, she's the kind of kid that makes you want to have another one right away". They looked a little shocked at the comment, YET I KEPT GOING!! "I mean, who wouldn't want to get pregnant again immediately when this one is so good?!"...The look of disbelief on their faces finally got through to me and I stammered something like, "Well, I should go now..." and walked off quickly, avoiding eye contact when we passed several more times throughout the store. I mean, was I really discussing our FAMILY PLAN/REPRODUCTIVE FUTURE with ABSOLUTE strangers at Publix?!?! Who does that!?!
I guess I do.
Good thing Adam gets home soon.
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4 comments:
That is absolutely hysterical!!! I have been there- early with babies--so I can laugh out loud as I remember!! Things will get better-with less 'shame' at all you say! love, mimi
So funny! Yeah, I've read stats that say women use 3x/words at home and men use 3x/words at work, so each disappoint/overwhelm the other:)
I love your self-awareness in those two accounts. Awesome. Some day someone will appreciate that you're available for friendship and not be stand-offish/uninclusive:) (which isn't a word, but you know what I mean). We YL/Navy folk are just more intentional, what can we say:)
um, you're officially a park lurker now. even with kids in tow, you have qualified at least for partial lurker status.
hopefully you didn't break out the honeymoon photos you 'accidentally' showed me and paul.
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