Update to The Neighbors

So the pitch-in was pretty much what I thought it would be, even though I did try and tailor my mind to being more accepting and open to "hey maybe this will be fun and I will meet some other moms to actually interact with" - eh, not so much. I was happy with my morning church and errands before 11am accomplishments though :)

I was downstairs doing my mock fantasy football draft (because that is the type of person I am;)) during the prep, which was loud, and awaiting the first arrivals. Start time went by and nothing...crickets, hurried "call and remind them" noises came from upstairs, and 15 minutes later I started hearing unfamiliar voices upstairs. So once I took care of business, I shut down the laptop and headed upstairs - bracing myself. I said a quick nice to meet you or see you again or two then headed for the cooler containing my, hey it's past noon and I am here beer. It seemed to be all good, ate a chip, listened to conversations, watched some kids play then cue awkwardness. "Where is your little one?" Standard "it's a dad day" response, trying to smile reply followed by the standard silence. Then I was asked about her, said something that she likes to sing, my mom threw in that she loves to "twirl." Ok, so my jaw hardened a little more as the kiddo likes to spin in order to get vestibular feedback, she doesn't "twirl."

Then came the convo of Suburbia:
Neighbor: Oh, is she in any classes?
Me: She goes to daycare three days a week.
Neighbor: That's good, but does she take like dance classes or anything?
Me: *trying not to choke on food* Uh, no.
Neighbor goes on about the various offerings, locations, types, and age groups of dance/gymnastics classes that are offered around here. I about choked, no really almost choked on my food after stuffing in a laugh - my kiddo just turned two, can't sit/stand still and though I will support any chosen activity, I don't do dance.

So that was that kind of and I then knew how to prepare myself for the rest, the husband of said neighbor talking macho talk about his college baseball days, my dad preparing everyone that "food is coming, food is coming" and the awkward handouts about the Native American tribe that our street is named after for the kids- no not joking at all! Not to mention that she kept calling them Indians when our new Indian neighbors kids were at the table - I wanted to scream out Native American but chose to stay out of the awkwardness. I then went to work on actual Labor Day, thankfully.

So that is the story, now more waves come, I chat here and there because my kiddo likes to see the big kids off on the bus (of course we are outside at 8am, who isn't), and I watch more little boxes going up, up, up all around.