{my takeaway from a Mom's Night Out}
Tonight there was a Mom's Night Out at a local wine bar for mothers of third graders at our elementary school. For the past two weeks, I have been hesitant about attending; I was just sure I was going to walk into the bar and not know a single person. I went back and forth about going, but the last minute I just decided to do it. I figured you don't get to say you want to know more people in your community and then turn down an invitation to get to know more people in your community.
After a little stalling directly beforehand, I quickly got myself ready. I walked into the crowded bar and had a moment of panic when I did not see anyone that I knew. Within five seconds of stepping in the door, I was already trying to figure out how to make a graceful exit. Thankfully, I then spotted a familiar face- the mom of a friend that Luke just had over to play yesterday. I walked over to her and discovered that she was talking to another mom that I knew. Complete relief. We then spotted two other moms we knew from second grade, and the five of us grabbed a table.
As we had a glass of wine, we talked about all things Webster and parenthood and third grade. As the conversation evolved (and probably as the glasses of wine were emptied...), one of the women admitted how nervous she had been about coming. As we all kind of nodded our heads in agreement, another woman said she only came because she knew one of her friends was also coming and that she would not have come solo. I was so surprised by these confessions as all of these women seem so confident. I was really surprised later to hear one of the women- someone who has always just exuded confidence, in my opinion- admit that she struggles with shyness and has a hard time meeting people because of it.
So my takeaway from my hour at Mom's Night Out and $14 glass of wine is this: It is so easy to assume that everyone around you has more confidence than you, but the reality is that they might just be really good at faking it.
After a little stalling directly beforehand, I quickly got myself ready. I walked into the crowded bar and had a moment of panic when I did not see anyone that I knew. Within five seconds of stepping in the door, I was already trying to figure out how to make a graceful exit. Thankfully, I then spotted a familiar face- the mom of a friend that Luke just had over to play yesterday. I walked over to her and discovered that she was talking to another mom that I knew. Complete relief. We then spotted two other moms we knew from second grade, and the five of us grabbed a table.
As we had a glass of wine, we talked about all things Webster and parenthood and third grade. As the conversation evolved (and probably as the glasses of wine were emptied...), one of the women admitted how nervous she had been about coming. As we all kind of nodded our heads in agreement, another woman said she only came because she knew one of her friends was also coming and that she would not have come solo. I was so surprised by these confessions as all of these women seem so confident. I was really surprised later to hear one of the women- someone who has always just exuded confidence, in my opinion- admit that she struggles with shyness and has a hard time meeting people because of it.
So my takeaway from my hour at Mom's Night Out and $14 glass of wine is this: It is so easy to assume that everyone around you has more confidence than you, but the reality is that they might just be really good at faking it.
Comments
And yes, very good.