Ice breaker, the friendmaker {the series - part 1}

A couple of weekends ago I attended a 30th birthday party of a friend I met through a facebook mothers group which she had established.

While on maternity leave and on one of our daily pram walks, Amelie and I came across a notice stuck to a local shop window. The note invited any interested mothers in the area to join a local mother’s group on facebook.

Amelie was about 9 months old at the time and I was experiencing the height of a new found loneliness I’d never experienced before, missing the regular contact with my closest friends (who had also recently become mothers) which we had once enjoyed pre-children.

I joined the facebook page that day and was invited to the first ‘meet and greet’ at the local park with the instructions to look out for a ‘big red pram’. I met some lovely ladies and as for the organiser, we* have been friends ever since.

Before heading off to the party, I assured Justin that I probably wouldn’t be home too late as I only knew 2 people going to the party (that being the birthday girl and one other mum from the mother’s group plus a few that I had met once or twice).

When I arrived, I found myself in what some may regard as a highly embarrassing predicament - I was wearing an identical dress to another guest at what was a relatively small gathering.

As it turns out, I couldn’t have possibly have asked for a better icebreaker. I immediately had a laugh with the other lady wearing the dress… and most of the people at the party. The lady wearing the same dress and I posed for photos together and on either side of the birthday girl and there were jokes thrown around about us being the birthday girl’s bridesmaids and/or back up dancers etc.

So thanks to a coincidental choice in dress and a good sense of humour, it was a great night that I didn’t plan or expect but obviously needed and relished. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I had such a big night (and early morning) out.

Next time I experience an embarrassing moment, I'll have to remember this and think how I can turn it on its head. I found my potentially embarrassing moment to be one of the all time best party icebreakers …and a surprisingly easy way to make new friends…

...pity I (or any of my new friends) didn’t find (or didn’t have the heart to point out) the herb that was firmly lodged in between my teeth all night.

* See Nat, I told you, you'd feature in a post one day.