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[mamajoan]

We went to a different playground tonight, and there were much fewer kids, so we had a better time. After everyone left except for us and one other mom-baby pair, the other mom started chatting me up. It was a little weird to me because she was almost what I'd call aggressively friendly -- asking all kinds of questions about us, certainly in a "getting-to-know-you" sort of way, but I wasn't sure if she was trying in an awkward way to express her desire to be friends, or simply desperate for adult conversation. ;)

Anyway, she was Indian and had a thick accent and some confusing turns of phrase, but we communicated pretty well. Her daughter is 14 months old and named Fatima. (She asked Isaac's name and told me her daughter's, but neither asked my name nor told me hers.) It was kind of funny what she was asking. How old is Isaac? Is he scared[of the playground/other kids]? Because her child (she tells me) is often fearful around strangers. Do I work? Part-time or full-time? What about my husband? (Had a bit of difficulty communicating the concept of "no husband.") Where do we live? Oh, she lives on that street too. Where is Isaac while I work? Is it a home daycare or government (her phrasing)? Do they charge by the hour or week? How much does it cost? Is today my day off and that's why we're at the playground? (note, it was 7:30pm by this time!) Do I like the smaller lighter stroller? Yes, she thinks one like that might be good when her baby is older, but with the baby so young she thinks the bigger one is better, even though it's heavy and awkward to haul around. Etc., and on and on!

In the midst of all this she nursed her daughter and then changed her diaper, then sat her down on the bench and told her not to be scared, and walked maybe 20 feet away to wash her hands in the drinking fountain, leaving the baby with me. The baby watched her the whole time and did seem a little wary of me but not overly frightened.

Then she asked if we were going home. I said I didn't know. :) We had already tried to leave twice, but after walking out one gate and down the sidewalk, we came to another gate that led back into the playground, and Isaac, who was pushing his stroller, went back in. This happened twice, and she saw it so she understood when I said I didn't know. *g* We did start to leave, and she put her baby in the stroller and followed us. We walked to the end of the street together (one long block) and then parted ways.

Anyway, it was just kind of weird. I've never been so openly "courted" as a friend by a mom that way. I guess I could have been more open -- I mean, I was friendly, but I didn't make a real effort to encourage her, you know? Mostly because I was tired and hot and hungry and just not really in the mood. Probably this is why I don't have more friends. :/

Oh, and then when we got home, the woman who lives next door to us -- a white woman with an Indian husband and a little girl -- told me that they are moving. She seemed to want to chat, but Isaac was wailing (hungry and tired) and I couldn't hear half of what she said, so I just wished her well and went on home. So, if anyone's looking for a VERY small house in Somerville, give me a yell...!

Comments

[ismenia.livejournal.com]

I suppose the woman was probably lonely. It must be especially difficult to make friends when you don't speak the language that well.