Ladies who lunch

Natalie and I attended a moms and babies luncheon yesterday, and I'm pleased to report that all went well. She was very well behaved, I was able to eat my lunch and listen to a very interesting and helpful lecture on sleep issues (hers, not mine!), and we even made a new friend! We already have plans to go for a walk tomorrow and to another luncheon next week. Because of my aforementioned social anxiety issues, I am so relieved to have met a new friend with a baby who lives nearby, and I was even able to briefly tell her about Julian without either of us getting all twitchy. At first I felt kind of silly signing up for every single class, group, and baby lunch I can find (not to mention feeling a little guilty about the money it costs), but having a structured environment in which to possibly meet other moms is really useful since it doesn't force me to get up the courage to chat someone up in the park or wherever else it is that moms hang out. I also find it helpful to observe how other moms do things. Helps with my anxiety about whether I'm "doing it right," or whether or not certain things are socially acceptable to do in public. (Wow, I'm coming off as way more neurotic than I really am--I swear!)