Stress Monkey Goes to a Birthday Party

This past Saturday was the day of a birthday party for a child of one of Stress Monkey's husbands' friends. I'm not that comfortable around these friends.RSVPing yes to said event had already sent StressMonkey into a tailspin of anxiety. What will I talk to people about? What gift will I buy this child? I barely know him...but what I buy says volumes about me and I will be judged for said gift purchase. Therefore, I must buy the perfect gift. I decided to salvage the few last remining bits of sanity as small as they are and ask for gift advice. Despote the advice, I still wound up spending a good hoiur in Toys R Us agonizing over a gift for a 3 year old. Ah, the life and energy of StreeeMonkey.

Party day arrived and was filled with immense anxiety that had already been building for weeks since RSVPing yes for this party. Why did I say yes? StressMonkey's husband decided to throw her a curverball saying he didn't see the need to arrive at the party until 90 minutes after it started, which sent her into a hyper tailspin. Great, now, everyone was already judging me and will judge me so much more because we're late. She was relieved when they walked in and no one seemed phased that they were late. As she quickly grew uncomfortable around her peers, a rather common occurrence we have nothing to talk about she was happy when people strated going into the pool which served as a nice activity and distraction to the lull in conversation. She quickly gravitated toward the kids, her safety net, to avoid any awkward peer encounters. She found a nice balance in playing with them then drifting back to the peers for a few moments then drifting back to kids again when she inevitably felt awkward again.

Leaving was also awkward as she left at the same time as another girl who was encouraged to come back later while StressMonkey wasn't. Why wasn't I invited to come back? No one wants me around. The irony is that Stressmonkey has no desire to be close friends with this person, but yet she wants said person to want to be friends with her regardless. Yes, emotional StressMonkey land is one filled with logic. Good night kids!