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Anxiety re street party

(109 Posts)
Louella12 Sat 22-Apr-23 17:20:44

I'd just take a cake. Wish everyone well and go back home. That's what we do. Street parties are not my thing at all

Willow73 Sat 22-Apr-23 17:17:19

Thank you for all your advice.
I think I will go along but know I’m going to feel uncomfortable. It’s the reason I don’t join clubs or classes just having to converse to others, gets worse as I get older.

62Granny Sat 22-Apr-23 14:27:13

When we had a party last year for the Jubilee , I bought two ready prepared pizza cooked them on the day and took them down , my husband did not want to come as he is not a royalist . I stayed about 40 mins said a little hello to some to the neighbours I knew and introduced my self to others then came home everyone was lovely there was no pressure stay for hours I knew the children would enjoy the pizza and I seen a few of them taking a slice.
Some had taken chairs and a their own picnic and small bottle of fizz or beer others had set up a BBQ outside their front. Honestly it was very relaxed. You don't need to feel pressurised at all.

pandapatch Sat 22-Apr-23 14:19:54

What exactly are you anxious about? what food to take,?chatting to people you don't know? I was going to suggest other possible anxieties, but didn't want to give you things you hadn't thought about to add to the list (I am an expert worrier!!!)

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 22-Apr-23 14:14:51

I hate enforced jollity. I’d be wolfing my sandwich and cake as quickly as possible and inventing a reason to have to get home (headache coming on?). We deliberately chose a very small village with mainly retired people, no screaming kids, and they don’t go in for this sort of thing thank goodness. Bah humbug!

BlueBelle Sat 22-Apr-23 14:13:58

I think it’s natural to feel a bit shy and unsure for a lot of people when they don’t know anybody, but you have got a husband with you not like making this move on your own
The only way is to plaster a smile on your face and do a bit of small talk you know the stuff ‘what a beautiful day’ ‘I love your little girls coronation dress’ ‘what a lovely turn out’ ‘I’m fairly new here my names willow what’s yours?’ If no one mixes at least you have your husband to hang on to
Take your cake and sandwich and if you’re good at cooking why not make a plate if something simple like cheese straws to offer around you can always make friends with food 😂
You might make a lifelong friend You never know I ve got a best friend that I met just by chatting out of the blue it’s not easy if it doesn’t come naturally I used to be painfully shy but as I ‘grew up’ I found I could talk to anyone, anywhere. Still not so good in important situations though

wildswan16 Sat 22-Apr-23 14:13:29

Take along a plate of sausage rolls, or cakes. Then just be honest. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know your younger neighbours. Introduce yourself, that you are very new to the street and how lovely it is to have an opportunity to meet everyone. How nice it is to have so many youngsters around. etc etc. I'm sure there will be other "older folks" there too, so you can gravitate towards them if you feel more comfortable.

If you feel too stressed out then you are quite at liberty to go back home. Just don't start getting stressed before it even happens - worrying is difficult to stop, but doesn't help anything really.

AGAA4 Sat 22-Apr-23 14:09:48

Arrange to be out if you really don't like street parties. Or you could just be there for a short time. You may actually enjoy it and want to stay.

Willow73 Sat 22-Apr-23 13:55:52

I moved to our street a year ago. They all know each other as they have young children. We are having a street party and they have said bring your own food. For my husband and me that will be a sandwich and cake! I don’t find it easy to socialise at the best of times and have started having anxiety problems over this. Any advice is welcome and does anyone else feel like me?