We're Through

Dear Snotty Moms from my Moms Group:

It is with great regret that I must inform you that I am no longer in need of your services. The past few years have been a most interesting experience - one that I will not likely be capable of duplicating.

I came to you, alone and bewildered, seeking companionship and advice. Although it must have been difficult for you to accept an outsider into your ranks, you made certain to advise me on the correct way to do just about everything child-related. When I went astray, you issued almost subtle reminders to stay the true path. When I tried to make connections beyond our weekly appointments, you urged me to stay strong and self-reliant in my independence. At times, I thought I was being rebuffed, but now I know that I was simply being over-sensitive. You surely had my best interests at heart.

I feel just terrible that I didn't get to speak much with any of you at the "1-year-old Party". I was too concerned that my newly walking child would topple and hurt himself. At the "2-year-old Party", finding myself with no one to talk to, I simply played fun games with your children while you chatted amongst yourselves. I hope you didn't find it rude that I'd rather hang out with your kids than you. It didn't come as much of a surprise to me that I ending up only hanging out with my boys at the "3-year-old Party". The baby was young and needed tending. And no doubt you felt a disconnect, as we hadn't had a decent conversation for several years.

I'm not sure why I chose to go to Niagara with a bunch of you awhile back. It sounded like fun, and a chance to get away for the weekend. I didn't miss having a roomate at all, actually. I really don't like to share a bathroom unless absolutely necessary. And, I got a good night's sleep. That alone was worth the trip.

It really was my fault about joining the Book Club. I knew full well that I don't like being told what to read, and how fast. I chafe at the bit. In this, if nothing else, I am a free spirit. I was a little ticked off when - for months - not one of my book suggestions was even considered. When the group finally came round and agreed to read my proposed novel, it was certainly a coincidence that the group simply didn't meet that month. And never spoke of the book again.

Please understand that it is, to be utterly cliché, not you - it's me. I wanted connect with friendly women. When you couldn't be those women, I should have left. I persisted. I wanted playmates for my son. I wanted him to get to know some of the kids he would eventually go to school with. Knowing that some of you are destined for the PTA, I didn't want any bias against me to affect him. I tried and I tried. And then I tried again.

I'm tired of trying. I'm tired of being snubbed in the street, the coffee shop, and the park. I'm tired of being ignored. I'm tired of caring about being ignored. I'm just really tired. So, when you see me in one of those places and I don't say hello, please don't be offended. I didn't say hello because I simply didn't see you. If I had seen you, I would have come over, made pleasantries, and then made my excuses to leave. I was, after all, raised to be polite. Bitter, but polite.

Yours truly,
Nomo