We are not close. Not high school friends, not neighbors, we don’t even go to the same church. (I don’t even go to church)
But online, we’re friends. Facebook, mom group, liking each other’s comments, pictures, reposted funny memes about drinking. I have met you a handful of times, we’ve joked a few times about extra baby weight, maybe thought about hanging out outside of the mom group, maybe not.
Then I’m invited to your kid’s birthday party. That’s so sweet you thought of me, and my kid. We’d love to go. I think about what your kid would like, maybe give him something that I bought for my kid, but doesn’t need. What is the consumer surplus on this? Should I spend $20 maybe $25. I settle for $20.
We go to the party. Give our gift. And never see each other again.
Until I invite you to my kid’s party. You rsvp. Then drop out the day of. You don’t come. No reason why.
Then I get invited to your second kid’s party.
I’m not here to complain but I need to emphasize why this is strange and off and why in mom politics, it’s not cool.
Like I get that shit comes up. Kid’s get sick. Shit goes down, you need to stay home. But, we aren’t friends and this is why. So let’s stop pretending on Facebook. Let’s stop throwing out invites to so-so people just because they’re in the moms’ group. Let’s say no. Because I have better things to waste $20 on. I have other things I could be doing or not doing on a Saturday.
Just pledge that it’s over. That we don’t have to play this game anymore. I don’t hate you. We’re just not friends.
polkadotdog 