Playground etiquette

Before you have children, many overbearing well-intentioned mothers who have gone before you make sure to impart all of their wisdom to you.  But sometimes there are things they don't tell you.  Important things, like how to disassemble the seat from swings/walkers/highchairs as quickly as possible once they have been pooped and/or vomited on so you can get them in the washing machine before the stain sets, or whether or not you should put the pacifier back in your baby's mouth if it falls on the floor in front of the pediatrician but they are screaming bloody murder after getting their shots.

Something else they don't usually enlighten you about is proper playground etiquette.  This is why I was totally stumped about what to do when I took Davis to the park for the first time last week to try out the baby swing and another mom came up shortly thereafter to put her baby in the swing next to us.  I smiled and said hello, preparing myself to make small talk - but I was greeted with silence.  So we stood there, separated by only 2 or 3 feet, silently pushing our babies in their swings for what felt like hours but was probably only about 5 minutes.  I guess it wasn't awkward for her, but it was excruciating for me!

So when I showed up at the park the next day, I was paralyzed with fear when I realized she was back and had beat me to the swings.  Initially someone else was using the swing next to them, so Davis and I hung out like creepy stalkers at a safe distance, waiting for one of the swings to open up.  I tried to pass the time by texting Wade about my dilemma, who responded by mocking my irrational fears.

After several minutes had passed, I had given up and we were about to leave the park when I noticed the other swing open up.  It was the moment of truth: should I avoid the potentially awkward situation and go back home, or should I get over it and press forward?  In the end, my lack of desire to go home and find another way to entertain Davis triumphed and we headed to the swings.

I greeted her with a smile and was fully prepared to carry on in silence from there, but then homegirl turned all Chatty Cathy on me!  We had a pleasant conversation for the next 10 minutes or so, and after she left, another mom and her son took their spot in the swing next to us, and I had an equally pleasant chat with that mom.  I did it!  In only 2 days, I had mastered the art of playground etiquette.  I had visions of many more afternoons spent at the park, keeping Davis happy while making friends of my own with the fellow moms...

That is, until I showed up yesterday, plopped Davis down in the swing next to another kid, greeted the other mom, and then watched her promptly pick her daughter up out of the swing and leave.  Back to square one I go!