Has this friendship fizzled?

[Anonymous]

We had a nascent friendship going with neighbors down the street, but things seem to have fizzled and I'm wondering if it's worth holding out hope that this friendship will continue.

We both moved to the same block earlier last year. We have toddlers who are a few months apart. The first couple of times we would run into them, they would always talk about wanting to set up a playdate. We had 2 playdates (the first initiated by us, second by them). The mom invited me to a neighborhood moms' group and they invited us to Halloween and holiday parties at their place. They came to our kid's birthday party in the fall. It all seemed to be going pretty well.

The last time we saw them was at their holiday party. They invited us to their kid's birthday party, but we couldn't go, so I had DD make a little present for the kid and dropped it off in their mailbox with a note saying "I hope we can get together soon!"

This was last week, and there has been no acknowledgement of the present. The mom also didn't reply to my text saying we couldn't go to the party.

Am I reading too much into this? Is it worth trying to set up a playdate? I'm admittedly somewhat socially awkward and I'm not the greatest at sensing the right back and forth of a friendship, but I also want my daughter to have friends in the neighborhood; it's a big reason we moved to the burbs.

[Anonymous]

Too soon to get worried. She's probably just busy or kids are sick. I'm bad about checking email.

[Anonymous]

It’s been a week and it’s the dead of winter when people are tired from the holidays and hunkered down inside with a bowl of soup and Netflix. Relax and go with the flow.

[Anonymous]

You saw them last at THEIR holiday party. I think it is your turn to host.

[Anonymous]

I thought this was going to be something like "we haven't spoken in months," but it's last week? Good grief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was going to be something like "we haven't spoken in months," but it's last week? Good grief.

We haven't seen them since mid-December. Last week was when I dropped off the present that didn't receive a reply.

In any case, I'll try to initiate plans and see how it goes.

[Anonymous]

She's got a toddler. She might be disorganized. Reach out to her to suggest coffee.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like no big deal. A month can
Easily go by without seeing our good
Friend neighbors this time of year.

[Anonymous]

Ball is in your court to host.

[Anonymous]

If you have to ask....

[Anonymous]

"I hope we can get together soon!"

Op --- you owe them an invitation. The above is not an invitation.

An invitation is when you mention an actual calendar date, or their choice of a couple actual calendar dates, or time period.

[Anonymous]

Just curious - why drop of the present with a note and no interaction? Why the mailbox? Seems very impersonal, with an impersonal note. I mean - you were at the mailbox...you couldn't walk a few feet more and knock on the door?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious - why drop of the present with a note and no interaction? Why the mailbox? Seems very impersonal, with an impersonal note. I mean - you were at the mailbox...you couldn't walk a few feet more and knock on the door?

It was right before I left for work, and I didn't want to bother them at 7am. I also wanted to get it to them before his birthday; we were about to go away for the weekend.

[Anonymous]

No big deal. Spring will roll around and you guys will catch up again when you take the kids out to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious - why drop of the present with a note and no interaction? Why the mailbox? Seems very impersonal, with an impersonal note. I mean - you were at the mailbox...you couldn't walk a few feet more and knock on the door?

It was right before I left for work, and I didn't want to bother them at 7am. I also wanted to get it to them before his birthday; we were about to go away for the weekend.

Ah. Okay.

Well I don't think you have anything to worry about - like other posters - it's winter, cold and nasty. Everyone has the frumps with all the goings on.

I think as another suggested, that perhaps a formal invite to something in the next couple of weeks - playdate or perhaps a kids movie date or something to get the ball rolling. Don't let it fizzle if you don't want it to! Be proactive - I know if I were them, I'd appreciate the push because I'm scatter brained and a bit introverted so it helps me make plans.