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[squeaker99]

Word of wisdom please.

I finally plucked up courage to start a mums group and the first meeting is
tonight. I've got to chair it and there will be people there I don't know. I used to do this
kind of thing all the time (15 years ago) but not recently. I find myself very nervous.
What is I corpse? What if I make a total idiot of myself? What if I go bright red every time I speak?

Any tips please? (Apart from remembering to breathe)

[Two hoots]

Well done you  stop worrying  don't they recommend picturing everyone in the nude 

[squeaker99]

  thank you, good one

[Ladybt28]

That's what I was going to say...picture them all nude.  Anyway squeaker so what if you do....you're doing better than anyone else starting it and I'm sure that there will be people there who are nervous themselves for just turning up!
You could all be in the same boat so don't worry...it'll be grand! 
Good luck x

[jillydoll]

Good luck for tonight Squeaker.
Stay focused on what youve got to say, and dont think about your face going red, or it will.
Just keep concentrating on whats going on at that time, nothing else!
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
You WILL be fine, youve done it before, and you CAN do it again.....xxx

[CLKD]

A mum's group for what exactly?

Why not be straight up: "I haven't done this type of event for ages so am a bit nervous, anyone understand?"  Throw it open to the floor for a few moments which will relax others. 

Many++ years ago I offered to do a talk and as I put the 'phone down thought "What HAVE I DONE!" so I wrote out the talk, remembered that they were more interested in the topic than in me and practiced until I felt less nervous.  On the Day, Great!

[CLKD]

You'll ............  my apostrophes seem to be working 


Let us know how you get on?

[jillydoll]

Haha! It's happened to Birdy too!

[CLKD]

All on other gadgets? 

[squeaker99]

I'm back! I survived. You are all right of course - what matters is that I set it up in the first place and managed to get
some people to turn up.

There was one 'attendee' who thought they were an expect and  talked loudly on things not really related to the subject matter.
I find these sorts of people really hard to deal with - always have. I think of lots of things BEFORE and AFTER as to how I could handle them but always feel a bit railroaded/overshadowed at the time. I tried to get back to the agenda a few times but she always ended up
holding court.

I find I am quite good at bringing these things together, marketing them but not chairing them - I feel like a rabbit in the headlights when I'm faced with faces if you see what I mean. I write down all the things I plan to say, they the meeting gets side tracked and I don't say them! I need a thicker skin.

Anyway, I survived and the next one is months away now.

Thanks for your wonderful support ladies 

[squeaker99]

Birdy  Thank You. That will be my 'thought for the day'.

[CLKD]

What's it all about anyway?

Did you sleep ?

[Two hoots]

And relax  doing something for the first time is always nerve wracking, but you've gone and done it 

[squeaker99]

It's a support group for parents (well mothers really, they're the ones that turn up to these things) of kids that struggle with anxiety or bullying or mental health in general. Have been meaning to try and set up one for a while.

I think I need to JOIN a group for parents that struggle with anxiety (me) or bullying (from my mother)
and mental health (up and down!). 

Another Meno symptom - where HAD my confidence gone? In my 30s I would just sail through meetings,
groups, life in general - come home, sleep well etc  I have less on now (other than a family....) but I worry
so much more. My husband calls me a 'shivery whippet'. 

CLKD - you are a mind reader. I have slept great for months but last night I tossed and turned and sweated going over
the meeting and how I should have handled it.  Especially with the mouthy woman.  Can't help it - my brain just snaps into anxious mode at the first sign of adrenaline then my body/brain just feel different.

Painting today. Then def some exercise although the weather here is pants.

[CLKD]

'shivering whippet'  .

I bluffed my way through my teens, well into my 30s.  Didn't find out who I was until 34  ........ now, anxiety apart, I could Take on the World  so look out!

Well done!  Safe places are important to encourage others to share ;-)