...that's my name

So picking up Jackson from preschool today I was approached by a mom that I've exchanged smiles with over the past few weeks. Her son is in the same class as Jackson and so we see each other in the parking lot and at the door waiting for the stampede of kids to come out at 11:30.

She said they just moved here and her son is missing all his old friends and wants to make some new ones. Jackson's name came up as a potential sandbox pal so she asked if we'd like to have a play date. I'm always up for making a new friend so I said "sure!"

She told me her name, and I did a full on triple-spit-take. "SERENA?! But that's my name!" I've never been friends with a Serena before (well I have but she didn't pronounce it the same way - I was always getting in trouble for her overdue library books in elementary school). Spelled the same way and everything. Maybe it's a good sign - maybe this woman won't end up being a total weirdo like other moms I have befriended in the past.

Having kids is not enough to have in common with somebody. It does not automatically mean that you'll be great companions, or even that their children will be as kind to yours as you expect yours to be to theirs. This seems obvious, right? Then why do so many people end up hanging out just so that their children can chase each other around the playground? I'll tell you why - because it's HARD to find people as cool as you think you are who also decided to have kids when you did. The odds just aren't that great - not around here anyway.

I'm not saying I'm cool, I'm saying I think I'm cool. Anyway, this other Serena might already think I'm questionable for the way I reacted when she told me her name but I'm hoping that we'll find it easy to be around each other and maybe we'll have somebody new to add to the "who wants to come to the beach with us?" roster this summer.

Once Kindergarten starts we'll have a new batch of families to choose from and since it's private school we might find that at least a couple of them have some things in common with us. Speaking of which, we'll be meeting the whole new Kindergarten class next month! All the kids and their families are invited to a tea party to be hosted by their soon-to-be teacher.

On the same topic - who the hell is this?