Girl Talk

One of the somewhat troubling realizations I have had since I have left my job at the law firm is that I have no idea how to speak to women. I have worked in a male-dominated field for long enough that I am more comfortable talking about work and sports with guys, than I am just conversing about kids, life, etc. with women. I did not socialize with women in my office, only the men - I was one of only a handful of women attorneys, so there weren't many opportunities. Outside of work, I really only had acquaintances, I now realize.

Getting together with "the girls," whomever the girls de jour may be frightens me. I can talk to people, but not with them. My social conversations have always been in the limited and guarded confines of the office.

At playgroup, I find myself at a loss for words, not knowing what else to say. Or find myself talking too much - because I want the other women to like me. It is as if I am out of practice. I need to go to the conversational batting cages. For someone who is never at a loss for words in most situations, I find my words almost meaningless when I am with a group of women. Let me talk about the latest court order, and I am great. Ask me about my latest shopping conquest, and I don't know what to do.

Perhaps I am trying to hard . . . I want to be the woman on her cell phone with a friend at 8:00 in the morning in carpool line (what in the world they are talking about at that hour is beyond me . . .). I want to be the one people call just to chat (though, admittedly, I'd have to work on that one - given my playgroup tongue-tie-edness).

I know in my heart, it will come in time, this bonding with other women . . . it just takes practice.

Just stop me when I start talking shop . . .