What kind of Party are you going to have?

Kiddies parties can be rather stressful place, when you don't know a soul and you are expected to mingle. But they can certainly be a place of learning.  In some ways, they can for adults be more intimidating than speaking to a crowd of people, because at least they will hopefully sit quietly and listen to what you have to say. It is a bit harder, when you are thrust into a social context, where kids run off and mingle so easily and yet the parents need to hang around and get to know each other. Today I used the time to study how the kids operate in a social context and realised how much we as adults, should be learning from them.  There are several different personalities and yet no sign of discrimination. They speak freely to each other even though they have just met and they mingle in and out, with all those at the event. Kids are effectively good at networking, they talk about current affairs they share and they interact without fear of rejection, prejudices and class. They are unaffected by insecurities and attitudes and they just get on without worrying about wealth and where you live and what you do. It is less about station in life and more about letting your hair down and having fun.  As adults we spend so much time consumed by what others think and how we will be perceived, if our outfit is right and if we said the right things.  We sometimes agree with others, when really we do not share the same view and we often make small talk instead of getting to the thrust, or meat of a conversation.  I am not saying we should argue without fact, but we too often smile and wave, when kids just get into the conversation straight away and say 'yes' they like it and 'no' they don't.  There is also a lot more forgiveness in the children and they tend to get over things way more quickly if they get hurt.  Next time you are at such a party, watch the way they deal with problems and issues and realise like I do, that I should "eat more cake at parties".