I will admit that I’m not what you would call a conventional mom. I cringe when I use that term because I feel like no mom really feels like a “conventional mom”,  but for lack of a better word, we’re going to use it.

I am a younger mom, and generally just a smaller person, so I tend too look even younger than I actually am. I wear leggings and over sized T-shirts. I love skinny jeans, cardigans, and boots. I have long messy hair that is most likey thrown into what I like to call the “F-it bun” (you all know what i’m talking about). I carry a backpack instead of a diaper bag. I wear winged eyeliner. I know how to use Twitter and Periscope. I know who Fetty Wap is (unfortunately). I talk about Harry Potter with your kids. Most people, when you look at me, would not immediately think “mom”.

But, like any mom knows, being a mom is the most important thing in my life. I hand-make my kids Christmas stockings. I work from home so my kids don’t have to go to daycare. They go to ballet and gymnastics, just like other kids do. I make homemade granola bars. I painstakingly match their tiny little socks and sort out their legos just like any other mom does. I DIYed our “elf on the shelf” because good god, who wants to spend 30 dollars on that creepy little dude? I love my kids, just like other moms do.

So what is it about me that makes other moms so weird about me?  It’s in line at school. It’s at piano lessons. I get that I probably get mistaken for the babysitter, or people are judging me, some people are extroverted, or I’m just intimidating.

But, what REALLY irks me, is that I’ve tried making conversation with these women at the bus stop more than once. They’re polite and they answer, but there is always an underlying feeling of unease, like they’re wondering why I’m talking to them and they’re just waiting for me to usher my kid onto the bus and go home. It’s a little bothersome that I know your children’s birthdays and you don’t even want to know my name. Meh. It’s more effort to make conversation with these women who obviously have no interest in including me in their conversation than I’m willing to put in.

To be fair, the last thing I want to do is talk about mom probs at 7am. I have nothing in common with these women, and in a life without children, we probably would not be friends. BUT- these are the mothers of the kids that hang out in my yard with my daughter after school. It’s almost as if I feel the need to let them know that, I too, am a normal mother, so that they won’t feel weird about their children playing with my children. So far it’s been fine, but there are other issues that are more worrisome than just not being courted by the mom cliques.

If you think your kids don’t notice that three moms are all grouped together and you are standing by yourself- you’re wrong. They definitely notice when these women are together and obviously gossiping about you. Yes, this happens on occasion. Yes, I always look to see if myself or my kids are wearing something weird. My kids are all well groomed and wearing clean clothes that fit. Did I forget to wear a bra? Is my hair crazy? Nope. They’re just rude.

“Mom, how come the other moms don’t talk to you?”

OUCH.

You would think that, as moms, we would try to include each other in polite conversation, after all, we all have something in common. Especially being stay-at-home moms and not getting very much adult interaction, but no. So when these questions are asked by my 8 year old, instead of getting mad and yelling “BECAUSE THEY’RE JUST TOO COOL FOR YOUR OLD MOM” or “I DON’T WANT TO TALK TO THOSE BORING OLD BITTIES ANYWAYS!” , I try to spin it into a lesson, because, honestly, what else am I supposed to do? Let her see me get worked up over these bratty ladies?

“It’s okay if they don’t want to talk to me- they’re just talking to each other. They’re not doing anything wrong”

“But you try and talk to them, but they never try and talk to you.”

“Do you think that what they’re doing is very nice?”

“No.”

“What do you think is the right thing to do?”

“Try and talk to you so you don’t feel left out”

“What if they just don’t like me?”

“They should still be nice.”

“It’s okay if they don’t want to talk to me, but you’re right, the nice thing to do would be to try and make friends. We can’t make other people be nice, but we can try to be good examples.”

I halfway hope they can hear me from where they’re standing.

I’ve long since given up trying to strike up conversation with these women. I’ve accepted that there is something about me that just doesn’t sit right with them, and that’s ok. So far their kids still play with mine, and they all play together nicely, so that’s all that really matters. I do have other mom friends who are amazing people, so I know I’m not shunned by the entire mom population. We are just a little more like minded.

So, they can have their bus stop clique.

I’ll be sitting here with my skinny jeans on, writing about them on a blog.

Wanna wear winged liner to your bus stop, too? Check out this tutorial!

So, I decided I need to be prepared this year. Check out these 20 healthy holiday treats everyone will love.

 20 Healthy (But Still Yummy) Holiday Treats:

1. Strawberry Santas are so totally adorable. Plus they taste amazing!
2. Frozen Yogurt Trees are good for those of us who live where it’s still warm at Christmas time! (Like here in Texas, y’all!)
3. I think these Snowman Popcorn Cups are just the cutest things ever.
4. You can make the cutest little Santa’s Belly with Babybel Cheese.
5. Or you can even make Santa’s face. Seriously, who knew Babybel cheese was so versatile?
6. These little Snowman Cheese Sticks are super cute at a party, but I also just stick them in my daughters’s lunch every once in a while for an extra treat!
7. Of course if you’re extra fancy, you can always fix a batch of these Spinach Artichoke Frittata Trees. (Side note: I really like saying frittata.)
8. Make a little grinch fruit kabob. These are totally adorable!
9. We always make this Reindeer Pretzel Candy and hand it out to the neighbors!
10. But we also LOVE these little snowmen pretzels and can’t wait to make these this year!
11. Snowy Chocolate Pine Cones are like, sort of healthy because they’re made with Fiber One.
12. This little bento Christmas tree would be the perfect after-school and now the holidays are starting snack!
13. Or you could make a little reindeer sandwich instead. I kind of want to eat a reindeer sandwich.
14. I love everything candy cane. Including this totally adorable Candy Cane Jell-O snack!
15. I like to serve these Santa crackers to little guests. (I use turkey pepperoni.) They love them so much!
16. I let the kids make their own banana snowmen. It’s tasty AND a great activity for kids!
17. I love these little snowman milk jugs! So easy and your kids will just be drinking MILK!
18. Make a Christmas tree fruit plate for everyone to enjoy. Who doesn’t love a fruit plate?
19. Christmas tree pita snacks could totally be a whole lunch! Yum!
20. Or you can even make Christmas Tree watermelon wedges. Adorbs.

I love the idea of a healthier Christmas this year. Maybe I won’t need to make as many New Year’s Resolutions!