After a discussion with my son yesterday, it really hit hard that I need to develop some friendships so we have a network of people to do things with. I have not one friend. NOT ONE! My ex has a huge social circle that he and the kids used to do things with, and since he's gotten a girlfriend he's stopped doing things with the kids and his friends. In fact, he's stopped doing things with the kids at all. My son is really upset by it, to the point of tears.

I buy books on how to make small talk, how to start and continue conversations, etc., but I'm afraid to open my mouth because I think I'm too boring or they'll be disgusted by my less-than-movie-star-quality teeth. (I lost my last baby tooth in November and I don't have the thousands of dollars to have bridge work done to replace it. My kids say it's not that noticeable, but I don't want to believe them. And I have 27-year-old crowns on my top front teeth that are opaque because they have metal backs). I felt hideous before I lost the tooth, and now I feel 100% unlikeable. Who wants to talk to someone with missing and unevenly colored teeth?

This is the dumbest thing to hold me back from talking to people, I know, but I can't get over it. My self esteem was already shot, and then I lose a tooth on top of it.