Fern wrote:
For my ninth birthday party, my mom invited every girl in my grade to skate up and down our street followed by cake and icecream. They all had a great time, but I ended up hiding in the garage with my dog most of the time. It was far too loud, and I felt bad that my dog couldn't come out and have fun too (because some of the girls didn't like dogs). Much to my poor mom's disappointment I told her I'd rather spend my party in there with my best friend.
I've learned to like people a lot more as I've grown older though. I'll never stop loving my pets, but I've come to recognize the things I love about them in other people as well.
My goodness. I'm sure your mother meant well, but this event requires a presidential candidate level of social skills!

I mean, really, to engage in host behavior with a bunch of people, some of them perhaps in the beginning stages of friendship with you, and some of them not. This is not merely a level of social skills broadly in the average range. This kind of event requires a high level of social skill and energy.