Am grateful for the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone this week.

First, our regular house guest Annie brought her friend C for the trip. Have surprised myself by stepping easily into the role of hostess and helping her settle in and get acquainted with our household routine. It certainly helps that C is one of those very easygoing types who prefer following to leading.

My inner coach has also stepped up to the plate, noticing things C says, how she says them, asking for clarification, always curious, non-judging and ready to challenge surface comments for the intent behind them. Annie has commented that I've asked some very interesting questions.

Second...since starting J at Paul Sadler, I've yet to form a bond with any of the mums there. They all seem to know each other and to stay in their little cliques. The weekly routine of meet-and-greet at the pool can make the quieter ones feel left out.

But today, I finally met someone I could click with.

A Lebanese mum whose youngest daughter joined J's class for a make-up lesson. She sat two seats away from me, and when our eyes met, she smiled. That gave me the courage to smile back and initiate conversation.

Before I knew it, we were chatting easily about school, daycare, raising teen and pre-teen daughters, strict moral and parenting standards, languages...The stuff parents bond readily over.

I looked over at J and her classmates in the pool...and discovered she was chatting with my new friend's daughter. Felt so proud of J and so in awe. At her age, I would never have dared to talk to someone I'd never met. And there they were, chatting naturally like they were already friends.

Don't know if I'll ever see the family again, but one thing's for sure. When we do, we'll just take up the thread of the conversation and carry on from where we paused.

And it'll be effortless.