Originally Posted by Val
My strategy in situations like this is to just avoid the mommy cliques and find the people who aren't pecking each other. They're usually pretty easy to spot because they're alone or hanging out with someone else who doesn't fit in. Or I just bring a book, depending on my mood.

Exactly -- you're not losing a thing, not having that bunch to talk to! Look around and find a person with a book, or one trying to blend into the wallpaper, and there's your ally.