What's An Introvert To Do??
I've been contemplating this post for more than a month now.
See, it's really hard to stick labels on people. We change. From day to day. Season to season. I typically crave social interaction more in February than in August. I need more alone time certain times of the month (really to save you the trouble of a grumpy woman). But sometimes I just want to line dance with a whole possy of ya'll.
But when you knead it together and punch it down, I'm an Introvert. After intense socialization, I start to lose the ability to say anything worth listening to. I forget what you just said to me. My brain needs time to detox. To ponder.
Remember that book I read about different kinds of mothers? MotherStyles by Janet Penley. Yep, there's a whole section describing Introverts. And what they need in order to be functional mothers.
There's a section on Extraverts too, if that's what you'd rather read.
Not sure where you'd land? Janet Penley asks the question:
"What would you do with a whole day?"
Since becoming aware of this great need, I've found ways to recharge my batteries throughout the day, giving me the patience to deal with my brood.
I bury my nose in a book whenever the opportunity presents itself. I put the kids in the stroller when I especially need to get out and decompress. I take a shower and let myself just think. I explain to my Extraverted child that I am different and need more breaks. I put my own needs first sometimes.
When I read the following, I felt so free! I'm OK the way I am! Not handicapped. Just in the minority, sometimes.
See, it's really hard to stick labels on people. We change. From day to day. Season to season. I typically crave social interaction more in February than in August. I need more alone time certain times of the month (really to save you the trouble of a grumpy woman). But sometimes I just want to line dance with a whole possy of ya'll.
But when you knead it together and punch it down, I'm an Introvert. After intense socialization, I start to lose the ability to say anything worth listening to. I forget what you just said to me. My brain needs time to detox. To ponder.
Remember that book I read about different kinds of mothers? MotherStyles by Janet Penley. Yep, there's a whole section describing Introverts. And what they need in order to be functional mothers.
There's a section on Extraverts too, if that's what you'd rather read.
Not sure where you'd land? Janet Penley asks the question:
"What would you do with a whole day?"
"By noontime, the Extraverted moms might be looking at their clock and thinking, It's time for lunch. I haven't seen my friend Julie for a long time. I wonder if she'd want to grab a bite to eat and go with me to that new shop that just opened at the mall. An Extravert will have satisfied her need for solitude after just a few hours and will find herself naturally wanting to connect to people and the external world to recharge her batteries.Well. You and I both know that raising young children doesn't leave much time for inner reflection, pondering or really being alone at all!
The Introvert, however, is likely to unplug the phones, pull down the front shades and bask in solitude for the whole day. She might decide to rearrange her lingerie drawer, plan a trip, or watch a video that only she would enjoy. She may in fact feel that twenty-four hours hardly scratch the surface of what she needs to really fill up her gas tank."
Since becoming aware of this great need, I've found ways to recharge my batteries throughout the day, giving me the patience to deal with my brood.
I bury my nose in a book whenever the opportunity presents itself. I put the kids in the stroller when I especially need to get out and decompress. I take a shower and let myself just think. I explain to my Extraverted child that I am different and need more breaks. I put my own needs first sometimes.
When I read the following, I felt so free! I'm OK the way I am! Not handicapped. Just in the minority, sometimes.
"'Time alone to recharge' is what's most important for Introverted moms. Some solitude each day is a necessity, not an indulgence that can be put off until later.So, here I am. Alone. And feeling quite refreshed. Thanks for listening.
If I spend too much time interacting with others, I feel my energy dwindling, my brain shriveling, and my judgment becoming shaky and ungrounded. To revive myself, I need to slip back into the cool waters of solitude.
Drained by a constant external focus, Introverted moms go through the day dangerously low on energy.
It takes some creativity and self-discipline to feed yourself the solitude you need in order to do your best."