I am exhausted. Truly.
Some of it has to do with the whole homeschooling thing. Some of it has to do with allergies/colds/whatever {thank you, small carrot I chopped up for Paige today, and then I rubbed my eye and it swelled shut... damn you weird raw veggie allergy...}.
And then there's the thing I've been reminded of several times in the past few weeks.
I'm an introvert.
Duh.
So between meeting several new people for our homeschooling group for a co-op meeting, hosting a writing circle {which was awesome... and there's a few spots open in the one I'm hosting on September 10th... follow the link and then head to the right hand side close to the bottom for open dates...}, participating in play dates, and then parenting and teaching two very active, talkative, inquisitive, non stop chattering children... I'm beat. All of these things are wonderful. All of them necessary. All of them are things I want to do.
There aren't too many homeschooling specific blogs that I read. I get overwhelmed and I truly believe less is more and seeing too much of what other people are doing makes me feel very less than and we all know how that goes. But when I read What about Me: On taking care of yourself as a homeschooling mom over on Simple Homeschool light bulbs went off and fireworks were set off and I felt like I had just hit the lottery in a big way.
In her article, Anne Bogel writes about taking the necessary measures to nurture your introvert soul on a daily basis. Taking time to be quiet, and get in the quiet activities that restore your heart, soul, and brain.
Basically, when I read this, I felt like a two by four hit me over the head and someone was trying to tell me, yes, it is okay to be an introvert. It is okay to feel exhausted after being around more than one person at a time. It is okay to have required quiet time during the day. It is okay to be who you are.
Again. Duh.
There will be quiet. There will be restorative conversations. There will be loud playdates and heated debates and grand discussions round a table. There is time for it all... and maybe I've just gotten the reminder that priorities need to shift a bit and quiet needs to be more in the forefront. Or rather, that the quiet shouldn't be pushed towards the back when fun and exciting and loud come up. There is time for it all... some of us just need a bit more of the quiet to balance out the loud...
This week we're linking up at Melissa's... will you join us?
{and my comment verification is now off... I didn't realize it was on... which is funny, because I'm always cursing when other bloggers have it up and I can't even read the darn decoder things!! Thank you Dawn for pointing that out!!}
It's ok to cherish and pamper the person God created you to be, so that you can be an even better version of you for those you serve around you. And for you of course.
ReplyDeleteI walked around outside {not "walking to sweat" walking...just walking around with a camera walking} after work today for about 45 minutes. Just cause. ALL ALONE. It's taken me a long time in my life to learn the value of this...noiseless alone time...I'm still surprised by the positive effect it has on me!! Anyhow - great big YES to this!
ReplyDeleteOh I love this! People always ask me if I'm lonely at home living out in the country - so far out in the country. But the truth is, I'm quite content. I never called myself an introvert before. I was a retreat coordinator in my past life and I often wonder how I ever filled that role successfully. I'm so much more fulfilled in a quiet life. "Introvert" seems to have a negative connotation in our world, and it took me a long time to embrace it as a beautiful part of who I am. It really is ok.
ReplyDeleteI am going to take this opportunity to get something off my chest....
ReplyDeleteI find it so annoying that because I am competent in a group people insist to me that I must be wrong and can not actually be an introvert. Please! After 51 years I think I know myself well enough to know how much those "group activities" cost me in stress and exhaustion. I don't understand why some people are so invested in "outing" me as an actual extrovert. Strange. I don't question whether or not they know themselves.
And.....by the way...to be an introvert does not require you to physically shrink and quiver every time you leave the house! Oh, my, Corinne. I do believe you hit upon a topic which gets me a bit riled!
I read this book recently: http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/about-the-book/ and it made me feel so much better about being an introvert. Having that time to recharge batteries is SO important and so valuable, it's like nourishment. "That the quiet shouldn't be pushed towards the back when fun and exciting and loud come up" is something I need to work on. I need to learn to be okay with saying no to invitations when I'm tired and want that quiet time and not feel bad about it, like I'm being a spoilsport or something. The guilt! Oh, the guilt. :)
ReplyDeleteMe, too.
ReplyDeleteAlways have, assume I always will.
There is no such thing as a "normal" homeschooling family.
There is no such thing as a "normal" homeschooling day.
But, it's a lovely journey...
from an 18-year veteran of homeschooling, now retired.
My youngest graduated college last May.
I love this post and am very like you. As much as I love social activities, I find them draining, not invigorating. Being around people drains me, even if it's fun and something I like to do and not stressful. I've always been that way. Even as young as my elementary years I craved "alone time." Being homeschooled it was possible for me to spend an hour or so in the afternoon rambling in the woods/creek/fields while my younger siblings were taking naps. As a mom of 3, it's harder to carve out this time, but I still love naptime as that is my "me" time for writing and photography. It's been more challenging lately, as my 5 year old boys are not as often falling asleep, so I'm having to teach them what it means to rest for an hour without interrupting me, even if they don't fall asleep. Ahh, transitions. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge proponent for taking care of yourself first. Because if you don't you won't have anything to give others. And it's OK to be that way...often I think society beats us up for being that way. Do what makes you feel happy and relaxed, because being you is better than being exhausted.
ReplyDelete