Helping My Young Children Prepare For A Move

This past year and a half was insanely busy for us. We remodeled the kitchen of the house we were living in, sold that house within 24 hours of putting it up for sale, and then we moved for 8 months while we built our own house. My husband is a general contractor which means we (he) really did build most of it ourselves. This meant a lot of extra hours after work and a lot of late nights for us. There was also a lot of driving back and forth from the rental to the house we were building. And a lot of changes.

As a highly sensitive introvert and also the parent of one, I've come to understand the importance of familiarity and routine. I really like to understand my circumstances and I enjoy familiarity. New and novel things can be fun and exciting at times but its familiarity that calms us. Unfortunately in the last 18 months there has been a lot of unfamiliarity but we made it through both the not so pleasant unfamiliarities but also the pleasant familiarities. Even good change can cause a lot of stress. Which is why it is important to take time to care for yourself and make sure that those you love do the same. I am amazed as to how well Lil Bug took to all the changes that we’ve had because one of the strengths of highly sensitive people is that they can feel the emotions of others. They cue into them more easily. But there is also a difficulty with this strength. We both picked up on all the emotions that were going on and at times it took some adjustments to help cope with the overwhelm of emotions. And its why we did our best at creating familiar surroundings and keeping as best as we could to familiar routines.

Unfamiliarity and change can bring uncertainty and I wanted to help my daughters with some of the feelings that they might have been experiencing. We definitely had our shares of bumps along this road we traveled but there were a few things that we did which helped us prepare our daughters for the move.

Here are those things:

1. Bring familiar things into the space

Lil Bug was almost 3 when we made the first move and Lil Sunshine was almost 1. When we made the move we made sure that the rooms we were moving into had some sense of familiarity even though they were still different. This was a little bit hard because we were moving into a much smaller rental and their rooms would also be storing things that were not originally in their rooms. But, we made sure that they had the familiarity of their beds, dressers, and toys. We also tried to bring in the same amount of light (or lack of it) that they had had in the other house. The last night, we left most of her things in her room so that she didn't feel like she was missing anything she cherished. We had to pack some more the next day, but it helped her to know that her things would stay with her. We then stuck to morning and bedtime routines to help with the transition as well.

 

      2. Let them get to know the new place ahead of time, if possible

We were blessed in that we were moving within the same city. It was easy to go and show our children where we were moving. They saw it before we moved in and could better understand where they were going. We were also blessed with my husband being the general contractor of our new home. We were there "helping" often and the girls knew which room would be there’s from the moment the foundation was poured. There were times that Lil Bug would just play in her “room” while Daddy and Papa worked on the rough plumbing, before the walls were even up. When we put the doors on, Lil Bug was already keeping her little sister from coming into her room. She already associated it as her room. By the time we moved in she was comfortable in the house. For Lil Sunshine, it wasn’t until we put carpet in that she was really comfortable with her new room. As soon as she saw the carpet, she flopped down on it and began rolling around.

While your child may not have the opportunity to see each stage of their house being built, try at least once to bring the child into the home ahead of time. That way they can visualize where they are moving to when you discuss it with them.

3. Explain what is happening (and often)

I’m a big fan of knowing what is to come. I like to be prepared. Yet, I am aware that no matter how much I prepare I still don’t know what may or may not go wrong.  Even with that knowledge, I still do what I can to prepare myself and my children. I strive to help them understand what is to come. It was no different with moving. We involved them in the different steps that we took in building a new house and in moving. We explained that the rental home would be temporary and we would move into the "new, new" house.

4. Explain what will stay the same

On the day of the move, we talked to Lil Bug about how we would be moving that morning. The time had finally arrived and I could tell she was anxious about it. She had gotten used to living in the rental for the past 8 months. Even though we had let her know we would be moving and even though she could see the progress of the house, she still didn’t have a solid concept of time. When the move became “today," she was apprehensive about it. I took the time to explain to her that even though we would be moving, Mommy and Daddy would still be with her. Lil Sunshine would still be with her. Her bed, her dresser, and all her toys would still be with her. We just wouldn’t be sleeping and living in the same place. This calmed her and she then became excited that she would see Grandma, Nana, Papa and Auntie that day.

5. Let them experience the move

I had several volunteers for watching the girls during the move, but what I really wanted was for the girls to see what was happening. I wanted them to be part of the experience and see their things moved from one place to another. I wanted them to have a visual learning experience. So, those volunteers did great at keeping the girls out of the way of the movers but also they did great at helping them to understand what was going on and how to enjoy the process. The girls had a great day and they both were beyond excited to see their things in their new rooms. When Grandma came over, they excitedly gave her a tour of the new house.

All in all the girls did great in transitioning with the move. There have been a few adjustments and struggles. For one, Lil Bug, had gotten used to us being in close proximity at night. It’s been 3 weeks and she has finally started sleeping in her own bed again. But, they love it here and they look forward to being at home again after running errands.

Do you have any more tips for helping kids experience and adjust to moving? I would love to hear them in the comments.

Why Mental Health Days are Important For Your Child (and for You)

My family went through a lot when I was 15. My younger brother passed away and there was a lot of extra stress on top of that. I remember one time during that year when my mom pulled me out of school. She took me hiking in the nearby national park. It was a wonderful day as my mom and I spent time submersed in nature, enjoying our time with each other. We developed a greater connection with each other. It was also a wonderful break from all the stresses that we were facing in our lives. My mom called it a mental health day. 

I have never forgotten that day nor have I forgotten the benefits that my mom and I gained from having our mental health day. I want to share with you some of these benefits and why taking a mental health day can be beneficial to both you and your child.

1. Time to Recharge from Overstimulation

As an introvert, life can be draining. We are constantly stimulated by everything in life. We need time to recharge because when we do so, we can perform to the best of our abilities. When I first became a mom of two little girls, I became overstimulated and I did not take enough time to recharge. This led to burnout and depression. You can read more about this experience and how knowing more about introversion helped me to overcome it in my post Heartache and My Struggle to Reconnect.

One of my favorite podcasts is Happier with Gretchen Rubin. On a particular podcast, she talked about how when her in-laws go on vacation they always save a day at the end of the vacation to be at home. I thought it was a great idea. Vacations can often be filled with fun and exciting (aka stimulating) things, which we enjoy, but wear us out. Even if your vacation is more about relaxing on the beach and not as stimulating then taking a day at home before getting back to work/school will make it easier to go to back the next day. Also my daughters take a few days to readjust after being away from home. I usually try to have a day of familiarity after we get home so that they can settle back into home life.

When your child becomes overstimulated, they may become cranky and irritable. Your child also needs time to recharge. Recently my Lil Bug had preschool and then that same day we had some extended family events. She was overstimulated and exhausted by the end of the day. Even though she had fun being with family, it was exhausting for her and she was easily upset and struggled with sleep when we got home. She slept in the following day. Even though she had preschool, I decided not to wake her up. Instead, I let her teacher know that she needed a break and would not be there. All the events from the day before were too much for her and she needed some time to recharge. To unwind. She needed a mental health day. She had enjoyed her time the day before but she was overstimulated and overwhelmed by everything that had happened. She needed time to recharge before continuing in the world. When she did wake up, I could tell I had made the right decision. She needed the solitude of home and the calmness of the activities that we do at home. Usually school is one of our priorities for pushing Lil Bug out of her comfort zone, but in this case it was too much for her. She needed the break. 

I’m not saying to always take your child out of school, but just consider your child and what is best for you both. Maybe you can wait until Saturday to do something different. At the end of a long week of school, think about what would help your child recharge and help them do it. If you’re finding that you are using the mental health day idea too often, then reevaluate the underlying causes of your child’s distress. Something needs to change, it’s not a matter of just relaxing. In any case, take time to assess your child’s needs and decide what is best for them.

2. Time to Think and Make Sense of the World

The next benefit is the time we have to think and make sense of the world. This is beneficial especially when you and/or your child are dealing with intense emotions, caused by heartache,
stress, or too many changes in the environment. A day, or even a half day, away from the stress that we encounter each day can help us to process all of the emotions that we have encountered. We can gain a greater understanding of our situation. And oftentimes when we take time to feel our emotions fully we can work through them more easily.

Remember also that your children, especially if they are highly sensitive can sense your emotions and
consequently the stress you feel. Adults and children are both seeking to make sense of the world. Children especially are inundated with new ideas and concepts, but adults experience new ideas, experiences, and stimuli as well. Taking some time to really process what is going on in your life helps you to make needed connections that cause you to better understand yourself, your child,
and all the other relationships that you have in your life.

As a 15 year old, I gained great insight into the direction my life wanted to go. I discussed this at length with my mom that day. It was done in a setting and at a time where I could think when needed and say what I wanted to at a pace I enjoyed. I was able to work through some of the things that I had either been pondering or that I needed to think about but had not had sufficient time to do so.

3. Meaningful Connections

This particular benefit comes from doing a mental health day with someone else, in this case my mom. She was someone I knew and loved. She was familiar to me. It was not stressful or anxiety creating being with her. We also did something that I loved to do, hiking, being in the outdoors, away from crowds. It was a calm, healthy environment for me. That healthy environment and the calm activity of hiking, deepened my connection with my mom.

As a parent, I am constantly wanting to create meaningful moments with my daughters. Moments where I am completely focused on my kids. Moments where I feel an even greater love and joy just being with them. Moments that help both my children and myself thrive. Seek those meaningful moments each day, then when you have a mental health day with your child, deepen those moments.

There will be times that we need our time alone, but it can also be re-energizing when we deepen the connection with those with whom we have meaningful connections.

4. Example

This particular benefit of that day with my mom is something I am only now realizing. My mom took the time to be flexible for me. She showed me an example of a parent who cares and loves their
child as she created time for me. She also showed me through her example the importance of taking time for ourselves, not necessarily when we want it, but when we need it.

As parents, do we not want to teach our children to take care of themselves? We try to teach them the importance of eating healthily, exercising, educating themselves, protecting themselves from
physical harm, but how often do we teach them to take a break when they really need it? How often do we teach them to process their feelings and process what they’re going through? How often do we teach them to be flexible enough to take care of themselves? And how often do we show them these things through our example?

Being an example is one of the most important ways to teach our children. Teach by example, the importance of taking time to recharge.

As an introvert parent it might be a bit harder to find time to take a full mental health day. Sometimes just an hour or two is enough. If you find you really need a full day, ask for help from friends and family. But, whether you can make it a whole day or not, try to take some time each evening to help yourself recharge. Read some ideas for recharging at the end of the day here. There is also The Wallflower Box which is a subscription box that is specifically geared towards helping introverts to recharge. I am not an affiliate with them but I love what they are doing so I wanted to share it with you.

I have found that as I’ve made time to recharge that I have become a more patient and loving parent. When my children have taken that time to unwind and recharge, they are happier. This is the last benefit that I’ll mention, the feelings of peace and understanding that come from recharging.  Let’s take some time to make sure we set a good example for our kids and teach them the importance of processing emotions and stimuli.

The Beauty of an Alto: The Harmony of the Introvert Extrovert Relationship

I love listening to music. I get lost in it. In fact I get so lost in it that I have to turn off the music when I am around others just so I can have a conversation with them. I love the way it weaves in and out of my soul. I love the way I can get lost in a song and the way it affects the way I feel (Seriously, have you ever tried watching Lord of the Rings on mute? Way too much traveling shown for it to affect me the way it does. It’s the music). I love the way thoughts and images, memories as well, fly around in my head. Creativity soaring as I hear a strain of music. And I love how each part comes together to create one beautiful masterpiece.

I was listening to some beautiful music in church one day when my thoughts began to flow as I listened to the sopranos sing. It was beautiful. They sang the melody but when the altos began singing along, splitting the music from unison to add harmony, I was completely mesmerized.

I contemplated the beauty of these two parts singing together, seeing a connection between what I was hearing and the introvert/extrovert relationship. Just as the different parts in a song can create beautiful music, these two personality traits can create a truly remarkable masterpiece.

I’ll focus on the soprano first. The sopranos, in most cases, sing the melody. The melody is the part that gets stuck in your head. You’ll find yourself singing it days later. If you’ve listened to Disney’s Moana’s song, “You’re Welcome,” you probably know what I mean.

The melody is the part that stands out. The center stage.

So, since in most, but not all cases, the sopranos sing the melody, I see the soprano part as the extrovert personality. Extroverts are those who embrace interaction with others. They seem at ease with conversation and thrive on being with others and in groups, they are the ones that usually stand out.

I want to point out that listening to a soprano is beautiful. There is a real talent in someone who can sing that part, both natural talent as well as refined. In similarity, the strengths of the extrovert are beautiful as well, both natural and refined too.

Extroverts are often applauded and praised for their ability to be at ease in a crowd, at ease around others. They are comfortable with conversing. There is a beauty in it and also a need. If no one ever interacted or made their thoughts known, where would we be? If we all just sat back and watched there would be a lot more missed opportunities. And a lot less getting done. There would be a lot less connection and progress.

I love my extrovert friends, I love the way they help me to feel more comfortable in a group setting. When I find myself in a new group situation, it is usually the extrovert that reaches out to talk to me and helps me to feel more comfortable being around people I don’t know. They bring me in, until I feel comfortable enough to reach out to others myself.

Introverts when dedicated and passionate enough about something can act like extroverts in order to accomplish what needs to be done. Yet, it is difficult. With the soprano part in music, it can often be outside of my vocal range. It’s difficult for me to sing the high notes, sometimes it’s just a matter of having confidence in my vocal ability at other times I physically cannot hit those high notes, my voice being more suited for the alto part. When in the right setting, such as when I am feeling comfortable or when I feel I need to be an example to another, I can act like an extrovert. But, it is difficult to do so and even harder when I’m not in the right setting.

In this musical comparison, I see introverts as altos. There is a beauty to them that is not as noticeable as their soprano counterparts. It’s an underlying beauty.

As with most relationships it takes time and a continued effort to build a relationship, even more so with a relationship with an introvert. Yet, when the connection is made, it is a deep connection. The underlying beauty is found.

When an alto joins the soprano part it adds a depth that was not there before. This isn’t to say that extroverts are shallow. I’ve known extroverts who are quite profound with their thinking and also really care about others. But, introverts take more time to think and ponder. They have a rich inner thought process and the ability to really think things through. If they are able to organize their thoughts in a way that makes sense to others they benefit others in a unique way. When an introvert speaks, having been given sufficient time to think, there is a lot of meaning behind it. But, sometimes it can be hard to really know for an introvert to really know that what they are saying makes sense to someone else because they have made connections in their mind that they have not expressed in the discussion.

The introvert’s deep introspection also keeps them from acting right away. In many ways this can be good as they cautiously look at different situations to see if they are worth pursuing.

The funny thing about me having the vocal range of an alto is that it is easier for me to pick up the melody, while an alto usually sings the harmony part. Likewise, it can be harder to notice an introvert than an extrovert. It is also harder to get know them, to hear them. We are not the type of people to open up to others easily, to share all of our thoughts. It takes time and a continued effort on both sides.

Introverts and extroverts are different. This is a beautiful blessing. If we were all the same, we would not have progressed to where we are at in this world today. We would not have all the technology that we do or all the different perspectives that uplift and inspire others. If Ghandi or Mother Theresa were the same as all the others, would they have had such an impact on so many others’ lives? The differences are beautiful. The soprano part and the alto part are both beautiful in their own way, and the same is true for extroverts and introverts. We need to understand that beauty as a society and embrace each other for who we are.

As I listen to music, and the song is played or sang in unison, it is beautiful. But, when it splits into harmonies, it can take my breath away as all the parts of the music move apart from each other but in a way that still works, that still creates a striking masterpiece.

Together introverts and extroverts can work together simultaneously on similar ideas and systems, but when they use their individual strengths, their differences, together in a harmonic way, they combine to create a something different altogether that would not have been possible without each other. Each are beautiful on their own, and at times alone is needed, but together is something truly remarkable. Let’s strive to create a masterpiece together.

Helping Your Introvert Child to Try a New Experience

Last summer I took my 3 yr. old to a birthday party. While all the other kids ran around and went up and down the slide, my daughter watched, and watched, and watched. At one point she moved closer to the side but would not go much farther without me by her side. 

I remember making the remark to one of the other moms there that Lil Bug observes, observes, observes, and then maybe she’ll participate. And then if she did participate it would be if there was no one in close proximity of her, other than myself. She did climb up the small ladder to the slide, but as another child came up behind her she decided she didn’t want to go down the slide. There were still too many people around her she was not as familiar with. After a year of growth, she’s a little quicker to act in between bouts of people. Yet, she still takes her time and observes more than participates.

I share this experience because I want you parents with highly sensitive and/or introvert children to know that you are not alone.

Before I realized my daughter was a highly sensitive introvert, I wondered if anyone else had a child who wouldn’t participate in activities because they preferred to watch. I wondered what those other parents did to help their child start to interact with the world. Even with family Lil Bug would take some time, every time, to warm up to them. Even the ones that live in town. She now runs to my sister, her aunt, when she sees her. But, a year ago, that was rare.

Even before this experience from last year, I came across www.quietrev.com and remembered the book that I had from Susan Cain (Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking). I dived back into that book and read articles on quietrev.com. I also came across the Quiet Revolution's parenting class (not an affiliate of Quiet Rev) and took the class online. It was freeing. I finally realized that there were others similar to my child. The examples used in the class described my Lil Bug so well. I saw myself in the parents and felt I was not alone. That affirmation that I was not alone was the best thing that I gained from the class. In the class though there is also a great tool for determining when you should push your child to step outside of their comfort zone and the examples teach useful tips for helping your child. 

One of the things that really stood out to me was the Long Runway that Susan Cain talks about in the class. She also talks about it on her podcast. (Click here to check it out) It seems to me that it’s an introvert thing to observe, observe, observe and then take flight. I also realized that I do that myself. Before I start a new venture, I always learn, learn, learn, until my brain just can’t take any more learning and I finally have to take a leap of faith and do it. I soak in as much as I can until my brain is completely saturated and I either need to act or decide that it is not for me. 

It is an introvert’s strength to ponder deeply and learn before acting. In Cain's book "Quiet" there is a great chapter on how there are evolutionary reasons behind this ability to think before acting. So, know that you are not alone in raising a child who will observe, sometimes more than you would like, before acting, if acting at all. It is good to be cautious and it is good to ponder deeply.

But, there still needs to be a balance. Help your child (and yourself if you’re the same) to understand what that balance is for them. One key thing to know is that we can learn so much more when we apply what we’ve learned and we can also learn so much more through experience. The same is true for our children.

So, at some point we need to step out. We need to take a leap of faith. Learn and observe, yes, but then apply. If you can benefit from it then definitely do it. Face your fear. And help your child do the same.

There will come a point that you’ll need to push your child, just a bit, out of their comfort zone. Above all though, know your priorities and think if the situation is right for pushing your child to make a step forward. 

Here are a few tips for helping your child try new experiences:

1.  Understanding

The first thing is the understanding that it may take some time for your child to go down that runway. Understanding that helps you to have the patience to help your child. It also helps your child to know that they are loved and that you are there to help them should the need arise.

2.    Preparation

Prepare your child. Help them to understand what is coming. The more I know about a situation, the better prepared I feel to deal with the situation, the better positioned I am to enjoy a new situation. So, if you can, teach your child what to expect. If the situation turns out different from what was expected, it can be used as a teaching tool to help your child to adapt next time. Try to help them see similarities in the experiences they face to help them make sense of the world they live in.

3.    Practice

With my daughter, I’ve been working on trying to get her to talk to her friends at preschool and at church. She has done so only once, maybe twice. I was the same way when I was her age. I’ve started teaching her how to communicate, practicing saying hello and answering questions when asked. Something as simple to me, such as “How are you?” Is not simple to her. So, I’m teaching her how to respond depending on how she is feeling. If she ever doesn’t answer a question that I asked. I pause what it is that I am doing and what she is doing to have her answer. It’s a long process, or a “long runway.” But, she will now quietly say goodbye when we are about 15 feet away. A big step for her on the path to her flight. 

4.       Allow your child to experience new situations

Again, analyze the situation. Has your child had enough rest? Have they had a good balance of stimulation? Will it be too much or could they use the interaction? The better you know your child, the more you will be able to help them. The more they can feel understood by you. With that said, don’t always keep your child from new experiences just because you think it will be too much. Sometimes they need that extra stimulation. There is a desensitization that can occur as they become more familiar with the situations that they face often. It took a lot of experiences interacting with my sister before she felt comfortable enough to run to her when she saw her. I had to allow her to experience being around family, to learn who they are. But, we have to allow those situations to occur. It is all about finding the right balance of exposure and stimulation. 

5.       Trust your child 

With my daughter, if she is completely not ready for something, she will let me know. She pushes back way more than if she is open to the idea but still apprehensive. Balance your trust in your child with the importance of the situation. If the situation is important and your child doesn’t feel ready, be there with your child. Think of ways to help your child feel more at ease. One day my daughter didn’t want to go to preschool. She had been going for a couple of months, but for some reason on this particular day, she was resistant. On the way, she kept telling me “no, no, no.” So, I negotiated with her. I told her I would stay with her, just that day, but tomorrow I would be dropping her off. She was okay with that and agreed that the next day she would go without me staying. I went and at first she stayed right next to me, almost glued to my side. But, slowly as the time went on, I was able to move further away as she participated in the activities. The next day she went by herself and enjoyed it. 

6.    Build Your Child's Self Confidence

Sometimes our child's ability to take flight has to do with mindset. They need to believe in themselves. We need to believe in them. If we believe in the them, they begin to feel that themselves. They start to think that they can do it as well. It is through believing in ourselves that we don't give up and through that we fly.

Our children can only go so far in learning before acting. We all need to take that leap of faith in order to fly. There will be mistakes made, but a mistake is always something that we, and our children, can learn from. And we need to allow (sometimes push) our children to take that leap of faith as well.

8 Ways to Recharge for the Introvert Parent

Being a parent and constantly having a child want your attention, climbing all over you and sometimes talking incessantly can really wear on an introvert’s battery, it does mine. On especially difficult days, I am barely holding my frustration inside (if I’m even holding it inside) by the end of the day and seriously needing my space. By the time bedtime for the girls comes around I am SO ready. I need bedtime to recharge. Does this sound familiar? Being so ready to have the kids in bed so you can have some time to yourself?

Understanding the need to recharge was something that helped me to become a better parent. It also helped me better understand that being an introvert is an amazing thing. Both introverts and extroverts have strengths that they bring into the world and both are needed. The world needs you, introvert parents, and your children especially need your strengths as well. So, embrace your introversion, the ability to think deeply, be creative and love deeply. 

Yet with embracing the strengths, we also need to understand what may be our weaknesses, such as the irritability and burnout that occurs when we ignore our need to maintain a balance between alone time and raising our family. In order for us to really embrace and use our strengths to benefit our family we need that balance. 

So, here are some suggestions that may help with the recharge:

Writing/Journaling

I am amazed to how much this has been helping me recharge at night. Last night I was pretty overwhelmed with everything that had happened with my girls. It seriously seemed like one thing after another was going on with my girls, they were crying or yelling left and right and it wasn’t just the emotions that were getting to me but the noise level. So after they were finally in bed, my husband gave me some much needed space and I just wrote a couple of blog posts. It was so refreshing. I cannot even express how much better I felt after. Writing about my experiences has also given me a greater understanding of how to help my kids when they go through days such as today.

I also enjoy writing fiction. A lot of introverts have amazing imaginations and writing what we imagine is a great way to relax.

Drawing

I’ve enjoyed drawing since I was a child. There is something about it that just relaxes me. Being able to create something with simply a piece of paper and a pencil. It seems simple, yet is also complex. I am not that great at drawing, but I can draw well enough that I appreciate my drawings. I know for others this can also be a great creative outlet.

Coloring

I love colored pencils. I have yet to really discover how to use them in my own drawing, but I have a Disney themed adult coloring book that I love. This is something that works for me, if I’m not working on any other project.

If you believe that you don’t have a lot of artistic talent, this is something that doesn’t require too much talent to make a beautiful piece of art.

Another thing that coloring helps with is having something to do while watching tv. If you are someone who wants to quit late night snacking, this is a great replacement for snacks while watching tv.

Sculpting

My husband is actually the one that does the sculpting but I thought that I would include it on here, because it helps him to recharge. Not only does it help him, but now we have some adorable little sculptures for each of our daughters.

Listening to music

It always amazes me how much music can influence my emotions, I love the way it pulls me in as I listen to each note. I am also picky about the words in my music because I really focus on the meaning behind the words as I listen. It is a form of meditation for me when I focus on just listening to music and nothing else. However, when I am with others, I have to turn the music off otherwise it’s too distracting for me.
Stargazing and Astronomy

I’m sorry that I have been so focused on the artistic tactics for re-energizing. This one is a little more scientific. Though at the same time it has to do with the beauty of nature, at least that’s what it is for me. This is also something that my husband enjoys. He loves reading the latest news about astronomy and finds it fascinating. He is often unwinding by reading about science and astronomy. Stargazing itself can be done without a telescope, but if you are really into it you can get a telescope.

Reading

By far one of my favorite things to do. I love reading. And from what I’ve seen online about introverts is that this one is fairly popular, though I doubt that all introverts love reading as much as some of the cartoons about introverts that I’ve seen show. I, however, am one of those introverts who love reading that much. J It is a great way to relax and forget about all the crazy things that may have happened during the day. I also just love the way reading can transport you to a different world altogether. The most recent books that I’ve read are the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I enjoyed the books particularly because one of the main characters is an introvert and also there are correlations with high sensitivity and the magic system Sanderson has created.

Studying A Passion

Whether it be writing or photography, learning about a passion for me is rejuvenating. It gets my mind off of whatever troubles I'm experiencing and helps me develop my mind in other ways that I don't use as much throughout the day. While it may still be stimulating, it is not stimulating in the ways that deplete me.

You’ll notice that I did not include tv anywhere on here. For me, tv is a way that my husband and I wind down at the end of the day, but at the same time it is more of a distraction. It doesn’t re-energize me in the same way that creating something does. Therefore I left it off. But, for some bingeing on tv shows or movies helps them to get the much needed alone time.

I hope that I gave you some great ideas that might help you to unwind and recharge your batteries after a long day of parenting. As parents, we spend so much of our day taking care of our little ones and we really need take some time each day to recharge. I find that when I have this much needed time, I can then focus more on using my strengths to benefit my family.