Overcoming the Struggles of Being an Introverted Parent
>> Apr 27, 2017
In the Philippines,the best academic schools have a number of introverted parents. Communication
with these people is sometimes a challenge since most of the time the parents
don’t want to make time to talk to the teachers on PTA meetings; this, of
course, is a must so that they can work together to improve their child’s
learning skills.
It’s a
good thing that there are some things introverted parents can do in order to
overcome such challenges. But before that, they must understand their
introversion.
Understanding Introversion
Many
people believe that introversion amounts to shyness however, according to
Harvard Business Review there is no direct correlation between the two
characteristics. It even adds that there are many extroverts who also happen to
be shy.
Introversion
is simply an overall preference for being alone or belonging in a small group
of people. Introverts favor their “inner world” instead of the alternative;
being in the outer world drains their energy which is why they find the need to
recharge after attending a social event especially those with a large number of
attendees.
Being an
introvert does not mean you are anti-social, in fact, an average introvert loves to
socialize particularly with their close friends and family. But unlike
extroverts, they realize that they need solitude after a long time of
interacting with other people. Introverts can get easily distracted,
overwhelmed, and unfocused if they continue to be in a place with too much
stimulation.
There are
many struggles introverts face in their day to day lives. Some of them may find
them in their workplace while others may face them in their own homes; but
being an introverted parent is like having a special kind of brand wherein you
may face a different set of struggles altogether.
4 Struggles Introverted Parents Face
Firstly,
if you are an introverted parent, you may find that you seldom find time for
your own self. The time to seek solitude for yourself to be able to recharge
your energy has been taken from you primarily because you are now responsible
for your child’s well-being. Often, parents put their child’s needs first
before theirs and although it may be selfless, it can also lead to having less
and less energy to deal with other things.
Secondly,
introverted parents also find themselves having to socialize more than what
they are used to. As your child grows up, you realize that you will have to
attend uncomfortable social events such as birthday parties, play dates,
parent-teacher conferences, family get-togethers, and other friendly events not
only to appease your child but also to get to know them, their friends, as well
as other parents.
Thirdly, you
will find that people will misunderstand you a lot for being an introvert.
People, who do not understand introversion, may find you aloof or anti-social
simply because you like to keep to yourself. Also, you often times find
yourself in awkward situations when you have to interact and communicate with
other people, especially other parents, who have no problem socializing and
they may believe your lack of engagement into their conversation means that you
do not like to talk to them.
Fourthly,
you realize that as an introverted parent you are quite hesitant to ask other
people for help when you need one. Introverts are often independent individuals
who like to be self-sufficient but there are moments when you need assistance
when it comes to dealing with important matters such as parenting and the best
thing for you and your child is to ask support or advice from someone else.
Overcoming the Struggles
The first
thing you need to realize if you want to overcome the struggles of an
introverted parent is to accept that you are an introvert. There is nothing
wrong with you preferring to spend your time in a small group of people or with
yourself from time to time.
Everyone,
including introverts and extroverts, has their own strengths and weaknesses and
you need to understand yours to also overcome the struggles that you face
daily.
As a
parent, you understand that everything you do ultimately affects your child.
Think about how your struggles may affect your child or children in the long
run. You have to establish a better communication with them if you want them to
understand you as an introvert. Remember that your child could also be one and
it may be easier for them to understand this concept earlier in life.
It is
also better to have your children understand that you need time for yourself
every once in while in order to recharge your energy. This way they are more
likely to realize and comprehend that you are not simply being selfish when you
want to spend your time in solitude.
Overcoming these struggles is a gradual process. Don’t be frustrated if
developments do not happen instantly. Give yourself time and exert enough
effort; it will eventually happen.
About the author:
Katrina
is your average gal living inside the metro
who has passion for writing, travel and photography. She admires nature at its
finest and always wanted to become one of them. Dreaming to have the Cinderella
life one day, humming with the birds, dancing with the clouds
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