“Parenting can be particularly challenging for introverts because we lose so much of the alone time we had before our children were born,” Carla Naumburg, Ph.D., a Massachusetts-based clinical social worker and author of the forthcoming How To Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids, tells mbg. “The free time we once may have used to go for a walk alone or read a book or just sit and stare at the wall is now taken up by these little people who, as much as we love them, can be tremendously demanding, both emotionally and physically.” After all, the adage about putting your oxygen mask on first before helping others is particularly true of raising kids, says Merriam Sarcia Saunders, a licensed marriage and family therapist. “Parenting is a marathon, not a sprint, so it is as important to attend to a parent’s needs as it is to a child’s… Make sure you have the quiet time you need, or you could face long-term physical and mental health consequences from chronic stress.” Since introversion occurs on a spectrum, “recognize your limits and try your best to stick to them,” advises Kayce Hodos, a North Carolina–based licensed professional counselor specializing in maternal mental health. “Pay attention to how you feel in different settings. You may be able to cope more effectively on a playground with plenty of space than at a loud birthday party,” she says. “If you tune into your energy level during and after various activities, you’ll be able to identify your tolerance level for each and what you need to do to refuel. For example, I would much prefer to volunteer to chaperone my son’s first grade field trip to the rock quarry over taking him to his friend’s birthday party at the bowling alley.” “I suggest taking a good look at your daily schedule and weekly calendar and analyzing them for places where you can carve out moments of white space,” Layne suggests. “Maybe you want to get up before your kids for even 15 minutes alone with a cup of coffee. Maybe you can read for half an hour while the kids watch a PBS show or play outside. Maybe you can turn off the radio and purposefully be alone with your thoughts on your drive home from work every day.” “Give yourself permission to sit in the car for a few minutes at soccer practice instead of forcing yourself to interact with everyone at the ball field,” adds Yolanda Harper, a Florida-based licensed clinical social worker, of Harper Therapy. If you need more alone time, ask for help. “Seek out, and accept, as much support as you can get (from babysitters, mother’s helpers, playdate swaps, grandparents, and more) to get the downtime you need,” Naumburg says. “As long as your kiddo is with someone safe and loving, you don’t have anything to worry about. This isn’t you shirking your parenting duties; this is you making skillful choices so you can be present and calm with your child when you’re with them.” For instance, join a gym or community center with a day-care room for a workout that doesn’t include your toddler pulling on your leg. Or, ask your partner to pick your son up from the trampoline party. However you manage to schedule it in, “use your downtime wisely,” Naumburg says. “It can be tempting to use your precious kid-free/work-free time to pay bills or empty the dishwasher. If you can really, honestly, pinky-swear say that getting these chores done will help you feel calmer and happier, then go for it. Otherwise, get some exercise or take a nap or read a good book. Do whatever you need to do to recharge.” In particular, “moving your body will help release the tension that builds up over time, which can happen more than usual for introverts who are always with people.” “You don’t have to say yes to everything a child asks, especially if the request to be somewhere is going to make you miserable,” agrees Susan Newman, Ph.D., social psychologist and author of The Book of No: 365 Ways To Say It and Mean It―and Stop People-Pleasing Forever. To reduce the social burden while also making sure your kid has access to exciting experiences, you can ask a friend to take your child to a social gathering, drop your child off and run, or make only a brief appearance, she adds. Especially as your child gets older, Newman recommends letting them take the reins on their own social life as much as possible. “Follow their lead, meaning let them do the ‘work’ of being outgoing and connecting,” she tells mbg. “Instead of feeling guilty for cutting back on your social engagements, realize that if your child attends an event with someone else or alone or alone part of the time, you are encouraging that child to be independent and responsible.” Especially if your child is older, be honest with them about your introversion. “If your child happens to be an extrovert, help them understand your need for quiet time in order to recharge,” Harper says. “When they’re young, give them quiet activities to engage with, such as coloring, that they get access to specifically during those times. And be thankful that your chatty teen is willing to open up to you, but balance that with a bubble bath or some journaling time afterward.” Overall, avoid feeling guilty when disappointing your children. “Kids need to be bored and frustrated to learn grit and resilience,” says Catherine Birndorf, co-founder and medical director of The Motherhood Center of New York and co-author of What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions From Pregnancy to Motherhood. “If every one of their needs were met, you would be doing them a disservice.” Still, there are occasions when the introvert in me cringes. Here’s Hodos’ advice for those moments: “Even when you do have to participate in an event that isn’t your cup of tea, know that you can do it… You may not enjoy it (or you may surprise yourself and enjoy parts of it), but push through, and then reward yourself with some kind of ‘me-time’ afterward. It isn’t all or nothing. Parenting is about stretching yourself but not too much. Get out of your comfort zone, and you set a good example for your kid while also growing as a person.”
