I am married to a man who has a largish family. Both of his parents are still alive and my husband is the youngest of three siblings who are all married and have children. He has numerous cousins on his mother’s side of the family and one cousin on his father’s side of the family . Most are married and have kids. And now almost all of the kids have kids as well. OK, that may not be a large family by Reality TV standards, but it’s pretty big for me.
My husband and his family also have lots of friends. Friends that they have known for 20-40 years. Friends who are now also married and have children and grandchildren.
Every summer my husband and I take the boys to spend a month at my in-laws’ house on Nantucket. This is a wonderfully
glorious time when the kids have time with grandparents, cousins, and friends who are more like family – and lots and lots of beach time of course. For one week of our stay there is a large convergence of friends and family. During the day we go to the beach – occupying a rather large amount of space that gets larger and larger each year as our children grow and spread their wings. At night we rotate amongst the different houses for dinner or cocktails or both – grandparents, parents, and children all together.
I love that my husband has all these amazing friends. They have become my friends too. And their children have become our childrens’ friends. And his family has accepted me (faults and virtues) with open arms.
Anyway, I learned something extremely important this summer during our crazy week. By Wednesday I had a meltdown. I was tired from staying up late and my nerves were frayed with all the socializing we’d done. Other than sleeping, I hadn’t had a moment to myself in over a week. I needed to be by myself. So my wonderful husband took the boys sailing, I have no idea what everyone else did, and I went to the beach by myself. Of course I wasn’t truly alone because the beach was packed full of people. But I was there with my book, my iPod and no one I knew.
I went back to the house late that afternoon exhausted from a day filled with walking, beach combing, and swimming. But more importantly I went back to family and friends refreshed in spirit.
A day or two later I came upon a new term while reading someone’s blog – ambivert.
What is an ambivert you ask? Well, an ambivert is someone who exhibits the tendencies of both an extrovert and an introvert.
Most people who know me think I am extroverted. I can be outgoing, friendly, welcoming. I need to talk through decision making scenarios. I don’t often withhold my opinion. And I have been known to put my foot in my mouth on occasion. Friends in college often described me as a Dr. Seuss book, I was so easy to read.
That being said, I am outgoing, friendly, and welcoming in familiar situations. Put me in a group of friends and family and sure I’m outgoing. Find me at school talking to parents and fellow teachers, of course. And you will even find me that way at church where I don’t necessarily know everyone, but I feel comfortable. See, that is the key. I am outgoing when I am in a comfortable environment.
I’m terribly awkward in situations where I don’t know people. In college, I was the one in the group who hated off-campus parties or going to bars. I still prefer small gatherings of friends than huge parties. And given the option of staying home with my family or going to a dinner party on a Saturday night – I usually opt for staying home. It’s not that I’m lazy (OK a little bit lazy). After a week of teaching Kindergarteners, dealing with parents at school, helping my boys with homework, shuttling them to different activities, and just being their mom I need time away from people.
Having time to myself is crucial to my sanity. I recharge alone, not with people. This is a fundamental introverted trait. The more I read about introverts the more qualities I saw in myself. Here are a few from Marti Olsen Laney’s book The Introvert Advantage:
- working on projects in large chunks of uninterrupted time
- rehearsing before speaking
- anxiety around deadlines
- zoning out if too much is going on
- taking time to sort out information
- dislike overstimulating environments
- strong reactions to sensory input
- feeling drained after social situations
All of these describe me. Yet, I like to talk too much to truly be an introvert.
So I am an ambivert.
I am an outgoing jellyfish who requires time alone in her shell.
Great post.
I now know that I am an ambivert too. Didn’t even know such a thing existed until now.
I wouldn’t say I was terribly awkward in social situations with newish people, just terribly quiet. I did reasonably ok the other week when I went for drinks with my cousin for his birthday and met a bunch of his friends for the first time; they seemed willing to respond to whatever comments I made in an effort to talk to them, so I didn’t feel like the outcast or anything. I definately respond to people when in situations like that; if they’re easygoing and talkative, I’ll be more like that, if they’re involved in their clique, I’ll be quiet and shy.
Around my friends, I’m definately more sociable and talkative; unless they want to go up town clubbing. It’s just not my thing anyway so I always feel uncomfortably awkward, kind of self-concious.
How lovely of your husband to take the kids out for the day so you could have some alone time. Sounds like all you needed was to zone out with a good book.
It seems you have described my son to a T, which is interesting because I consider myself an extrovert and my husband an introvert. Hopefully our son got the best of each of us.
It sounds like son is a good combination of the two of you. Both of my son’s seem to be pretty extroverted, while my husband is introverted. I was pretty excited when I discovered the term ambivert because extrovert never felt right to me.
Great post!
The term is new to me, but I can most definitely relate! I divulged to my daughter’s best friend’s mom that I have social anxiety issues and the look of shock on her face was hysterical. Now when I try to explain how I can have social issues AND be outgoing, I’ll have a word for it! 🙂
I struggle with this almost everyday. I force myself into social situations and then feel awful because I can be so awkward. Once I find someone to chat with I’m OK, but it’s hard. Since I am known as “The Kindergarten Teacher” everyone thinks I must be outgoing. But what they don’t see is how incredibly drained I am at the end of the day dealing with students, parents, and teachers. I am grateful that while my kids still need me so much after school (help with homework, transportation to activities, and just general mom stuff) I only teach part time. I really enjoy my mornings that allow me to charge up for the day ahead!
I remember going through that when I taught preschool. Drained is definitely the word for it! So happy you have that time in the morning though!