How I Learned I Was an Introvert, And How I'm Learning to Deal

Before I became a mother, I didn't really identify myself as an introvert. After years of beating myself up for feeling exhausted by my son's need to discuss LEGO Star Wars all day long or spending the entire day dreading my daughter's afternoon ballet practice -- where I'd be forced to chat with other moms in the hallway -- I finally understood why I was what I had for years called "anti-social." My journey into understanding my introversion has only recently begun, but already I've put specific steps into place that have allowed me to lose a great deal of guilt about the way I'm wired -- and to be a better parent, a more straightforward friend and a much nicer person to live with. In my house, this means taking one hour a day of time for myself -- not to work, not to fold laundry, not to organize a kid's closet, but to take a bubble bath, read a book, sit at a coffee shop, meditate or go for a walk. For the first time, we're offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless newsroom.