How to Homeschool Outside the Home

I am an introvert. My daughter is not. She is the only extrovert in the house. She thrives on being with other people so we have had to work on finding a balance with her and her activities along with my need for peace at home to recollect myself.

Tips for the Introverted Homeschooling Parent

If you know me or have been reading my blog, you know that I am an introvert. There are many benefits to homeschooling, but it can be incredibly taxing on the introverted parent.There is no getting away from the kids, and even though I love my children, there are moments every day I need a break from them. We all know the importance of recharging, so make sure you find out ways that help you recharge.  Today I want to share some tips from me, an introverted gypsy made of music, to another introverted parent.

An Introvert's Guide to Attending Parties

Being an introvert doesn't mean you can't enjoy going to parties!  Follow these tips to help you enjoy your time socializing with others. These are the things I do in order to enjoy parties to the fullest.

10 Ways I Recharge

I am an introvert. No one reading this blog should be surprised. Even though I love people and spending time with my friends, it is a huge drain on my internal battery. Having a social life as an introvert is hard work! Family reunions, a night out with friends, a trip to the store and even just being with my own kids all day physically and emotionally drain me because an introvert processes neurotransmitters differently than extroverts. Incidentally, after spending time with people, I need to recharge and I do it in various ways.  I thought I would share with you some of the things I do in order to charge up and take on the next day.

Three Things Thursday: 1/30/14

I have been bad about being more personal on the blog. I have been sharing our home school days and pregnancy updates, but what about me? Today, I am going to share with you three things about me that you may not know. Or maybe you do if you are my husband reading this post.

1. I am an INFP.

What is an INFP? It is my personality according to the Myers-Brigg personality test. It means I am Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving (versus the opposites of extroverted sensing thinking judging).

• Introvert- Being in social situations makes me expend energy so I need the alone time to recharge my battery. This does not mean I am a hermit; it just means I don't crave social interactions like extroverts.
• Intuition- I am more abstract than concrete. I tend to think about the big picture instead of the details.
• Feeling- Forget logic!  I go with my gut.
• Perception- I like to keep my options open in case I need to change a decision.

INFP's are idealistic dreamers with stong imaginations, so it makes sense that some famous people with the same personality as me include J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, William Shakespeare, J.K. Rowling, John Lennon, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and Vincent Van Gogh.

2. Dessert is not an option.

I am sorry, but dessert is the most important meal of my day. I have always been like that and I am not sorry for that. Life is too short not to enjoy the sweeter things in life, and that includes dessert. Granted, dessert doesn't need to be ice cream and brownies every night. I LOVE pineapple, peaches, apples, and sometimes a glass of chocolate milk makes my dessert need satiated. I know how to make dessert into a healthy treat, but I will admit chocolate and peanut butter is my favorite.

3. I love sleep, almost as much as dessert.

Another admittance here. I took naps after I got home from high school. I took naps in college. I took naps when I got home from work before I stayed home with my kids. I took a nap at the same time my son took naps when he was little. My napping ended when my son stopped napping and then when I had the second child, forget it. I am so sad that I don't get to nap any longer. I could sleep ALL DAY if I didn't have responsibilities. Lately I have been going to bed between 9 and 10 every night, but I am about 2 weeks from my 3rd child's due date so it is understandable. When my daughter crawls into my bed at 7am I wish she would go back to bed for just a few minutes more, but my plea never gets heard. She is hungry and needs food. Who needs food? Sleep is so much better!

An Introverted Gypsy

Sometimes someone says something to you that stops you in your tracks.  This week it was my husband.  He called me an "introverted gypsy." That, along with my son's definition of me being "made of music," is the most accurate depiction of me.

I am an introverted gypsy made of music.

I hate large groups and I feel awkward when I have to meet mew people. I would rather hang out in small groups or one-on-one. I really hate using the phone and I get anxiety when I have to speak in front of a large group. However, I am not a homebody. I like to travel and I am not content with staying at my house all day. Give me my husband and kids and an open road.

I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar...