Being an Introverted Mom and Writer

I’ll be honest, I don’t read a lot of non-fiction that isn’t about history or has something to do with research for my historical fiction books. I just don’t have the time. But then one of the authors of a mommy blog I follow, Jamie C. Martin, published a book called Introverted Mom. I snapped it up in the pre-sale because I knew if and when I found time to read it, it was going to be a good one.

Boy, am I glad I did!

I just wrote an Amazon review for it that said:

I can’t imagine anyone giving this book less than 5 stars. Less than 10 stars, even! Well-written, well-edited, well-formulated…but what matters most is I was crying from the first chapter on because every point hit home. I am not alone! I am an introverted mom in a technological world. Thank you, thank you, Jamie, for writing the book you wanted to read. Needed to read. Because I needed it so much! If you’re the mom who collapses into tears after a play date, this book is for you. If you’re the mom who feels guilty about screen time but just needs a break from all the questions and attention for half an hour, this book is for you. You don’t have to be a Christian to recognize you’re wired differently from the extravagant extroverts that seem to lead our culture. Thank God there’s recognition these days that introverts are not odd or unusual, but have been necessary all along. You are necessary, Introverted Mom, and Jamie’s words are God’s gift to the rest of us struggling along each day.

Something I’ve really struggled with lately is my identity as both a full-time mom as well as a full-time writer (and I’m not even full-time really yet!). I want to find time for my kids—they’re EXTREMELY important to me, even more so than my writing career. But writing is also my introvert time, my creativity time, my me time, that I desperately need. And sometimes it’s not writing, but reading or researching or blogging or any of the other numerous things that are going to kick up once I get published.

This book, Introverted Mom, reminded me that the struggle is real, normal, and okay. Everyone has their thing they struggle with, but for introverts these days, it feels like it’s more difficult because of technology, rather than less. Because of technology, other people expect you to be at their beck and call 24/7. My children expect that, but they’re here with me all day every day. The rest of the world is just gonna have to wait sometimes.

As my phone message says,

Thanks for calling! I’ll get back to you when the kids go to college or the chaos calms…whichever comes first.

It’s funny but true! Half the time I’m outside gardening and am not going to answer my phone until I’ve cleaned the dirt off my hands/playing with the kids/homeschooling/homesteading/canning/defeating the evil giant that’s currently rampaging through our home/cleaning up the last of the latest baking soda and vinegar experiment…

You get the idea.

The point is, introverting is about finding where you can be you alone for just a short time each day to rejuvenate, and in this modern world where extroversion is what equals success, that’s harder than it sounds.

So hang in there, other introverted moms and writers: you’re not alone. And if you get a chance, pick up Jamie’s book, because it will change your life!