I Like Being a Grandmother

and one thing I like about it is that, after I've enjoyed the presence of these sweet, darling children for whatever period of time I've been blessed to keep them with me, there comes that time when once again, I come home and AM ALONE.

Today as I got back to my house after delivering two of these sweeties to their home,  I felt such a great sense of peace sweep over me.  I was so glad that I was going to be walking into a house that HAD NO ONE IN IT.    I would be alone.  I wouldn't have to check on anyone to make sure they weren't hurting themselves or someone else.  I wouldn't have to figure out what we were going to eat.  I wouldn't have to stop any squabbles.  I wouldn't have to answer any questions.

Not long ago I was looking up something else and came across the definition of an introvert.  The article said:

Contrary to what most people think, an introvert is not simply a person who is shy. In fact, being shy has little to do with being an introvert! Shyness has an element of apprehension, nervousness and anxiety, and while an introvert may also be shy, introversion itself is not shyness. Basically, an introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained by being around other people.


Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings. They often avoid social situations because being around people drains their energy. This is true even if they have good social skills. After being with people for any length of time, such as at a party, they need time alone to "recharge."


When introverts want to be alone, it is not, by itself, a sign of depression. It means that they either need to regain their energy from being around people or that they simply want the time to be with their own thoughts. Being with people, even people they like and are comfortable with, can prevent them from their desire to be quietly introspective.


Being introspective, though, does not mean that an introvert never has conversations. However, those conversations are generally about ideas and concepts, not about what they consider the trivial matters of social small talk.


Introverts make up about 60% of the gifted population  but only about 25-40% of the general population.

After reading that, I thought: I'm an introvert.

The way I've always tried to explain myself to others (who, by the way, look at me with puzzled looks unless they too are this way) is that I like people; I just don't like to be around them alot. I remember how my mother was. She loved people too, but she'd rather find out from me what was going on with them than to go anywhere and BE WITH them.

Until I read this particular explanation about the difference between introverts and extroverts, I really didn't know how to explain myself. Now I know. I'm an introvert. I like people; but it takes being alone for me to regain my energy. Of course, over my lifetime, I've somehow been able to develop a technique for being alone even when I'm in the midst of a crowd. I describe it as living "in my own little world". And as the saying goes: "I live in my own little world, but it's ok; they know me here."

Friday was my off day and I filled it up with people. I drove to Gardendale and stopped by to see my ex co-manager who had been made manager of the Gardendale store after which I connected with my brother. We shared lunch together at a wonderful buffet called Lisa's Kitchen and then went back to his place where he brought out family "artifacts" and showed them to me and commented on them before committing them into my keeping. (This, by the way was the reason for the visit to his place.)

When I returned home, I had grandchildren already "in waiting". I had agreed to give Jef and Jeni a night out together and Jeni had brought the kids to my house. I had a good Friday evening and Saturday morning with Brad, Sam, Zack, Rachel, and Autumn. Then on the way home from work Saturday night, about 9PM, I picked up Cathleen and Caleb to spend the night with me. They are delightful children. I enjoyed them as well but, after taking them to church with me in this morning, I took them back to their other grandparents this afternoon. It was when I got back home that I realized how happy I am to come into a house that has no one in it.

I can "recharge". I can get ready to go back out into the world again later.

I have a good life.