Introversion: a privilege, not a right

I feel like people keep talking about introverts. Can't remember all the places I've run into it, but I know it's been several in recent months (here are the most recent). For whatever psychological categorization is worth, I pretty much resonate with introversion. In some ways, it makes this blessed house arrest easier. I'm not too sore (especially as I grow into ever insaner levels of insularity) over being excluded from social events, as someone who travels with a number of socially challenged and/or unwelcome people may often find herself. Social events generally make me edgy and wear me out, so it can be convenient having a constantly available excuse to avoid them. Although there are times I wish I didn't have to count myself out yet again from something adultish, as often as not my regret is over missing the food and the chance to put on nice clothes and have a couple of hours not dealing with whatever gross thing comes out of another human body.

But--those five socially challenged people? They're people. A group of people. A group of people that keeps both getting bigger and putting us back at square one. And spending all day actively engaged with these stupendous people whom I love with a devouring love--can you guess? Makes me edgy and wears me out. The noise! The banter! The crowding! Ah, but explain that to these stupendous people who inexplicably love me with a devouring love.

It does me no good to tell myself I'm an introvert, I'm not a patient person, I'm not a kid person, etc. I'm a mother. End of self-excusing, sin-indulgent psychologizing.

Nurture yourselves, darlings; I'm an introvert!