What To Do When One Of Us Is Not Like The Rest Of Us
Supporting Parents Of Introverts
Part 1
by Nancy R. Fenn

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"I just found out my daughter is an introvert! What can I do to help her?" This question shows up frequently in my email inbox, whether it's a son or daughter. It's an excellent question.
To begin with, please remember that this is news to YOU not to YOUR CHILD. All your child needs is support in his or her choices, like keeping to himself when he gets home from school or choosing to read during vacation rather than meeting her classmates for shopping. You can support your child every day in small ways and make a big difference.
I personally dislike all labels, and not all introverts are the same, etc., so begin by acknowledging and supporting personal choices as you begin to learn, too, what introverts like and don't like.
For example, when Rob comes home from school and seems unsocial, comment, "Hi Rob, you look bushed today. It's hard interacting with all those people at school all day isn't it?" Typical response, "Yep", goes to his room and thinks about what you said. Believe me, it will be revolutionary in his world to get this kind of validation.
Here's another example. The family is getting ready to pile rambunctiously in the car to pick out the Christmas tree. There is laughter, jostling, yells and screams. But one of us is not like the rest of us. Jenna, a high school student, hangs back and looks like she is going to throw up. Walking over to Jenna, who does her best to give you a weak smile, "Hey Jenna. You look tired. Why don't you wait here at home for us. You can get the hot chocolate started and get the lights and music going."
Likely you'll get a very big smile in return. It's not that we don't love you -- we just find it all very exhausting. Serving behind the scenes or watching from a comfortable distance suits most introverts just fine.
Above all else, please don't spotlight your new found discovery in front of the rest of the family. There are eight different types of introverts but a universal characteristic is feeling humiliated when attention is called to us in public, particularly when we are unprepared.
We know you mean to be supportive, but your announcement at the dinner table tonight that Kelly is an introvert could be shocking and humiliating to Kelly beyond belief. She never knows what to say anyway and when put on the spot ... horrible! Introverts have a strong preference for written communication. That's why the cat always has our tongue!
You might compare this family awakening process to the way some women turn from Doormat to Bitch from Hell overnight. Let's be more loving and slide into these things slowly, giving everyone time to get used to the new way of thinking. That's the introvert way!
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See more fine articles by Nancy Fenn in our Seers and Sages section and our Coaches and Counselors section.

Nancy R. Fenn is an astrologer and intuitive consultant in the San Diego area. She enjoys working with intuitives, creatives and visionaries to help them discover their vision for the future and their mission in life. She has an international clientele and maintains a website full of
good resources for astrologers of all levels. Nancy is also the Introverts' Coach providing support and resources for the eight different types of introverts. Introversion is a legitimate personality type and not a failure to be an extrovert.
You can find Nancy at: Be My Astrologer, The IntrovertZ Coach, Be My Guide, I Design Webpages.
Nancy invites all introverts to take the Six Weeks' Online Self Discovery Course, a course designed by introverts for introverts. Raise your awareness, heal and understand yourself better, recover your positive identity and raise your self esteem. Click through to: Introverts' Self Discovery Course for more information.