Introvert parents

[Pruni]

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Cough a lot/paint vivid red spots on your face/don't wash/wear a yashmak thingy

Seriously, i am an introvert with an introverted toddler and it pains me sometimes that he is so shy so enjoy it while it lasts!

Go to busy places but not ones that you actually have to talk to anyone. Go to the supermarket, make a big deal out of buying a jam doughnut, talk about all the exciting wonderful people around you, then go home to eat the doughnuts. That sort of thing.

oh goodness wish i knew my toddler[17m]approaches pepole and introduces me then i sort of have to talk
was she switched at birth?

Be grateful! I'm introverted and so is DS and I'd give anything for him to be less shy. I worry endlessly about him getting picked on and he's only 17 mo fgs.

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well can't dh take child away regularly so you can be on your own? i really need that, same for evenings we often spend time in separate rooms after dd is in bed - we both need the space

oh I see! You want peace from your child!

I feel for you as I like my space and can be quite introverted and my ds1 was a chatterbox who craved constant attention. It can wear you down.

Can you make the most of the times you are up and he is sleeping - elongate this as long as possible, oh and yes, big tip .... be thankful that your toddler is so sociable and not clingy because it means you know he will be happy if you introduce him leisure centre and shopping centre creches. My ds loved having time in creches as soon as he was at the acceptible age limit. Finding out about all the available short stop creches gave me a mental boost, too. It's not always cheap but if buying yourself an hour's time helps you for the other 23 hours of the day, it's worth it.

Doesn't sound crap at all - I totally know where you're coming from but I think that toddlers are so demanding and chatty (even the introverted ones) the only time you get is when you put them to bed! Perhaps you could have a daily routine with some TV/video time built in, perhaps after lunch, so he gets used to some quieter time and you can do your own thing? Also do you have one of these near you. I like to go and read a book/mag while ds is on the slides etc. Trouble is it's not as easy now ds2 has come along

I sneak upstairs on the computer, log onto Mumsnet - forget all about having kids - for hours sometimes!

wow, I thought I was the only one. My dd has always been an introvert, chatty and goes up to talk to anyone. This year she sang in a school talent show in front of the whole school for god's sake!!!! She is 9 now and I have learned to enjoy her extrovert personality and, if I can give you hope, she has learned to enjoy mine. Yesterday we went to the library togehter and picked out books then sat together in a coffee shop and we each silently read, chatted occasionally then back to our books (I think I was more chatty and interrupted her more than her me). She came home and raved to her dad how much fun she had.

Until your child is older, disappear in a good book.

Pruni ... I don't think this just happens to introverted parents ... I am an extrovert and so are my children ... but I really really really need and relish space from them at times.
I grew up in a busy large family and always loved to be around people ... but since I had children I value time on my own in silence more than anything ....
My dd (3 in Feb) goes to creche 2 mornings a week and I am really precious about that time ... sometimes I have to work but if people ask me out for coffee or something I tend to put them off as I like to go home, shut the door and enjoy my own house EMPTY of noise and chatter ...

Can your DD go to a creche or something? Or maybe you have a friend and do a swap? I have a lovely friend and 1 wednesday a month she has DD ALL day - I work for half of it and then have a couple of hours to myself. I pick up DS from school and we go to her house for dinner before bringing DD home. It is reciprocal so one Wednesday a month I do that for her (have her DS for the day and cook dinner for us all etc) which is hard work but worth it for my day off ...