Dear Diary,

Hello! My name is Diamonte, and I’m an introverted mom. It wasn’We understand that these deep-dive conversations with people we just met are going to be few and far in between, and that’s okay, because introverts aren’t interested in establishing a bunch of connections. It takes way too much mental effort to maintain all of those interactions. For this reason, to people on the outside, we may seem shy or even antisocial, but that’s not always the case. Yes, some introverts are wallflowers, but we are all more than capable of rising above it when necessary. The truth is, we spend a lot of time cultivating our mental energy . Yep, this is what we’re doing when we’re being quiet. So we’re selective about when to expend it, where to expend and who to expend it with. It has to feel worthwhile. We feel no pressure to be the life of the party, or the loudest in the boardroom. Best believe when we do decide to make a move, it’s done with boldness, and when we do share, our ideas are well-reasoned and thought out.

Give It Time

I haven’t ever been good at making fast friends. There was a point in my life where I felt bad about it, and would constantly ask what was wrong with me. Over the years, I’ve learned that making friends may not be my strong suit, but keeping them is my specialty. I just need time. Judgments are made in a snap, but it takes time to shape an opinion. I believe the same applies to relationships. For example, I may encounter someone in the same circle a few times and exchange nothing more than basic hellos. The more I observe that person, and become familiar with how he/she behaves and thinks, I am able to see a clearer path to making a connection – and I go for it. It is important for introverts to remember that is not all about how others relate to us, but also how we relate to others.

On the surface, we may experience socialization a bit differently than our extroverted counterparts, but we are thoughtful and engaging people who make great mothers, strong leaders and wonderful friends.  When connecting with an introvert, don’t immediately write us off as reclusive, or standoffish. Give an introvert a second chance and chances are we’ll leave a lasting impression.

Hey DFTM Fam–What are some helpful you tips you have to connect with introverts?

Diamonte Walker is a married mom raising two daughters, ages 15 and 7, in Pittsburgh, PA. She writes about embracing imperfect parenting, debunking the myth of the supermom and finding ways to be a liberated woman. She loves being a mother, because the love she has for her children has anchored her and inspired her to do and be more. When not writing for DFTM, Diamonte blogs at Liberated Mommy. You can follow her journey through motherhood on Twitter