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jawgee
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| Posted: May 30 2013 at 7:19pm | IP Logged
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I tend to be introverted. Although I do well in social situations, I need lots of down-time to recover after being in a social situation. We are in a co-op this year that I love, but after teaching teenagers for a couple of hours, spending time in a large group with many kids, and dealing with getting my four kids to and from the co-op, I am SPENT when I get home. I prefer to turn on the TV for them and just shut down for the rest of the afternoon. It's such a bad habit. Suggestions for finding a better way to deal with my need to decompress?
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Monica
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Betsy
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| Posted: May 30 2013 at 7:24pm | IP Logged
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I don't consider myself to be an introvert  , but I feel the exact same way when we have done any type of field trip or co-op. I don't have any great advice, but I have learned that is part of the "cost" of doing the activity. The rest of the day is usually just shot and dinner is a mess unless I prepared something in advance. 
I hope others will chime in with some more practical help....I can only just sympathize. 
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Mackfam
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| Posted: May 30 2013 at 8:15pm | IP Logged
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Oh, I can relate, Monica! I am NOT an introvert at all!  I'm very extroverted actually, but like you, after a high energy day out, I really need down time! My practical suggestions that I've learned are:
** CONSIDER: VERY, VERY carefully and critically any time spent out of the home! Time out = a withdrawal from everyone's energy bank and a proportional amount of quiet recovery time is usually needed!
** IS IT A PRIORITY: If we decide time spent outside the home is a priority, get organized to deal with the after effects because what Betsy says here....
Betsy wrote:
| I have learned that is part of the "cost" of doing the activity. |
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...is EXACTLY right! I call it "errand hang-over"! So, I accept that I NEED that down time, and try to set myself up for success.
** GETTING HOME: Set up and organize a system for unloading the car! The kids should be doing ALL of this! I warn mine when we're about a mile from home --> start picking up around your seat and gathering things together! (I keep small bags in seat pockets for trash and bring baskets in the car for transporting the STUFF that multiplies like bunny rabbits ANY TIME you roll out of the driveway!!   ) And then we have a hard and fast rule - no food until car is TOTALLY unloaded! Organize a drop zone for things brought in. I give myself permission not to put things away (except that obviously we put cold groceries away!) until the next day.
** LESSON PLANS: I am very intentional about lessons on days out - they're lite and do-able. No labs. No projects. No extra crazy stuff! Reading only.
** MEALS: You have GOT-TO, GOT-TO, GOT-TO be on top of this one! I make sure we either have enough leftovers to eat, OR freezer meal, OR a big kid willing to cook for the night. By the way, if I make a trip out FOR a big kid...like a lesson or special activity they want to do...part of the deal is that THEY must take responsibility for helping transition us back home and part of that means that they're usually in charge of dinner for the night. Now, I see that your oldest is 11/12 yo, so they can definitely help you with prep or even making a simple meal!! You just HAVE TO BE organized ahead of time.
** RELAX: I absolutely give myself permission for quiet sitting in the evening! Maybe I enjoy reading, or a little laptop time and etsy "window shopping"  , or a movie, or even a favorite show - but the point is that it's usually brainless activity! I also really like to reward myself sometimes - with something little. Maybe a little dish of M&Ms, or a glass of wine. Little, but refreshing!
Then...resolve to hit the ground running in the morning.
I used to try to do WAY too much on days out in terms of putting away and hitting the reset button, but I learned that I actually was MUCH more productive overall (meaning looking at the week as a whole) and the entire family more refreshed and able to handle the ordinary routine of the day if I accept the "errand hangover," plan for it, set us up for success with meals and lessons, and allow for appropriate relax time after the time out of the home. The next morning I am usually up and rock-n-and-rolling and caught up quickly!
Good luck brainstorming this, Monica! Do your best to set yourself up for success and INSIST that your kids have reasonable jobs that help all of you transition back into the home so you can enjoy some quiet time!
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Jen Mackintosh
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amyable
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| Posted: May 31 2013 at 6:23am | IP Logged
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Serious introvert here!  I can't top Jen's advice (ever ) but I thought of something that really helps here if I don't want to use TV/computer/wii as a babysitter- go to the library for a few minutes as a last stop before home...the "library hush" that descends on the home as everyone comes in and reads their new finds is priceless.
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Amy
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: May 31 2013 at 8:03am | IP Logged
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What Jen said!
I have to be very careful with our schedule to avoid major recovery time from over stimulation.
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Cassie
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Topic: Help for an introvert
