15 September 2008

Tick A Box

This may surprise you, I may have fooled you up till now, but it's time to tell the truth.
I am a complete introvert....shocking, I know.

On my second attempt at college (the successful one), as part of my course, I had to do a bit of psychology. Nothing too taxing, bit more of an Idiots Guide. I remember very little of it, but what I do remember is one particular lecture about Jung's introverts and extroverts. We each took a little test to find out which box we fit into, and low and behold, I fit snugly in the introvert one. I was one of two or three out of a class of almost 30 to be like that. I've never been terrible social. Not that I don't go out, I just don't get the staying out very late, getting tipsy, having to shout over loud music. Do I sound like an old bat yet? Hang on, I'll just whip out my knitting and wave a needle around critically. I like to socialise in small groups of good friends, nothing too strenuous, with my own comfy bed waiting for me at the end of a long (no later than 1.30am) night.

But now I think that Cathal is changing all that. Suddenly, I am not happy to stay home and mooch around the house. Now I need company. I have never been very good at meeting new people, making new friends, but all of a sudden, I am craving chats and tea. Does mammyness do this to you? You make that extra effort because of your new little bunddle? You need to seek out adult conversation before you go mad singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for the 47th time that day?

The Mammy Box: Very soon after Cathal came home for the second time, a little summer walking group was formed, through the magic of RollerCoaster. We only got to go walking a few times before the rain drove us indoors, and chatting and tea took over.

The Special Mammy Box: Recently, a few of us mammies of babies with DS have been getting together once a week, in each others houses to chat and yes.....drink tea. Cathal has made some friends at this little get together, Ava, Noah, Liam and more recently Mannix.

The Breast Feeding Mammy Box: Also, in the last few weeks, I've been meeting a few other breastfeeding mammies to chat about, yes, you guessed it, breastfeeding. Again we all met through the amazing RollerCoaster.

The Baby/ Toddler Group Mammy Box: Tomorrow I am going to go to my first real, properly organised, baby and toddler group, to meet more mammies and babies. I'll drink more tea (I do like tea) and catch up with my sister-in-law.

The School Mammy Box: Don't forget that mammy, the most important one. We go to school once a week to sing songs and look at twinkly lights on the ceiling. There is also some tea involved.

A different Mammy hat to put on every day


That's my life now, different boxes that I tick, a range of different mammy jigsaw puzzles that fit together to make up a picture of me. For a complete and total introvert, I think I'm making great progress at socialising, if not for my sake, but for Cathal's. It's good to stimulate both our brains.




P.S. Cathal got his medical card today, I didn't even have to put up a fight!!

9 comments:

Nick McGivney said...

Woo hoo on the medical card. Hopefully we might get lucky too. We'll see. And you must have a bladder of steel what with all that tea!
We've been enjoying some mammy and daddy evenings over at St Michael's House in Ballymun on Thursdays for a couple of weeks, and there are a couple to go. Have met Noah's mam and dad too. You'd love it. There's tea! I'll post on it soon, when I have my act together.
Laters.

Jeffrey Goble said...

My children have changed me in the most unimaginable ways. I love the pic of Cathal vs. carrots! Attaboy!
I haven't had a proper cup of tea since 1977, when I was on your side of the pond. I think that we introverts make the best social partners, but I tend to keep that sentiment to myself.
;^)>

tfc said...

Hurrah for Rollercoaster - I've been a rc'er now for nearly 2.5 years and it saw me through ttcing, pg and now new mum and bfing. I haven't yet had the privilege of meeting anyone else on the boards but well done you for today and the bfing publicity stunt! Cant wait to see the pictures.

Jo said...

I didn't know you had a blog! Great idea.

I'm reading, and like when I read those first RC posts, my heart goes out to you. Thank God you get such a sweet little darling of cutey boy out of it all!

Jo x

Anonymous said...

La venue d'un enfant nous change, que nous soyons ses parents ou ses frères et sœurs. En tant que maman (je pense qu'il en est de même pour les papas)nous devons nous occuper de nous mais surtout veiller sur ce petit être fait avec "un bout de nous même". Pour lui, on donnerait tout, notre vie s'il le fallait. Mais sans aller jusque là, nous réalisons des choses dont on ne se croyait pas capable, même quand on est "extravertie". il nous fait évoluer, voir les choses sous un autre angle... et aimer encore plus la VIE. C'est peut être cela que l'on appelle "aller vers la MATURITÉ ou la SAGESSE".
dominique

Sesame said...

Hey Cathal go tell ur ma to come hang out with me...I will have her partying till 4am and it won't be tea she's drinking...
Gosh how do you fit it all in..u are to be admired..like me ma used to say the world is not going to come knocking for you, get out there...
Result on the medical card!!

Cathal's Mammy said...

Thanks Nick, you should defiantly get the medical card for Jacob, after the last few months you've had....I'll fight for you if you get turned down, gimme a shout :-)

elblog, I do love tea, and taytos. Poor thing, that's far too long to go with out real tea. I'll post you some if you send me your address.

Trina & Jo, I am a total Roller Coaster addict at this stage, especially the bf board. Can't wait to see the pics too!!

Dom, c'est vrai, mon petit homme m'a totalement changé.

Sesame, I'm a wee bit scared now!!!! 4? am?? You would have to stop me curling up in a corner to sleep at about 1!!

Lisamaree said...

Well done you Cathal's mammy for getting out there and networking.
I imagine that you were at some point in the paid workforce prior to Mammyhood (unless you are a trustafarian) so you naturally networked with the people at work; in your own way. It is much harder to put yourself out there in your new role, and find something in common with diverse groups of people who just happen to be Mums.
Before you know it you will be the "Alpha Mum" of your groups and everyone will look up to you for the next step.
Well done, and love to Cathal!
xx

Anonymous said...

I have been follwing your blogs (on and off)on Cathal whose pic is soooo cute... And well done on the medical card.

Just a suggestion to add to your busy schedule- try to bring Cathal to swim if you can. I found that I met so many new mammies(some of them are good friends now) when I brought my little gem to the swimming pool after being a closed-door mammy for 4 years. Did you notice that every mammy's conversations topic are more children focus rather than hot-date last night?....:))

Love to Cathal