It takes a village to raise a child...

....and the friendship of fellow sleep-deprived mamas to keep a mama sane.

I don't always post up pictures of the gatherings I attend. But I thought I should this time.

I suppose we are generally familiar with what defines an introvert: a person who is energised and positively stimulated by being alone.

He/she withdraws from crowds, dreads making small talk (loves deep conversations though - online ones included), thinks before he/she speaks, and chooses his/her friends very carefully. This is by no means an exhaustive list of characteristics. If you are an introvert, you will agree with me.

But well, I am not just an introvert. I am a shy introvert. I fear rejection - even that of those who are close. Chosen friends. I am at times awkward, afraid to call on friends even when I badly need to, afraid of disturbing those whom I need (and want) to bug, etc. You get the picture. In short, I am afraid of many things that I shouldn't be afraid of.

And so I have to discipline myself to fix regular dates with dateable friends. This is to overcome the shy part. When I am going through a hard time and don't crave any form of social interaction by virtue of my introversion, I also force myself to meet people in order to not stay in my head too much and make things out to be worse than they really are. As much as I dislike divulging my thoughts when I am suffering, I must say that it helps to share them with a trusted friend or trusted friends. By the time I get to full-blown whining, and if your ears are the very ones which get to endure them, count yourself blessed, haha. Coz you are one of the chosen people. Esteemed and appreciated.

Anyway...

I was really happy to meet up with Jane and Wee Lyn the other day. Thankful for friends in the Lord who are mothers themselves - and who too aspire to bring up their children in His ways. They inspire and encourage me in my trials as a mother (and wife). I am comforted that I am not alone in my struggles.

Thank you, dear friends.