Repost: What Kind of Mother Am I

In June 2008 I wrote about mothering and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Charlotte wasn't even a year old and some of the points just didn't play out yet. So I thought it would be a good exercise to see how I stack up against what my mothering type is "supposed" to be.

Here is what it says about my type as a mother:

ESTJ (Extraverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging)

“We’re the mothers you like to carpool with. Not only are we on time, we organize the driving schedule for everyone.”

• Organized and comfortable being in charge, the ESTJ mother knows “how to” get things done, make things happen, and accomplish much on behalf of her children. Whether she is encouraging them to get involved in organized activities or talking with them about their personal concerns, children of the ESTJ mother learn “how to” succeed in life.
• Upbeat and matter-of-fact, the ESTJ mother is intent on her children having the best. She puts her skills and talents to work to this end, from planning trips that supplement their studies to raising funds for new playground equipment. She is happiest when her efforts produce concrete results — children who try out for teams, participate in academic competitions, or are leaders among their peers.
• The ESTJ mother runs a tight household. She is apt to have predictable expectations, consistent routines, standard procedures, and well-defined boundaries, all of which help her children feel protected and secure.

Now that Charlotte is almost 3 years old, I can read this description and still feel pretty confident in its accuracy. I am an involved mom. I do like to plan things. (Like summer playdates for all 65 of my MOPs friends!). And I have to add, thankfully there is no expectation within my type of having an immaculate house. Because that ain't going to happen!

If you know your Myers-Briggs Type, you can click over here and read about yourself. My EdD husband reminded me that the MBTI is copy-written so you can't take it online, but there is a similar version of the test here if you don't know what your type is.