Mommy Blogger?
I recently discovered BlogHer and through that site I found several new blogs to read; among them a blog called "Mom Writes". A recent entry of Mary's pointed me to yet another blog called "Miss Zoot" and a post of hers on Mommy Blogging. Apparently there are several A-list female bloggers who look down their noses at the large collection of us moms who blog. Something about how boring it is to read about our kids all the time; that our blogs lack substance in the form of political commentary or current events.
I don't know whose blogs those A-listers are reading, but I certainly don't use my little corner of the net to blog about my kid ALL the time. I do have other things I like to write about. Then again, the term "blog" may not really apply to me. I really do have more of a journal (memoir may be even more accurate a term.) I write about my life.
I like the questions Miss Zoot asks in her informal Mommy Blogging panel, so I'll include my answers here.
1. Do your kids know about your blog? If they're too young to know, do you plan to keep it open to them as they get older?
My son does know about my blog. He is only 4, but he knows I "talk" about him on my journal and asks to see the pictures I post. He will even ask me if I'm going to put certain things on my blog. So far, he seems quite pleased that I write about him.
2. If so - do you worry they may get embarrassed later? What would you do if they asked you to stop writing about them? What would you do if they wanted you to take it down all together?
At some later date if he expresses embarrassment over the content of my journal, I will take his feelings into consideration. I still plan to write about him, but I might start a second private journal or come up with a plan. Maybe give him a pseudonym and talk about things in code. We'll work it out together.
3. Do you think our kids will appreciate the archive of their childhood? Do you wish your parents had done the same?
When he gets older, I really do think he will appreciate having my blog to look back on. Not many kids have such concrete records of their childhood. My own mother's memory is very iffy. I wish she'd kept a journal or diary. I would love to experience my childhood through her written memories.
4. Do you go back and re-read your past parenting milestones? Do you realize you forgot a lot?
I do go back and peruse my old posts on occasion. Mostly to check and make sure I'm not repeating myself too much. And yes, I have forgotten a lot! This journal will be very precious to me too, one day.
5. What about your children's friends/teachers/moms-of-friends? What if they found your blog? Do you tell your child not to tell anyone about it or are they free to talk about it? Do you worry their teachers or other parents will think it's weird?
The only folks who seem unaware of my blog are my immediate family (mom, dad, brother). I don't mention it to them mainly because I don't think they'd be interested and I think some would protest my talking about them - I'll leave it for them to discover on their own. I am not anonymous in any way here. I'm easy to find. I don't go out of my way to TELL everyone about my blog either. Although my "I'm Blogging This!" tee-shirt I wear every week is probably a big ass giveaway.
I don't think anyone would find it weird. Blogging is getting to be pretty common these days. I am an open book in person so it seems natural that my journal would be the same. I just wish certain family members who found my blog and took exception to one entry in particular would realize that reading my drivel is like looking inside my brain. It ain't always pretty in there. I admit to occasional irrationality and borderline insanity. Everyone has their moments. We're family! Isn't it a rule that you are supposed to forgive family for the stupid things they sometimes do and say? And there I go...off on a tangent again. What were we talking about?
Oh yes. Mommy blogging. In summary, I don't see the title of this entry as a negative. I'm a mommy and a blogger. If you don't like what I write about, go read someone else. There are LOTS to choose from. :-)
Now I've got to go add Miss Zoot to my blogroll. Later gaters!
I don't know whose blogs those A-listers are reading, but I certainly don't use my little corner of the net to blog about my kid ALL the time. I do have other things I like to write about. Then again, the term "blog" may not really apply to me. I really do have more of a journal (memoir may be even more accurate a term.) I write about my life.
I like the questions Miss Zoot asks in her informal Mommy Blogging panel, so I'll include my answers here.
1. Do your kids know about your blog? If they're too young to know, do you plan to keep it open to them as they get older?
My son does know about my blog. He is only 4, but he knows I "talk" about him on my journal and asks to see the pictures I post. He will even ask me if I'm going to put certain things on my blog. So far, he seems quite pleased that I write about him.
2. If so - do you worry they may get embarrassed later? What would you do if they asked you to stop writing about them? What would you do if they wanted you to take it down all together?
At some later date if he expresses embarrassment over the content of my journal, I will take his feelings into consideration. I still plan to write about him, but I might start a second private journal or come up with a plan. Maybe give him a pseudonym and talk about things in code. We'll work it out together.
3. Do you think our kids will appreciate the archive of their childhood? Do you wish your parents had done the same?
When he gets older, I really do think he will appreciate having my blog to look back on. Not many kids have such concrete records of their childhood. My own mother's memory is very iffy. I wish she'd kept a journal or diary. I would love to experience my childhood through her written memories.
4. Do you go back and re-read your past parenting milestones? Do you realize you forgot a lot?
I do go back and peruse my old posts on occasion. Mostly to check and make sure I'm not repeating myself too much. And yes, I have forgotten a lot! This journal will be very precious to me too, one day.
5. What about your children's friends/teachers/moms-of-friends? What if they found your blog? Do you tell your child not to tell anyone about it or are they free to talk about it? Do you worry their teachers or other parents will think it's weird?
The only folks who seem unaware of my blog are my immediate family (mom, dad, brother). I don't mention it to them mainly because I don't think they'd be interested and I think some would protest my talking about them - I'll leave it for them to discover on their own. I am not anonymous in any way here. I'm easy to find. I don't go out of my way to TELL everyone about my blog either. Although my "I'm Blogging This!" tee-shirt I wear every week is probably a big ass giveaway.
I don't think anyone would find it weird. Blogging is getting to be pretty common these days. I am an open book in person so it seems natural that my journal would be the same. I just wish certain family members who found my blog and took exception to one entry in particular would realize that reading my drivel is like looking inside my brain. It ain't always pretty in there. I admit to occasional irrationality and borderline insanity. Everyone has their moments. We're family! Isn't it a rule that you are supposed to forgive family for the stupid things they sometimes do and say? And there I go...off on a tangent again. What were we talking about?
Oh yes. Mommy blogging. In summary, I don't see the title of this entry as a negative. I'm a mommy and a blogger. If you don't like what I write about, go read someone else. There are LOTS to choose from. :-)
Now I've got to go add Miss Zoot to my blogroll. Later gaters!
Comments
That said, anyone who looks down their nose at me will be left with the sight of my hiney.
(Hey, that rhymes!)
The older I get, the less and less I care about what others think of me. It's liberating.
So, poop on them.
PS Can you come for a visit, let me know!
I got a particularly nasty email a few weeks ago about how an entry I wrote was insignificant in light of everything going on in the world and that I was a moron wasting my time. I pointed out that if they thought that was true, I was surprised that the wasted their time writing me.
Water off of a duck's back, Becky.
Chris
My Blog