There is a reason why you can’t swing a cat without hitting a parent blogger these days.* Parents love to get their weblog on. It’s a relatively simple way to share the details of our busy lives and to get instant feedback to universal parenting questions like, “Am I doing this right? Is it supposed to smell like that? And, Will I ever stop feeling this exhausted?”
I started my first blog nearly a decade ago. It was a photo heavy journal, peppered with sleep-deprived quips and it was how I kept my family up-to-date. Phone calls? Who has time for those anymore?
I have since retired that blog (and printed a copy in book form for posterity) and started a new blog intended to document the growth of a Home Business – a little crafting operation run by sheer mom power and some acrylic paint. This venture was short-lived. I soon discovered I didn’t actually like painting and my crafting skills were better left to my talented partner @sarahgunnstyle.
So my blog shifted focus. I made the decision to talk openly about the struggles and joys of raising a child with special needs. Forever In Mom Genes became my safe place to share.
But with any personal blog, it’s all out there for anyone to read. Are we exposing too much? There are bloggers who have shared some truly intimate details and like a voyeur, I’ve peeped into their lives. In some cases, I’ve been completely inspired. In others, I’ve turned away groaning, “TMI! Please make the over-sharing stop!”
I wonder, “Are we all so busy talking at the same time, that nobody can hear us anyway?” I also think, “Every story worth telling has already been told, so what’s the point?”
And then I remember why I started blogging in the first place. For the few posts here and there that generate a response, it is worth it. When I get an email from a friend or a random stranger, saying they connected with something my family is going through, it makes writing our story worthwhile.
And yes, we are all talking at the same time. We parents are a chatty bunch, aren’t we? However, it’s important to stop and listen. Find the blogs that resonate with you, that teach you something, that change you in some way, or make you feel connected. Isn’t that what parenting blogs are all about?
*Merely an expression. I don’t actually swing cats (even though I am allergic and more of a dog person).
About The Author
Lisa Thornbury lives in Toronto with her husband, and two kids — 8 and 5. After her daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, Lisa left her job as an elementary teacher to work at home. She is editor here at Help! We’ve Got Kids and works as a freelance writer. When she’s not busy making efficient lists of the daily tasks she will never get to, or swinging cats (kidding!) she’s writing about entertaining on a budget for The Yummy Mummy Club or sharing stories about parenting a child with special needs at Forever In Mom Genes.
