In the beginning I used my blog as a place to put down my thoughts. Kind of like an online journal.
Slowly it turned into a parenting blog, a mommy blog. A place I could document my child’s life.
I started off with one reader, and then slowly I picked up a few more.
I was happy with that. I was content.
I then started Tweeting and realized the blog world was a huge one.
I started to feel a need to be “accepted” by these other bloggers.
It doesn’t work that easily.
Most of them have their circle of bloggy friends and aren’t open to letting others in there clique.
Most of them have met before and conferences. Conferences am not able to afford.
I found myself Tweeting links to my posts and practically begging for people to comment.
Why?
Why did I feel the need to have validation from others?
I took a break from my blog after I had my son in May.
I had pretty much lost all of my readers (except for the ones who really love me) and began to panic.
Why?
The answer is I don’t know why.
It’s nice to have readers. It’s nice to have comments. But it’s not why I blog.
I had to remind myself of that.
And now I don’t care.
I will no longer post links up on Twitter. My blog link is on my profile. It they want to read they will. Me clogging up their Twitter stream won’t force their hand.
I will blog because I want to remember that Kobi has learned to roll over from his back to his stomach.
I will blog because I want to remember when Lael stopped being a baby and turned into a beautiful young lady.
I will blog because I want to remember when I settled into my parenting role and stopped being afraid.
If I bring a few friends along for the ride, that’s nice.
But at the end of the day I just want to remember.
I know exactly how you feel.
ReplyDeleteI have never left a post on anyone's blog before, but i have been reading your blog for well over a year. I just wanted to let you know that while I don't usually (ok never) leave check your blog every morning and I truly do enjoy reading your stories you write.
ReplyDeleteWell I enjoy your blog! I like your perspective on parenting. Your writing style is fun and interesting. And I appreciate your honesty!! Keep blogging!
ReplyDeleteSounds good to me! I always find that when I stop commenting much I lose readers. But I'm finally in a place where I really don't care too much. I like your blog, and I always read, whether or not I comment. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is such a wonderful reminder of why we blog. The best reason ever.
ReplyDelete:)! Well, I read your blog...just because I love you! Miss you tons!
ReplyDeleteAmen to that! I know exactly what you mean about those "cliques". Personally, I like to read real blogs, about ordinary people like myself, and I think that's why I enjoy reading yours. We're not "superbloggers", we're real, everyday women, with jobs, and kids, and lives. I went through the why-am-I-doing-this phase more times than I can remember, and decided to be content with the handful of real, and loyal, and down-to-earth women who show their love and support.
ReplyDeleteA-M-E-N! :)
ReplyDeleteI love love LOVE this post. Because I feel the same way. For a period of time, I was obsessed with commenters. And then Real Life smacked me in the head and made me realize that being a big-time blogger was not the end-all be-all. I still enjoy comments. I still enjoy blogging. But I no longer feel the NEED to push out a post every day. Or even every other day. I post when *I* need to speak. And that's enough. :)
ReplyDeleteI have come to realize that blogging, for me, is full of responsibility. But, we have to choose to who.
ReplyDeleteTo me? To have a place to post? or to others, to try and comment back as a kindness.
It starts to become work and a time suck, but what if you just want to write? As in, that is all.
And what do people say of someone who never comments back on their blog, or visits them, right?
It's a hard thing to decide. I love to write, and that is why I blog.
The friends I've made have been the icing on the cake, and a hugely wonderful awesome surprise.
Bbut, still. It is a huge time suck.
But, worth it, over and over worth it.
I liked this post here.
So good to meet you!