Lately…I’ve been tired of blogging. (Seems like it’s going around lately, huh?)
Wanted to put a stop to everything and just breathe. Lay across the bed and inhale, exhale. Quit the blog, quit school, slide under the covers and go to sleep. For about a week. Or two.
Every few months I get overwhelmed like this and it’s time for me to invest in some stress relief. An extra hour of sleep here or there, a nice dinner out and usually I’m good as new.
But this? This felt different. The transition to being a work-at-home mom wasn’t going so well. My son (my dear, dear little boy) has been in the midst of his Terrible Twos (which I affectionately call his “Terrific Twos”) and has been trying every last nerve I’ve got. Just defiant and mean all the time. Even when I try to love the grumpy out of him, he lets me know, “Hey lady, it ain’t working today.”
So couple that with an increased workload, feeling like I’m writing posts but not growing as a blogger, feeling like I don’t have the time that it takes to respond to every comment like I used to. Trying to get this redesign off the ground and pull some regular contributors on board (hopefully I can pay you all!).
But I shook off everything and kept going. Because I talk all the time about why I blog, why I stay up late trying to write something that connects with people and makes you feel like, “Ahh, I’m so glad I’m not the only one!”
But while I blog for you, I’m blogging for my kids too. I want them to look through my archives and see how I was feeling when I got laid off, or when my kids got to be school-age, or….whenever. This blog is chronicling my life, my experiences, challenges and joys. If ANYONE gets something out of this, it’ll be my kids.
I’ve never been one to keep a written (like you can hold it in your hands) journal. Had a diary when I was younger but you know how easy it was to stick a paper clip in their and jimmy the lock. So this blog serves as my testimony, the proof of my journey.
Gotta keep pushing.
This post really resonated with me, Tara. I read the other ones you linked to as well. Lately I’ve been thinking a great deal about the direction of my blog because I started it to document my pregnancy and journey into motherhood for the first time. Now that my pregnancy is over and I’ve ‘crossed over’ into motherhood, I’m not sure what else to say. Sure, there’s lots to write about concerning the baby and her development, but I’m not 100% positive that I’ll have the time to write as frequently after I return to work next week. Just the other day I was thinking to myself that I need to relax and write because I like to do it, not because I know people are reading and have expectations of me. That’s the joy of blogging…it’s your space, your thoughts, your online diary. I want to get back to that place of not worrying about growing my readership, maintaining a Facebook page, Twitter, etc. That’s all so time consuming!!!! I’m going to just write about whatever I feel like – not just about being a mom. Thanks for sharing and for the unintentional encouragement (which, ironically is the beauty of blogging in the first place!).
I completely agree. I just recently started my blog because I had lots of feelings and things I would like my daughter to know about her mother, and also would like feedback from other moms so I know I’m not the only mother that feels this way. There are so many blogs from moms exploiting their kids or rambling on about how “perfect” their children and lives are, when if they were completely honest with theirselves they would be writing the same things we are. Life is messy, chaotic, confusing, and beautiful all at the same time…Thank you for keeping your blog and inspiring other young moms to do the same!
Totally agree with this post. If you would to visit my blog…I began blogging as a way to voice my opinion on celebrities, but over a period of time I lost interest and left blogging completely. Just recently, I came back and just blog about whatever…life, relationships…
I’m glad that you decide to blog because without your blogs I would feel a little lonely. I just began investigating blogging and I don’t know how you do it. (literally and mentally) The pressure has to be intense and I would think that its a difficult process. I have a unique situation–well maybe not so unique–but finding a blog for a single mother who’s daughter’s father is deploying to Afghanistan is hard. Especially because the blogs for the Military families just leads to judgements about my choices and decisions and my situation. I enjoy reading about other single mother’s feelings and ideas. Its quite relaxing.
I kinda know what you mean. Not about quitting the blogging because I am sort of a newbie and I LOVE it. But it started out as another form of branding for my business but has grown into something much bigger. I want my kids to look back on it years later and smile.
I feel the same way, Tara. I keep pushing forward for the same reasons you do.
I really appreciated this post because I recently started a blog and haven’t received much feedback and it was sort of discouraging! But I realize I just need to write about whatever I want to for my own sake regardless of anyone reading it or not!
Tara,
Once again you have hit the nail on the head. I don’t blog but have been thinking about doing it alot lately. However, with work, the boys, a new relationship(i think), reading, career advancement, my freakin life plans…it would be one more thing that I have to do.
We mothers take on alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just keep pressing on as I know we all do. Will things ever get easier? Idk…but we moms need to take more breaks and get back to what it is we wanted to do before the kiddos came along. That was probably what got me through undergrad and grad school on time. I did those things that I truly enjoyed!
I feel so released, knowing I am not alone with these thoughts. Thank you ladies.
Great article! Great Blog! I am a 24 year old mommy of one so I relate to this very well! I recently started a blog and have been a little discouraged at how little of a response I got from it…especially from friends :/ BUT this blog sort of made me look at blogging in a totally different way! Thank you for that!
http://sunrisesandsmiles.blogspot.com
Although, I would love some followers for discussion purposes!!!
Take a bow and drop the mic. You are speaking the truth! I’ve decided to continue writing cutesy kid posts because I want Jayden to be able to look back and read about his antics, lol. My mind goes. I forget stuff, so my blog refreshes my memory. Right now, I could ask my mother how was I at 2, or about some funny things I did at 6. She’d probably be like, “Ummmm.” I don’t want to be like that. Memories are important!
One thing I need to do is comment more! I can’t write and expect people to come. I’ve been blogging for ages… I.know.this. I’m just so…unorganized…eh lazy…
Keep on pushing, you’ll reach your goals!