I must not be reading the right blogs because while I’ve read references about bloggers who write about writing too-personal posts, it wasn’t until today that after googling “mommy bloggers too personal” that I actually found a blog specifically written about whether mommy bloggers are getting too personal.
Could I have possibly squeezed in one more “personal” in that sentence?
What annoys me about what I have termed the High Horse Mentality is that it’s coming from big-name bloggers. Big Name bloggers who probably started off anonymous writing under cute pseudonyms who got popular for their writing, then got enough emails to convince them to write a book, which of course required them to write under their real name (because no one is going to pay good money to buy a book with an author’s name like Yo-yo Mama). This always leads to publicly acknowledging that their child’s name is really NOT Doodicus but is indeed Norman, and look! Here’s a picture of Norman naked in the tub/sitting on the potty chair/playing with his Barbies.
And THEN they wonder why they get creepy emails from Lester of the MWLBs.
While I’m on the topic of annoying things bloggers do, here’s a common mistake most bloggers make. In fact, I’ll admit I made it (I makes lots of them…), don’t ever say, “My blog is for ME and I’ll blog what I want!” Wake up. The ONLY blog that is truly written solely for the blog owner is the one set to private. Completely private. Not this private-but-my-family-and-friends-can-read-it, because the pictures and stories that get shared are not for YOU then, now are they?
Blogging has kept me sane over the years, especially during our ART years. I also think blogging is a dying art. I get more feedback on Facebook nowadays then I do here, but I will continue to maintain my blog for a couple of different reasons: 1) there are things I can still say here that I can’t on FB. I am friends with my family, in-laws and classmates there – many times regrettably so; and 2) I find it reassuring that with how things are right now with my son that I am not alone. Who knows what the coming months and years will bring for my daughter.
As for worrying about my kids someday finding my blog? I sincerely hope they do and realize that I wasn’t just “the Mommy”. I am a real person who worried about their future, proudly shared their accomplishments, and really did hate the constant picking up I had to do and that my annoyance wasn’t just for show. If they can’t appreciate that then I guess I could always lie and deny that this blog was about me or them and they need to stop being so damned paranoid.
Ah, the beauty of an anonymous blog.
I totally agree that blogging the way it was done before is a lost art, especially with the fame issues, and that with FB its lost being what it was. I know that I keep mine so that I can say things I can’t say on FB, and I try to make mine as private as I can, while still having it open, just by not using anyones names. Mostly because I hate that I think most of my trolls from my old pages were family.
I have actually left my blog address in a place where it will be found by my kids when I am gone (if it happens when blogging is still happening). I want them to see me in the raw…multidimensional..not just “mom”. I will never forget the first time it ever dawned on me that my mother was a woman…not just a mom. It was shocking, horrifying and exciting all at the same time.
I don’t write things that I don’t feel, so if they can see that side of me, a side they maybe haven’t seen….that’s fine.
Honestly, I feel like the advent of blog readers and Facebook has made blogging a dying art, because most people can just scan through posts and comment only on the ones in which they feel strongly.
I love having my anonymous blog, though – for all the reasons you mentioned. 🙂
*Clapping* Bravo 🙂 Very well said. I too hope one day my children find my blog. I plan on writing more in the new year.. I know I’ll need the support of my many friends. It’s always nice to know that you are not alone.
Amen….I agree and hope to give my kids my blog bound when their first child is born
My husband insists that I not write anything too personal – especially about him and my daughter – either on my blog or on FB. He even objects to photos of our girl on FB. I’ve never taken posts to which he objects down, but I do try to abide by his wishes. He’s very private anyway, and there is no guarantee of anonymity anywhere. Are people too personal? Maybe – it’s all what you’re comfortable with. I don’t judge. I’m sure there is bound to be spectacular backlashes (a la Dooce getting fired from her job), but I think there is some value in relating personal experiences. Like you said – you find out that you are not alone.