Inspired by a post by the Blog up North, I've been wondering what blogging means to me. I started blogging as a way of making a page for my doula services. I'd written a dissertation as part of my doula training and I wanted to get it out there. Then I realised that I could actually use a blog as a place to write down things that happened to me. Maybe things that Facebook friends knew about, or wouldn't care about, but also to expand on news when I wanted to write more than just a status update.
I started to do the Gallery and Silent Sunday routinely, as a way to get into the parenting blogging community, to hopefully meet more like-minded people. People with young children, people who enjoyed photography, and maybe just other people like me! I have found some brilliant people. Mañana Mama makes me smile on a regular basis, with her fabulous stories and beautiful photography; I remember first reading Mummy Mishaps when she was a mum of one, finding her way in the parenting world, and now she has two!; Imperfect Pages takes the most amazing photos on her IPhone, as well as sharing the ups and downs of life with two children. These are a few of my favourite blogs [What happened to Mom-on-a-Wire?], and ones I will continue to read as my adventures continue.
But where do I fit in?
First I thought it was on the birth circuit but then I realised there were people out there already doing an excellent job of blogging about all things birth*. I now share these on my Facebook birth support page. My Facebook profile is a place for the people in my real world, occasionally culled and occasionally added to. School friends, work mates, birth supporters, mummy friends... I don't always share my blog posts on my Facebook page, and I don't share a lot of my status update world on my blog! I read a blog post a few months ago about someone annoyed by 'lazy bloggers' who only post photos and follow memes. It stopped me from posting anything for a long while and I still don't take part in the Gallery or Silent Sunday as much as I did. To be honest, it pissed me off a lot but I didn't want to get into a row about who should blog and who shouldn't. If people don't like what I post, and sometimes maybe it is only memes, then so be it. But it still stopped me for a while...
I don't think I'm a mummy blogger. I didn't go to Cybermummy because I didn't want to. I don't want my blog sponsored (well, I don't have cause right now), I don't do product reviews. I write because sometimes I have a need to share a photo or say more than 140 or 420 characters. Maybe I write so there is a history of my life from the time I became a mummy, actually no, when I became a doula.
Anyway, I decided. My world is massively changing right now. I've given up the world of lecturing and forensic science, for now, and I am pursuing a life of motherhood the American way. This is what this blog will be about, another ex-pat attempting to find a place in a new country, having another baby along the way. Hopefully some of you will stay me, and maybe I will find some others. If not, well, at least I'll always have a history to look back on :)
Lindsey x
*See for example - Birth Without Fear; Midwife Thinking; Offbeat Mama; Mama Birth
Thank you, really delighted to hear that I'm one of your favourites. You're one of my faves too (funny, that!) and I'll definitely be reading as you're off on new adventures.
ReplyDeleteI think it takes a lot of personal confidence and integrity to write a blog, read other blogs, and manage not to get sucked into all the "is my blog popular enough? Are my stats as good as hers? What can I do to make more people read my blog?" etc etc worries - I know I feel it more often than I'd like, and I think you do a great job of blogging quality pictures and posts without worrying about keeping it up for the 'audience' or any of the rest. It makes me really sad to think that that post (and I know the one you mean, but I'll politely not mention it as you haven't) put you off doing your thing. There are plenty of people out there who like to look at excellent photos (and yours are totally excellent). Your blog, your personal space.
Best of luck for the baby and the move! Exciting times ahead and I look forward to reading how you get on. x
Thanks, thanks and thanks! I'm glad I started writing / posting photos again. I do really enjoy it! We'll see how things go and of course I will keep you posted :) x
ReplyDeleteYou are such a lovely person and I am chuffed I am among such other wonderful bloggers as one of your favourites :) thank you.
ReplyDeleteI have always enjoyed visiting your blog you are one of my fav bloggers too. I think you have such a natural flair for photography ( as does Imperfect Pages), you take such amazing photos. I can't wait to see you capturing your new life in America and your new baby, via the camera lens.
It really winds me up when other bloggers make such sweeping statements about what other bloggers should or shouldn't do! Grrrrrr! You keep doing whatyou want to do.
By the way, Anthea from Mom on a wire (also another one of my favs) is taking a break. Apparently, someone she knew in real life started following her blog in a stalker like way I think, so she decided to shut it down for a while. Something like that if memory serves me right! (baby brain)
Anyway, all the best with the baby and America and I cant wait to catch up on your progress xxxx
Thanks Jenny! I am humbled by your comments about my photos. I hope I can take some good ones in the US too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update on Anthea, I really enjoyed her blog and was sad to see she disappeared one day. xx
For shame, this is my first visit to your blog. It won't be my last. It's great that you have a clear idea what you want from your blog and more power to you. It does sadden me a bit (and pisses me off actually) that the "lazy bloggers" post made you step back. If it's the one I'm thinking of, that blogger is held in high regard, but it doesn't give them the right to wield their opinions of other bloggers like a kid who's found his dad's gun.
ReplyDeleteYour blog, your rules, screw everyone else :-)
Lovely picture and nice photography.
ReplyDeleteCame to see your silent sunday, ended up having a look around.
ReplyDeleteRead this post with interest. I'm sad the shouty blog post you talk of, full of opinions - only their opinion, had such an impact.
I regularly take part in the Gallery because I like someone else giving me a theme and something to think about it take me out of my own box. I enjoy Silent Sunday and the community feel and the sharing of bits of other peoples lives.
It's good to reflect from time to time, good luck with your new endeavours and you have found a new convert in me! hello!
Hello Gemma! Thanks for the comments. It's interesting isn't it, as I'm not normally swayed by 'peer' pressure but I felt really out of my depth in the blogging world for a while and I feel better for writing it down. I should really thank Garry from The Blog Up North for making me think about it :)
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