February 28, 2010

PSA

I've had 5 different encounters in the last 48 hours in which people have said things like, "I wish I had started a blog when my kids were young" or "I wish I kept up with my blog more."

SO DO IT! It's never too late.

When I read Melanie's blog or Rachel's blog, I always wish I had blogged more when Kyle and I were first married. But if that had stopped me from blogging now, there are 892 posts that I would have missed out on. I looked back at a blog I had in college . . . I think before blogs were even called blogs . . . and I'm embarrassed by some of what I wrote. But I'm so glad I have it because it helps to remind me of how far I've come. I'm sure there will be plenty that I write now, that I'll cringe when I look back at later. Well, cringe or laugh.

Why do I keep a blog? Well, my reasons are threefold:

1. First and foremost, I want to keep a record of our lives for my boys to look back at someday. I want them to know how much we loved them. I want them to know how much fun we had. I want them to know that we aren't perfect and that we know that we're not perfect. I'd love for Jack, when he's 28, to look back at what I wrote when I was 28 and be able to get an idea of what we were like when we were his age. So, this blog is first for my kids. When people ask how I find the time to blog, well, I tell them I don't really know. But the truth is, we make time for what's important to us and keeping this record for my kids is important to me.

2. Second, I want Kyle and I to be able to look back and remember what life was like at each stage. I love reading about when I was pregnant with Jack and about how different our life was then. My memory isn't perfect, and we often refer back to the blog to remember something about when Jack was born or our Disney trip last year. I've only been keeping the blog for 3 1/2 years . . . imagine how much I'll continue to forget as time goes on. So, this blog is for Kyle and I, too.

3. Third, it's for you. And your blog is for me. I love blogging because it helps me to not feel so alone. I read what some of you write and I think, "I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN!" I love it, too, because it stretches me. Sometimes, I read what you write and I think, "I completely disagree." And that's good. I need to hear opposing views. I can honestly say that my blog, and the blogs of others, have affected my parenting, my marriage and, well, the course of my life, in fantastic ways. And even though it's not really the sole purpose of this blog, my hope is that it will still serve as an encouragement, or at least entertainment, to those who read it.

So there you have it. If you don't have a blog, think about starting one. Find your own reasons. Have you been neglecting your blog? Start again today. Commit to post to your blog every day for 21 days and it will likely become a habit.

Yeah, so I just looked down and realized that my shirt is on backwards. I'm going to go attend to that. While I do that, why don't you click on the little "create blog" or "sign in" links in the upper right hand corner and get started?

6 comments:

Crystal said...

I was JUST thinking about this VERY post...writing it that is! Those are the exact reasons that I blog too! I am sitting here right now getting the first installment of my blog printed and I am giddy that one day my kids can read about what they were like when they were little. :)

p.s. please stop sharing about the books you read...it usually ends in me clicking on over to amazon and making a purchase...but we have LOVED every book! :)

ann said...

Yeah, I totally agree. I've had a variety of blogs throughout the years. The first one I had was before the term "blog" even existed. Of course, like you, I tend to get somewhat embarrassed when I read some of the things on there -- and it will probably happen with my current one. But,that's what maturing is all about, I suppose.

I love keeping up with you. Thanks for your blog.

The Giffen Family said...

THANK YOU for posting this -- I always feel so cornered when someone asks me why I blog or why I have chosen this avenue to document our lives and if it's for us why I share it with "the world". These are the feelings I have had but not known exactly how to word. Ya nailed it! :)

Melanie Eccles said...

I have been thinking how much I'll be glad to have this blog...especially when we start having kids. It's such a fun way to keep track of life. And thanks for the link! :D

rachel said...

Thanks for the inspiration! Any suggestions/thoughts about private/public blogs?? (See one of my recent posts about my students reading my blog...)

And thanks for the shout-out! :)

Mud and Grace said...

You are so right! I found you on Etsy while my husband and I were learning how to create an online store. Hearing about your family and the daily things you face, encourages me very much to value the time I have and helps me laugh at the challenges of raising boys that I can identify with.

I want my son to have a way to know what his life was like when he was little. The funniness, the frustrations, and the grace that covers our family imperfections! So I guess I will start a blog.

Thanks for all you share and the encouragement.