Seattle Mom Blogs

Dearest Seattlemomblog Readers,
Hi! Im and I blog at The United States of Motherhood. I cant say how flattered I am you chose to interview me. Whats that? I signed up? (Shhh) Really? (Shaddyap) Ummmoh yeah. Still an honor!

Without further ado, here are my scintillating interview answers:

1. Where do you live and how long have you lived there? Where did you grow up?
We live in on the Plateau. Hehehe. I know. I know. So snotty to say the *finger quote* Plateau *end finger quote*. Imagine mommies in matching tennis whites, perfectly whitened teeth, frosty platinum highlights, having Botox parties saying with pursued lips, “Pla-teauuuuu.” (By the way, Im not one of those mommies.) Or is it better to say Sammamish? I know it sure as Sam Spade isn’t when you are trying to relay your address over the phone. Sa-mam-mish. “Sha-mame-ash?” The operators ask. No, Sa-mam-mish. “Sta-beam-itch?” Sigh. S-a-m-m-a-m-i-s-h. You know. Near Issaquah. Cue crickets.

So, we have lived here 3 years this month. We came from the Bay Area. I know. Hiss. We got sick of the schools, the real estate, the smog, the traffic, of everything in California. So we trotted online and used a splendiferous tool to find our “Best Place.” Surprise! Seattle popped up. We decided to be brave. My husband took his job with him and we found a realtor. We searched place to place on the Eastside, with a trusty file of every school’s test scores, comments from PTA board (yes, being a former PTA president I emailed every PTA board of every school and neighborhood we looked at), and Seattle Times Ranking. We’ve never looked back.

I grew up in the Bay Area, Livermore to be exact, went to Berkeley and met my husband there. I then started my life with my him, a former Army captain and infant son, first for a few brutal months in the Ozarks (Missouri) which made this California girl from Berkeley twitch with the Confederate flags, gun racks, sewage lagoons, and amazing amount of stray dogs dumped near our apartment. Then it was off to the interior of Alaska for four long years. Fairbanks! Best and worst place I’ve lived in my life. The Northern Lights, the moose, the midnight sun, and the 2 hours of daylight in winter. I survived 67 degrees below zero with two small children. Shiver! I put booties on my dogs so they could go outside to pee. I sprayed water on dry, powdery snow just so my kids could make snow balls and snow men. I survived six long, cold winter months homebound alone with a toddler when my husband was deployed to the Sinai Peace Keeping Mission in Egypt. Alaska gave me the greatest gift of my daughter born one cold October morning at -30. I wouldn’t trade Alaska for the world, but when we got out of the army, we went home. Meanwhile, in California, real estate had sky rocketed as had crime, traffic, and inferior schools. We hung on for 5 years, then ended up here. We LOVE it!

2. What’s your blog about and why did you start blogging?
My blog is a kitchen drawer. It is ill-defined and often stream of consciousness. I do blog politics and I should get out right now I am probably the only agnostic Republican, former Army Lieutenant, in Seattle that supports gay marriage, environmental issues, the Iraq war, and animal rights that wishes the Republican religious right would get out of her party. However, I highly respect others’ opinions and love when people respectfully stop by to stir the pot at my blog. I also mommy blog about my 3 children–a lot! I blog about my period and dreams of uterine ablation–a lot. I blog about my metro sexual, computer geek of a husband and his sexual harassment and white socks. I blog about my kids’ competitive swimming since it consumes our lives. I blog incessantly about my love of anything cocktail or made from Cabernet. And, yes, my friends, on occasion I blog about the craziness that is living on the Pla-teauuuu.

I started blogging in 2006 because my husband blogged and the bugger was always stealing my material. I would make a joke and the next week it would be on his blog. I would have an idea and magically it would be on his blog. I think it might have been his way of getting me to start blogging. I called him an Idea Succubus, but finally gave in with this first set of blogs.

3. What are your most and least favorite parts about blogging?
My favorite part of blogging is hands down meeting friends I might never, ever have met without my blog. Rural central California, metropolitan Los Angeles, teeny islands off the French channel, British babes, small towns in the Midwest, humid Florida, and yes, my friends spread all over the Northwest. They listen to my drivel. They come in droves when I need back up. They make me realize I am not insane for how I feel. And best yet, they call me on my ideas and make me often re-think what I believe. My blog is filled with people who found me through my words, not from where I live and who I know since I have never told anyone about my blog, including family and friends. Those people have sometimes discovered me, but I don’t promote my blog to people I know willingly because I want to be free to write about my nonexistent sex drive, sometimes crappy mothering skills, my marital woes, my incontinent dog, and my politics without sympathetic looks at the next PTA meeting or family holiday dinner.

My least favorite is the stress of blogging and keeping up readership–being a slave to my blog. Then in comes the high school part of women blogging: worrying about popularity and who likes who, who takes offense or misunderstands what you stay, the drama, the bitch slapping, and the trolls. Sometimes blogging turns into a Jerry Springer sideshow act. So with stress and drama, I habitually have nervous breakdowns every couple months and take a month off.

4. What does your spouse/significant other/family think about your blogging?
My husband absolutely loves me blogging, even when it’s used as a tool of public therapy and, yes I admit, blackmail in our marriage. I let people weigh in. Nothing is sacred. One sister who discovered my blog is a big supporter. Never comments, but emails me so I forgive her. My biggest fear would be my parents and my MIL, who I haven’t spoken to in 4 years, discovering my blog.

5. What goals, if any, do you have for your blog?
Goals: Hmmm. More friends, more comments, and more readers, in that order. I recently had a milestone where I was able to pay for a whole meal of Chipotle burritos off the proceeds of my blog. Whooo-hoo! Maybe next year I’ll spring for extra guacamole. A girls got to have dreams, my friends.

6. What topic would you never discuss on your blog? (Yes, discuss it now!)
Honestly, there is nothing that is verboten. I dislike my husband’s wardrobe, I share it with you. I have no sex drive and moan about it all the time. I voted for George Bush and admit it. I have child molesters in my family and I freely discuss it. My kids do something horribly embarrassing? Odds are it shows up on my blog. I even blog sometimes on the toilet. My husbands vasectomy failed and is a frequent subject. Sorry too much info? I have no filter when it comes to my blog. None.

7. Are you a cat person or a dog person?
Hands down, I am a dog person. We’ve had our 2 rescued dogs longer than our children. Grendel is 14, survived cancer, and still putters on like a puppy most days. $2000 in one months vet bills later, I wouldn’t trade her for the world. The other, Sebastian, is my hero, my ferocious defender, my friend, my spider eater, my shadow. It will be soul-shattering when they die.

8. What’s your favorite coffee drink? (This IS Seattle Mom Blogs!)
My favorite coffee drink is a bit embarrassing since it does show my addictions to caffeine, fat and sugar: Venti Italian roast brewed coffee, 2 shots espresso, splash of cream, 1 equal, with whip cream. Num! Starbucks will make it for me, but it’s better when my husband makes it.

I noticed this interview is pretty long. Oops, did I forget to mention that my readers call me “Windy Douchehole?” Yep, I am known for being Windy. Love me or leave me.

Many Regards,
Scouts Honor

Thank you, Scout, for your, er, ummm, candid interview! We expect no less!

Meanwhile, Wendy is being less candid at her blog, Let the dog in! You can reach her at wendy(ahhht)letthedogin(doggit)com where she promises to be more candid.

Have any of you seen Mad Men on AMC?

What about Swingtown on CBS?

Ive been watching both of them lately and dude let me tell you, the ladies on that show are being sexually harassed left and right. Mad Men is set in the 1950s where there are typing pools and secretarys who are working at an office for the sole purpose of finding a husband. Once you get married and have babies, the ladies no longer work out of the home.

Swingtown is set in the 1970s, and although its twenty years after Mad Men, the show also portrays women staying home after they are married. One character on the show recently reentered the work force after her husband was fired from his job. She wasnt there five minutes before her butt was grabbed by the boss.

He grabbed her butt. Totally out in the open for all to see. When she looked at a coworker for support he just said, get used to it.

Get used to it? That so wouldnt fly in 2008.

Except, would it?

How many women (and men) out there are being sexually harassed? And how do you know if youre being sexually harassed? I would constitute any situation that makes you uncomfortable is well, unacceptable. You know if someone is doing or saying things to you that arent right. I would say that being touched by a coworker in any way is inappropriate.

Youll know if youre being sexually harassed.

According to Seema Goswami, the author of Woman on Top: How To Get Ahead At Work you might try saying to an overly physical coworker; Im sorry, but would you mind removing your hand from my back. I know you dont mean any harm, but it makes me a bit uncomfortable. If he stands too close to you in the lift (elevator) or presses up again the back of your chair, dont just edge away. Turn around, look him in the eye, and say, Im sure you dont realize it, but you are crowding me. Do you mind standing back a little? Id really appreciate it.

It is best to remain non confrontational and away from others.

Seema Goswami says that odds are, if this person is harassing you theyve done it before. She suggests that you discreetly ask around to see if others feel the same way you do.

My mom always taught me to write things down. Get a notebook and write down when anything fishy happens. Make a note of the day, time, and what was done/said. You might want to even write down what you were wearing and what you said. Just to avoid anyone saying that you were asking for it. Better safe then sorry.

Take this information in with you when you meet with your local Human Resources department. Make sure they know what your complaints are, whether they be inappropriate touching, dirty or racist comments, or flat out being told you wont get a promotion unless you wear shorter skirts and lower tops.

You HR department should know how to deal with this. They may take the offender aside and have a confidential discussion with them. They may hold a company wide harassment training to remind everyone of your companys policies. If this isnt a first offense, they may just terminate the offending employee.

Seema Goswami has a list of ways to cope with sexual harassment that I would like to pass on in closing:

• Speak up if you feel that the office has been sexualized.
• Articulate your concerns in the most non-confrontational manner possible. The idea is not to go on the offensive but to lay down boundaries of acceptable behavior.
• Ask around discreetly and find out if anyone else has been targeted by your harasser. If you have to register a formal complain, their corroborative evidence will help you build your case.
• Take a colleague or sympathetic senior into confidence so that you have reliable witness to stand up for you when it comes down to your word against his.
• Keep a detailed diary or journal relating the incidents of sexual harassment as they occur. If you get any offensive or suggestive e-mails, save them to produce as proof later on.
• Clamp down on the hysteria. The more reasonable you seem when you relate your version of events, the more likely it is that people will believe you.
• Dont confuse the company with the individual. Just because one person has made life miserable for you, it doesnt mean that the company is at fault. If those in authority act against him swiftly and firmly, then absolve them of blame and move on.

You dont have to put up with being sexually harassed. Ever. Stand tall and firm and get it taken care of before you are forced to wear short skirts and get your butt grabbed just so you can put food on the table.

Isabel is a pseudonym for this Seattle-based blogger. She’s been working since the day she realized soda and lip gloss weren’t free. Isabel became a mom in 2006 and continues to work full time, outside the home, since diapers and mortgages aren’t free either. You can read far too much about her personal life at hola,isabel.

If you have questions, anecdotes, or topics for Double duty. One paycheck., email Isabel at holaisabel [at] gmail.com.

|

I went on my first meditation retreat last month. I saw Sharon Salzberg speak, and spent two days not speaking myself.

Let me clarify this was a non-residential retreat, meaning there were no overnight stays. It was more like a 9 to 5 thing.

So, I didn’t speak for the hours I was at the retreat. No one did (except for Sharon).

There are times when silence has the loudest voice.
Leroy Brownlow

Well, even that’s not exactly true. There was the guy who told us where the bathrooms were and to not eat in the speaking hall and who introduced Sharon. And there were the people who I signed in with. I could talk to them.

At retreats, I learned, this practice is called Noble Silence. It’s described as a quieting of the body and voice that can help cultivate a calm and peaceful environment and enhance concentration and awareness.

During one of her talks, Sharon asked us how the not-talking was going. (It was a rhetorical question.)

Then she told an anecdote about being on longer retreats, for seven days, ten days, three months. During these retreats, students talk to the teacher during their one-on-one interviews. She said that almost everyone comes into their one-on-one interview and freaks out about not talking.

I don’t think I can do it!

My partner doesn’t think I can do it.

My coworkers have a betting pool on whether I’ll last.

Everyone laughed.

(It’s okay to laugh.)

The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.
Rachel Naomi Remen

After two days, I found the not-talking refreshing. It was a relief to not have spend all that energy advertising myself and making small talk. It gave me space to connect to the underlying energy between people and beings.

So now I’ve started trying to bring more silence into my home life.

I know, right?

How is that possible with two kids five and under?

I call it Begin with Silence… I try to start the day, and all my interactions, with the intention of silence. For me, at home, my goal isn’t so much as to not talk as it is to become aware of how much I talk and my motivations for talking. For me, it’s about listening, to myself and those around me.

Thus, every other day, I begin with silence…

Instead of calling out, Time to eat! I walk over to my son, smile, and gesture to the kitchen.

* * *

After hearing myself ask, Did you have fun playing with so-n-so? I recognize my desire to connect with my son and to hear his point of view.

* * *

When I start freaking out and feel a tirade coming on (usually when I am hungry and trying to make food while my children clamor around me, climb on the table, or hurt each other), I tell myself, Stop talking. This won’t do anyone any good.

* * *

I could teach my kids about counting to 1000 for all the times I say their names with a chiding tone, Mi-caaa and Or-LAN-do. Cutting those exclamations out of our day is a huge relief.

* * *

Instead of telling my older kid to leave my younger kid alone (then why don’t I leave the older one alone?!), I recognize my desire for harmony in my home, and scoop up my older son with a smile.

* * *

Orlando, who is newly five, responds really well to my silences the times when I am centered and in touch. When I am quiet inside, he can feel it. He actually whispers back to me with this little dopey smile on his face. Not saying words is nothing compared to making this connection.

Read more of Stacy’s sincere and silly missives about parenting from the heart at Mama-Om. If you have questions, anecdotes, or topics for Crazy Much? email stacy[@]seattlemomblogs[dot]com. I’d love to hear from you!

The beautiful painting is by . Used with permission under creative commons license.

Here’s a cool concept…have aprofessional massage,in your home, while someone else watches the kids! New Born Youoffers this fabulousway to treatyourself.I thinkitwould be the perfect gift for a stay-at-home mom (jay? are you listening?).

Pricing starts at $110 for 1 hour massage + child care. Andthey are currently offering a $20 discountfor first-time clients. If you try it, leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Our first interviewee in the Getting to Know Youuuuuu series is Ramona from kirida.com. Let’s all say “hi” or “hafa adai” and learn more about her.

1. Where do you live and how long have you lived there? Where did you grow up? My husband and I live in West Seattle with our two-year-old son and two manic cats. I have lived in Seattle for the past seven years and before that I lived on a tiny island in the Pacific called Saipan. Saipan is a gorgeous island with temperate weather and jaw-droppingly stunning sunsets. But I’ve made Seattle my home now and I don’t mind the rain one bit. I’ve lived all my life with fierce typhoons–light sprinkling is nothing.

2. What’s your blog about and why did you start blogging?
My blog is called “Kirida,” (). The word “kirida” means favorite child in my native language, Chamorro. I started blogging in 1999 and I was Blogger’s 1,000th blogger. I was a junior in high school and I needed to have an outlet that static pages like tripod, angelfire and geocities couldn’t provide. There’s only so many midi’s and lightning bolts a 17-year-old can take! I shut down for a while before starting back up in 2004. Since then, I’ve blogged about college, pregnancy, marriage, motherhood and Javier Bardem love. Swoon!

3. What are your most and least favorite parts about blogging?
My favorite part about blogging is connecting to people in ways I wouldn’t be able to in my day-to-day life. I’ve blogged about personal issues like connecting with other mothers or losing touch with friends and whenever I’ve felt utterly vulnerable in these confessions, I am flooded with warmth and high-fives and reminders that I am not alone. I’ve also made several genuine friendships thanks to my blog. Bloggers are just awesome people to have around, both online and off. My least favorite part about blogging has to be the trolls who leave vitriolic comments because they can. Thankfully, most people who visit my blog play nice.

4. What does your spouse/significant other/family think about your blogging? My husband loves it. At first, I think he was feeling a bit orphaned by the amount of time I spent blogging or reading blogs, but he’s seen the true benefits. We met our real estate agent thanks to a blog reader and I have received some pretty sweet swag thanks to my blog. My other family members love my blog because they can keep up with my life in Seattle. My mother doesn’t understand blogging at all and thinks this whole “internet” is way too public. So I just tell her that my blog is an online dedication to the Virgin Mary and we keep it at that.

5. What goals, if any, do you have for your blog? I would like to post more videos. I have an awesome Flip Video camera and I need to unleash its magical powers.

6. What topic would you never discuss on your blog? (yes, discuss it now!) I would never discuss my in-laws or my workplace. Politics are also off-limits only because I don’t think I can do a proper job discussing it. I prefer to keep my blog light-hearted and funny. I prefer to talk about bedroom antics, old Nickelodeon my flabby stomach, issues where I am a definitive font of knowlege.

7. Are you a cat person or a dog person? We have two cats. My husband brought a cat into our marriage so by default, I’m with the felines.

8. What’s your favorite coffee drink? (this IS Seattle Mom Blogs!) I love white chocolate mochas with whipped cream. Whenever the barista asks if I want whipped cream, I yell, “YES!” before taking it down a notch with, “Yes, please, thank you.”

Thank you to you, Mona, for sharing a bit about yourself!

On other news, Wendy is still blogging at Let the dog in! and letting her dog in, and out… You can notify her of any prizes she might have won at wendy(aht)letthedogin(dawt)com.

I know there’s a lot of fun stuff to do here. So why is it that half the time I find myself totally without ideas? Fortunately there are some local sites dedicated to helping parents scope out the best of our local possibilities.

The next time you have visitors from out-of-town, a birthday party to plan, or are just looking for something new to try, check out these great local sites.

1) Little Kids, Big City (http://www.nwsource.com/column/little-kids-big-city)

BloggerLora Shinn is a veritable treasure trove of great ideas for restaurants, wading pools, and more.

2) Savvy Source (http://seattle.savvysource.com/)

Local mom Bethany Dunn shares a wealth of info on fun things to do in our lovely city.

3) Mamaspod (www.mamaspod.com)

This is a great hands-free option for the mom on the go! Tune in as three local moms dish on what’s great (and not so great) to do in Seattle and the east-side.

4) Parent Map (http://parentmap.com/)

No list would be complete without including Parent Map, themust-visit sourcefor up-to-date listings of events and resources. Sign up for the weekly e-newsletter, which shows up every Thursday chock full of suggestions for weekend fun!

Did I miss your favorite website? Leave a comment and I’ll add it!

Jenny Blackburn. All Rights Reserved.

Catch more of Jenny Blackburns humorous anecdotes on being a mom, a woman, and a whole lot crazy at Absolutely Bananas.

This is step 1 in The Bloggy Chiropractor 3-step program, in which we work on correcting our blog/life balance.

For the first part of this journey, the bloggychiropractor prescribes that you take a MANDATED blog vacation of a minimum of 2 weeks.

WHAT!?! you may gasp, TWO WEEKS?! I CAN’T DO THAT!

I’m here to tell you that you can.

And you should.

It’ll be good for you. Seriously.

I know because I did it.

And now I’m here to walk you through it.

Why a blog vacation?

Taking at least two weeks off from blogging is the natural starting place on this journeybecause it gives us a little thing called perspective. It’s really, really hard… impossible, even… to have perspective when we’re down in the trenches of bad habits. It’s only when we come up for air and start living life again that we can see clearly.

I am mandating two weeks (minimum!) because we need at least that long to really get perspective. One week is too short. And although four weeks would be EVEN BETTER… let’s be honest. If I told you to take a month, would you? I didn’t think so.

How to take a blog vacation

But what about my blog?!

The easiest way to take a blog vacationis to just stop blogging- cold turkey- for two weeks. I honestly think that for most of us this little blip in our blogging activity would go relatively unnoticed in the grand old blogosphere.

However. If you’re too scared to do this (like me!) another option is to sit down for a couple of hours and write out enough posts to carry your blog through during the time that you’ll be actively NOT blogging. Set the posts to go up automatically and then don’t look back. Trust me, your readers will never know that you’re not really there behind the curtain.

But what will I DO?!

Now, before you kick off your vacation, I want you to write out a list of all the things you’ve been wanting and needing to do.

…organize the closet
…submit an article for publication
…start an exercise program
…research a new camera
…read that one book
…sign up for salsa dancing lessons

We all have those things that we’ve had on the back burner for a year or two or twenty… write them down! Star the ones that you’re excited about. Decorate your list using markers and stickers and fancy paper. Get excited about the possibility of GETTING STUFF DONE!

Now post the list on the fridge or (better) over the top of your computer screen.

Note: This in no way is meant to imply that you should accomplish everything on your list during the 2-week time period. The list is merely a means to remind you of ALL THE OTHER THINGS that you can do instead of blogging. You know, in case you need reminding.

What about the rules?!

Ok, for those of you who need RULES, here they are.

While on bloggy vacation there shall be:

1) No blogging
2) No checking your stats
3) No reading comments
4) No checking your reader. Don’t even THINK about looking at it.
5) You can choosea few of your favoriteblogs to read. You may not comment on these blogs; however, as you should ONLY be reading them for enjoyment.

Now, in the words of the sneakers, JUST DO IT.

Then check back in two weeks to read Step 2!

Jenny Blackburn. All Rights Reserved.

|

Catch more of Jenny Blackburns humorous anecdotes on being a mom, a woman, and a whole lot crazy at Absolutely Bananas. If you have questions, anecdotes, or topics for On Blogging, email jenny[@]seattlemomblogs[dot]com.

I confessed in my last post that I have been feeling a seriousneed for a readjustment. Something to get me and my bloggy ways back into balance.

Some of you havetold me that you’re right there with me. That you feel bogged down by blogging. Overwhelmed. Not sure what to do next.

And so, I’mkicking off a seriesof postsdevoted to thistopic.

I give you… The Bloggy Chiropractor!

You know you need a visit to the Bloggy Chiropractor when…

• You feel overwhelmed and out of control.
• You spend most or all of your spare time blogging.
• Your family says you blog too much.
• You blog instead of doing your chores. Regularly.
• You feel like blogging is taking over your life.
• You think that blogging is hurting your relationships.
• You feel like blogging is making you a worse mother/wife/sister/girlfriend/employee.
• You are tempted to quit blogging altogether.
• You feel trapped.
• You’re ashamed of how much you blog. You hide it… you lie about it. You know it’s unhealthy but you just. can’t. stop.

You’re not alone! The Bloggy Chiropractor is HERE!

Together we can kick this blogging addiction and take control of our lives.

It is possible to blog AND have a life! Let’s prove it together!

Over the next few weeks I’ll roll out a three-step program that’s designed to get us out of the bloggy rut and back into a healthy blog/lifebalance.

I hope you’ll join me!

Step 1: Take two weeks off

Calling all Seattle Mom Bloggers!

As some of you may know, we are going to start a feature here to learn a little about our members, one by one, in the form of mini-interviews.

Maybe we’ll post them weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly…. We’ll play that part by ear (I’m not Marsha Brady after all!).

If you want to be interviewed, leave a comment on this post, and I’ll email you the interview questions. We’ll go in order of comments received.

I’m looking forward to Getting to Know Youuuuuuu!

Wendy is also looking forward to blogging about her life on Bainbridge Island at Let the dog in! You can reach her at wendy(at)seattlemomblogs.com.

Every year after BlogHer, two or three big-name bloggers and a whole bunch of not-so-big (but every bit as important)bloggers throw in the towel and quietly slip away into the obscurity of real life.

The rest of us bloggers howl in surprise, throw our hands in the air and gasp CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!while deep down inside we’re wondering if next year that will be us.

This year, amidst the chaoticBlogHer swagalicious love fest, I finally got it.

I was standing in a steaming hot shower washing off a long day’s small talk and big talk and party talk when the waters seemed to part and one thought stood clear in my mind.

I need to stop blogging.

In that moment, I saw my life as it is now, and I saw it as it could be without the blog.

And, in that moment, the sans-blog life looked pretty darn good.

For the first time I honestly acknowledged the toll that blogging takes on my time, my energy, my relationships, my LIFE.

But let’s be honest with each other here; this WASN’T the first time I realized the toll that blogging takes on my time, energy, and relationships.Right? Right.

No, the difference this night is that before I always thought it was worth it. In this moment, I realize thatit isn’t.

Something about being at BlogHer made me see with frighteningclarityhow CAUGHT UP we all have become in what too often amounts to a massive popularity contest… an ultimate expression of selfishness and egomania.

“LOOK AT ME” each woman seems to shout, “I AM IMPORTANT!”

And while I believe from the bottom of my heart that every woman is important, I also believe that this realization is the beginning, not the end of our journey.

Reveling in our self-importance, our uniqueness, our specialness… stopping here is not a good thing.

Rather we should claim our importance and thenmove forward to do something important with our lives.To make a difference in the lives around us… to make our short time here meaningful.

The thing that scares me the most about blogging is that something so shallow should take up so much of my precious time.

I count myself lucky that I had this realization while in SF, because I was able to have real conversations with a handful of friends, most of whom have blogged much longer than I have. All expressed similar fears and concerns. One has since stopped blogging. Another has published her intent to back off.

And me?

I’m torn.

On one hand, I think that my in-the-shower moment was probably dead on. That I need to move on with my life.

On the other hand, I feel that maybe I can transform the role that blogging plays in my life to something better. Something enriching.

Because the truth is, there is a part of blogging that is good for me. The writing. The creativity. The introspection.

Is it possible to harness the good and minimize the bad?

I want to believe that what I need is a readjustment… a visit to the great bloggy chiropractor, if you will. So I’m on a mission to do just that. To find balance.

Over the next few weeks, I plan to do some posts here on steps that I’m taking to get myself readjusted… closer to where I want to be; to a place where blogging is contributing positively to my life.

But for now I want to hear from you. Where do you stand on this issue? Have you ever considered giving up blogging? And what are your biggest struggles in the blog/life balance?

Jenny Blackburn. All Rights Reserved.

|

Catch more of Jenny Blackburns humorous anecdotes on being a mom, a woman, and a whole lot crazy at Absolutely Bananas. If you have questions, anecdotes, or topics for On Blogging, email jenny[@]seattlemomblogs[dot]com.