Since we took a VBS school break last week and Tactile Tuesday is on vacation I thought I’d share 10 reasons why I blog.
1. Track our homeschool projects – which is great when my evaluating teacher is a blog reader!
2. Encourage others with our homeschool style & creativity. (Lord knows when I 1st started homeschooling I became a blog reader because no one I knew around town was doing it quite the same way).
3. Be part of a community of like-minded people and location is never an issue.
4. Opportunity to point it all back to Jesus.
5. Help promoting: new sites, writers, bloggers, ebook authors, etc. in the form of reviews, links, promo posts, etc.
6. Sharing life with family who we see once per year (or even some less than that) or my traveling husband – who really only checks Instagram.
7. Document the boys growth, success, and changes over a longer period. (fun to read 4/5 yr old posts)
8. Write out what I’m learning (faith) as writing is my means of really understanding.
9. Earn a little bit of cash from affiliate links – which pays for curriculum & supplies.
10. It’s fun and I enjoy it.
I do not consider my blog a ministry. I do not consider my blog a job. I do not consider my blog my life. If blogging is a chore – it’s not fun and I take a break. If blogging becomes too much fun – and I’m distracted from my kids – I take a break.
There is a place for blogging in my life.
Wonderfully – blogging is different for everyone. It can be a ministry. It can be a job. Blogging is unique.
When Blogging Turns Bad
… when blogging takes the place of parenting “watch one more show and then I’ll be done”. Or when your kids look for you they check the computer first.
… when the blog is updated and there are no plans for dinner, pizza? Or the house is a wreck, or you skip errands.
… when the blog stays on into the late evening and hubs turns off the bedroom light alone.
I’ve been there. I’ve skyped with another homeschool blogging mom for two hours while telling my kids to get something to eat and watch another show, “I’ll be right there” while we planned ways to grow our blogs. I’ve neglected time with my husband because I was part of three twitter parties three nights in a row – all for the sake of growing my blog.
As with EVERYTHING in life – priorities get wonky if we’re not careful.
Don’t put blogging before God – and rely on other blogs to fill you up spiritually. (Ann Voskamp is not responsible for my/your faith walk). We need to open our bibles and have a personal relationship with Jesus!
Don’t put blogging before your family – and give them the scraps of your time! Especially your man! I can read tips to being a great mom but if I’m not engaged it’s wasted time.
Don’t put blogging before your IRL friends, church obligations, etc – I/you need face to face, tone, and body language. (and be very careful with online friends – some do not have your best interest at heart rather only their own). I have been blessed to make some AMAZING online friends. I have taken a few of those relationships offline and consider them long distance friends. We call, text, and snail mail each other little special things. They know my kids names, ages, and personal life — they are more than a thumbs up.
Blogging can be good – just like chocolate. But to be a blogger in this fast paced, bigger mentality — we have to guard our hearts, protect family time, and keep blogging in it’s place – after God.
loved this! I could echo it all.
Stef – This is a checklist that we should go through *frequently* as bloggers. I try so hard not to be a “in a minute mom” and be really present with my children throughout the day.
I will shamefully admit that the tug to make my blog “bigger and better” gnaws at me occasionally (um…frequently?) and I wonder how “great” it would be if I only had more time to devote to it.
But if I devote more time to it? I devote LESS time to my little people, who I love so dearly. Everything is a trade-off. No matter how appealing a successful blog is, I want to make sure I choose the *best* choice which will always be my family.
Thank you for posting this today! I’m struggling with some decisions and it blessed me!
xoxo
I’m with you Lauren. The idea (pull) to bigger our blogs to reach more people to do our “thing” … the movie The Lorax had me spitting up coke in the seats. That was me – I’m going to go on biggering and biggering ….
It can become sickness because you nailed it — we exchange our time. Bottom line. If it’s cooking, cleaning, reading, exercise … we exchange our time. And what we want God to honor — He may not have even asked us to do in the 1st place. But we expect Him to come here and bless it … why would He when it’s putting this above Him.
I am guilty of pushing last year of wanting my blog to be great, my name to be great – finding my worth in a following rather than in Him. I was building my own little tower of Babel.
If God wants to bless my blog He will — otherwise, I write for enjoyment and obedience. Not to sell my soul to be famous in the online arena.
Thank you for your words – praying for His direction in your decisions.
Although I have never commented, I truly enjoy reading your blog. Like it or not, it is a ministry to me
!
I appreciate this comment more than you could possibly imagine — thank you !!
Love the “don’t put blogging before your family” advice. One of the reasons I don’t get to blog every day (or even every other day) is that I don’t blog when my husband is home. Unless he’s in bed with a headache. That’s a little different. Kids will demand your attention, but most men won’t, so it’s really unfair to use the limited time I have with him staring at my computer screen.
love love love this — so true! My husband travels so I have long nights w/o him, but its hard to get back to our schedule when he gets back home.
Great post, Stef – it’s definitely something we have to keep our focus and our hearts where they belong….it’s easy to jump in and forget the real reason. Though, some have other reasons…that’s totally ok! BTW….loved your vertical not personal post – I was thinking of it this morning when I was upset over something that happened here…..and then I thought…wow, that’s selfish of me! Thanks forsharing this with me!
thanks — I’m really learning how to discipline my children while keeping God the focus not my offended spirit.
Well said! You have echoed my heart completely on this post!!
A really helpful reminder.
Such wisdom! I really enjoy blogging, also, but I have to be careful about not letting it rule my life. Just like anything else, it can start pulling too much weight. Love your honesty and your friendship!
that was one big warm fuzzy hug – thank you.
Since blogging has become a source of income for me (and I enjoy it immensely), I’ve set “office hours”. During those times my kids have gotten really good at playing together or entertaining themselves. Then, they also know exactly what to expect from me and when. I think they are learning a lot by seeing a mom that can prioritize and do something she loves, too.
I can really relate to where you are coming from. I have struggled with this a lot, and I’ve had to make some big adjustments in my time management to continue to blog and not have it adversely affect my family.
I think it’s key to know that everyone’s life situations are different. We have differing levels of help and independence with our children, and different financial and emotional connections to our blogs. Most importantly – we’re all functioning in a community that wants our children to succeed…
Thanks for sharing what’s on your heart. I’m glad you have struck a balance that is good for YOU.
Exactly why I blog – sharing what my personal thoughts and feelings are rather than looking at what others are doing and why.
First tip I ever got (while running HSV) – office hours. Sadly – I was not disciplined to keep them.
Fantastic post! This is why I keep reading you – you are a truth teller! Thanks for the reminder to keep my priorities straight!
Oh Aurie – you make me wanna cry. Thank you. I think sharing the truth is far more important than just being “popular”. You bless me!
YES! Love this. I couldn’t agree more, and about the friendships. I was just telling someone I don’t think bloggers realize they are blogging to serve their readers not other bloggers, and you are right–a lot of them don’t have your best interest in mind.
I just graduated my oldest son through homeschooling, and never regret all the time we spent together and offline. It paid off, and is so worth it.
Great post. Love your honesty.
Awesome post, Stef! There’s so much good about blogging … and it can be very dangerous as well. I think I was probably lucky that I homeschooled my kids through high school pre-Internet! I’m grateful for every minute I spent with my kids! It’s so difficult for families with young children to find a good balance, and even we empty nesters need to make time for our husbands. Blogging definitely shows the importance of priorities.
I envy that – pre-internet. I didn’t even think about empty nesters & husbands — I think anything that pulls our time away from our priorities has to be carefully watched. Thanks Deb for sharing wisdom!!