Comments on: Question For Bloggers As We Trudge Through National Blog Posting Month

By: Rachael

Rachael — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:17:19 +0000

I feel like in some way, we all write for other people. Otherwise, why hit publish? But, I think for a lot of bloggers out there they write as a way to express themselves outside their family life.

My blog is something I’ve shared with my friends and family, and sometimes I do regret that. There are fairly frequently times when I wish I could write about something, whether it has to do with sex, or honest feelings or whatever, and I just can’t. Sometimes I want to write more about my family – my parents etc, but I can’t do that because they might read it. I am fairly honest about my own feelings on my blog, but my feelings about others often have to be left out. Most of the time, it’s fine, but sometimes I really want to vent OR I really want advice, and I can’t get it.

For the most part, I’m happy with my blog, but I sometimes wonder what my blog would be if I’d kept it a secret.

By: TJ

TJ — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:41:37 +0000

I had a friend tell me once, “You know, you tell a lot of stories, but you don’t say much,” which has ended up being a lot like how my blog is written. I tell stories of things that have happened and express ideas I have, but I hold a lot, a LOT of stuff back. I’ve got a couple of “secrets,” you could say, even. I have a habit of revealing huge stories/situations/circumstances after they’ve passed.

Also, I am like you – when you write something, assume everyone is going to read it. EVERYONE.

Basically, I try not to write anything that I think I may regret for any reason. I’ve not always been successful at that, but I do my best.

By: Lorie

Lorie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:59:34 +0000

HI (LURKER ALERT) – My blog is read by very few and they are all family or close friends. I started it to keep a digital baby book of sorts, that was in the beginning. Then I realized how much I liked writing and how good it felt to “Get it all out!”. Then I got a divorce, I put my blog on hold and got a plan together. I literally had to stop writing for a while until I set those boundaries for myself. I sort of put myself in several sets of shoes and thought about how I would feel. I am constantly telling my 6 year old to do that when dealing with other peoples emotions so I thought it was time I took my own advice. I do mention the divorce but only the good things – my ex and I get along really well so this part is easy. Sometimes if I am going through something bad with him, I write a post and save it in drafts. I have several of those. I post a lot of pictures of my daughter, try not to reveal our location, I only write about family if it is on a positive note. If there are feelings I feel I need to get out, I put them out there but leave out names. The people I am writing about know who they are but I don’t write anything I wouldn’t say in front of my Mother or to their face. I am like you – I envy those who can put it all out there. But I don’t want to hurt anyone and I also don’t want to stray too far from what the blog is truly about – my precious daughter. It was started for her and although at times it is more about me, I really just want her to know as she gets older, what our lives were like while she was growing up. I soooo wish my Mother had kept a journal. I would cherish reading it right now. So I think your kids are really going to LOVE you later in life for what you have done. Long after you are gone, there are literally HUNDREDS of your stories for them to read and pass on. You are doing an amazing thing (much better than I am) and it will be an amazing gift to leave behind. I have been reading you for a long time and I don’t comment often. Just wanted to let you know I love your pictures and your funny stories. Carry on!

Lorie

By: Sandy

Sandy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:06:57 +0000

I have tried blogging a couple of times, but I keep giving it up. My counter showed some coming by, but rarely any comments so I felt like I was talking to myself.

One of the comments mentioned their blog being like their journal so it sounds like a good reason to start blogging again. I am reading Dave Ramsey’s financial book and want to implement some of his ideas. My blog can be how I keep up with my progress!

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:03:42 +0000

I have pretty strict boundaries for writing about anyone else, but things about myself are pretty open.

By: Beth

Beth — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:06:09 +0000

Great post… I’ve only just stumbled across your blog, through another (although, don’t ask me which, as I follow a few, lol).

I tend not to mention people by name, especially my other half, and children (well the 2nd hasn’t got a ‘real’ name yet). I like to write about anything that is happening in my life or my head… which I always assumed was ‘not a lot’… yet I seem to have a constant stream of ‘thoughts’.
I rarely say anything on my blog which won’t have already been said in person.

I’ve enjoyed reading your blog, and I think you have a gorgeous family.

Beth

By: Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:59:05 +0000

Years ago I heard an interviewer with some ladies at a scrap book retreat. I don’t scrap but I took interest when one of the ladies said she loved it because it allowed her to turn that vacation where the children bickered the whole drive and it rained non-stop into something lovely. Years from now she didn’t want to recall the bickering she wanted to remember the board game tournaments they had in their hotel room. I think blogging is the same way. I’m going through some tough stuff with my kindergartner. I don’t need to blog about it directly. I can blog the good stuff and in 10 years I’ll either remember the private stuff on my own or I won’t which means it wasn’t so important to the narrative of my life. Boundaries are good. Children bahve better with them. Bloggers apologize less to the people in thier lives with them.

By: Jenera

Jenera — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:49:41 +0000

There are not many topics that are off limits on my blog. Anything I write, I’ve said to other people. I have a few things in regards to my marriage that I don’t share because it isn’t fair to my husband. I have a few things that I don’t share because my family and stalkers like to use it against me. But otherwise, I’ll talk about sex, marriage, parenting (even the ugly sides), and life in general.

By: C @ Kid Things

C @ Kid Things — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:23:08 +0000

I try not to write too much about my husband. Sometimes, he needs to be included for the sake of the story but it’s a very rare occasion when he is the story. I also won’t post a photo of him (the same goes for other members of my family, too). The site is my thing and including him in it when he hasn’t asked to be just seems an invasion of his privacy. My kids, on the other hand, don’t have a say in the matter. heh. If I didn’t write about them, then I’d have very little to say.

By: WonderSpot

WonderSpot — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:34:13 +0000

I didn’t start out with a lot of boundaries, and I’d talk about anything: work, family, that bottle of wine I polished off before dinner last night….I always told myself I was doing so anonymously, of course, but then I realized I didn’t like that about myself. So now I still sorta pretend it’s anonymous, so I’m not afraid of talking about ANYTHING, but I try to stick to the common rule of “if my mom/friend/brother found it and read it, s/he wouldn’t find anything about herself that would hurt his or her feelings.”

To maintain this, I’ve actually gone back and erased some old posts that I wrote when I was more raw and less able to filter my words.