We all need a break sometimes. The first week of August we went on a family vacation and I was really looking forward to a lot of quality time with my computer and spending some time updating the blog and getting some bloggy work done. Well…I learned that when you have two young kids you don’t get a vacation. Why didn’t someone tell me that? Shame on all of you! So I ended up taking an unplanned break for a week.
That unplanned break kinda turned into a month. I’ve still been blogging some, but I’ve barely opened my reader in weeks and twitter has been a distant friend. I feel so lost and don’t know what’s going on in the world! (Ok, yeah my world consists of my online bubble) I couldn’t quite place my finger on what had pushed me away until someone said something that made me realize exactly what it was.
Sometimes people are mean. And hurtful.
I had my feelings hurt and then I was scared to be open and vulnerable in my place. This is my blog. My space to be open and vulnerable. But I was scared.
I hate that my own words were used against me to hurt my heart. It pushed me away. And let’s be honest, I just don’t have the time and energy to put everything into my blog. Although I love doing this, and I have made some incredible friends…this is NOT my full time job. This is my hobby. I’m not here to make money, but it’s nice to be able to pay for diapers sometimes. I always wonder how some bloggers have all this time to do so much. Oh right, they don’t have a 2 year old and 1 year old and pregnant. Different stages are just different.
What are your priorities? Are you so focused on building a blog that you aren’t taking the time to sit and focus on your husband and your kids? It’s always great for me to remember what the REALLY important things are in my life and then count these other little blessings as what they are. Blessings. Each one of you and your encouragement is a blessing. I consider you all my friends, and someday we will share a big hug. Whether it’s here or in heaven. I am thankful that you take the time to read my mommy rants and look at all the pictures of my babes.
I hope to not allow myself to be scared and be able to really share my heart like I always planned to do. A break was good for my soul, but I’m excited to catch up and be back.
I’ll leave you with some duck & ice cream cuteness. Because what would a blog post be without ducks and ice cream.
momdiggity
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CODE IT & LOAD IT!
Breaks are so good! You deserve them!
Just went through a re-prioritizing moment a few weeks ago and readjusting how much time I spend on my blog/business. Family is much more important
Thanks for sharing!
Yup re-prioritizing helps so much!! I’ve done that this week and feel so much better!!!!!
Girl I SO feel ya! Obviously cause I took the while summer off! Haha. But as far as mean comments go and not feeling like you can be yourself in this place you’ve created for YOU that’s why I stopped allowing comments on my blog. I just came to the point where I don’t care how many followers I have or how much money I make I blog for me, for fun, as a creative outlet. And that’s it! ; ) sorry I guess I’m kind of ranting! Haha
I totally agree, I want my blog to be an outlet for me! I don’t want to get caught up in numbers or money, that gets so frustrating!!! I did miss your sweet face over the summer
I think you need to blog for you and build your community. I have heard Kathleen talk on this subject and loved her outlook…you want people who are your readers, those who support and love you. If you are writing for a major media outlet you might need to appeal to the masses, but in the land of personal blogging – do what you like. Write what you feel. You have a community who supports you, ignore the others. Hang in there!
Danielle (elleinadspir) recently posted..Friday Links
Thank you so much for the encouragement!! It’s hard to ignore the haters, but when there is one out of all the great amazing supporters then you can’t beat that!!
It sucks when you have somewhere you love going (Twitter, your blog), where you feel like you can share and be yourself, and then something happens and going to those places feels stressful and hurtful. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I hope you’ll be able to move on to a point where you don’t even remember the hurt.
For me, blogging is the thing I do for me. I spend my days trying to be everything to my family, but the blog is my space. So I try to just let it be that. Although I give myself small deadlines of when I want a new post up, if it doesn’t happen, I don’t get down on myself. And, if it can make a little money on the side, then I can finally say that the thing I do for myself is valuable to my family. THAT is something to be proud of, not disparage!
Laura | Mommy Miracles recently posted..The Sleep Lies
Thank you for the encouragement!! You are so right! It’s what I do for me and I love it! I hate when it becomes frustrating
I just have to remind myself why I do this and always keep that on the front of my mind!
I love your heart. Sorry yours was hurt in the process.
Breaks are good. We can’t do it all nor should we have to. It’s easy to get caught up with all the online stuff but at the end of our day, it’s our family and friends that we need to focus on.
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Yup! Online is fun but our family is what matters!!!
I think breaks are definately a good thing. There are some days when I don’t blog. And I don’t always get a chance to respond to all comments. I try, but my family comes first. I read them all, of course, but if my family needs me I go to them.
Amber recently posted..Stung By A Bee
Yes, there are times when we all need a break and its a good thing. When I get that feeling, I know that I need a break, so I get some guest posts for the week and I come back refreshed, with new dessert ideas, recipes! I also agree with everyone that family comes 1st!
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What a great post of your about bloggers need a break! I totally agree with you about need a break because sometimes break is essential to everybody. At last I want to say your post’s picture’s are so nice. Thanks a lot.
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I’m so sorry you got hurt. People can be so cruel, especially online when they are more anonymous. I went to a blogging comference in June and the wife of our previous Prime Minister gave a speech and left us with two amazing quotes: “there is nothing cool about a bully with a blackberry” and “don’t let the way the world treats you chang the way you treat the world”. It was a fantastic keynote speech and led on to two days worth of workshops wjere the same focus was repeated. It was all about finding your voice and being proud of who you are, blogging about your passions and doing it for happiness not stats. It is hard to take a knock when you share your heart so openly and sometimes we all need a break. Blogging should be fun and I hope you can reclaim that as I know how knocks like this can really slow you down for a long time. Love you and your blog x