This is the second post in a series of five thanking mom bloggers who've been meaningful to me, part of the P&G Thank You, Mom program. Gracias again to The Motherhood for inviting me to participate!
Before I started this blog, I'd thought about doing it for a long time. I was paralyzed, for all sorts of reasons. I didn't know how to start a blog. I didn't know if I should use the kids' names. I didn't know what I'd say in my first post—it felt so monumental. It was going to live on in cyberspace eternity! OMG!
This was back in 2008, when I wasn't reading very many blogs. So I started to. One Saturday morning in August, I woke up at 4:00 a.m. for some reason and hit my computer, determined to make good use of the found time and start the blog. I stumbled across Cerebral Palsy Baby. Shannon also has a child, a little girl, with cerebral palsy, and I admired her honesty and can-doism. I e-mailed her that morning, asked for advice about starting a blog, and admitted I was afraid crazy people would find us and come to our house.
Shannon e-mailed me back a couple of days later. She wrote, "It is sooooo hard putting yourself out there to the public that you can't control but I either had to pick to really really edit ourselves or to just semi-edit ourselves. I know people that use fake names, etc. etc. and I simply could never remember to do that. I had to go full force or none at all." She told me to let her know when I got my blog up and running.
I wasn't done with my hand-wringing just yet. I wrote back and said I didn't know if I'd be able to find the time. She responded, "I don't think you need to worry about being SUPER consistent, just make a goal to yourself to blog once a week or twice a month. I know plenty of people who can't blog constantly and their blogs still enjoy a large readership. I think you just have to jump in and see if it is something you enjoy and want to keep up."
OK. Out of excuses. When I got the blog going at the end of October, she was the first person I e-mailed. Subject line: "I finally did it!!!!!!!"
We've kept in touch over the years. Shannon's little girl is doing really well, and she recently had a third child. I'm living vicariously through her, for now!
I started this blog, which has been incredibly cathartic for me in so many ways, thanks to the kindness of a fellow mom in cyberspace. And for that, Shannon, I am eternally grateful.
This was back in 2008, when I wasn't reading very many blogs. So I started to. One Saturday morning in August, I woke up at 4:00 a.m. for some reason and hit my computer, determined to make good use of the found time and start the blog. I stumbled across Cerebral Palsy Baby. Shannon also has a child, a little girl, with cerebral palsy, and I admired her honesty and can-doism. I e-mailed her that morning, asked for advice about starting a blog, and admitted I was afraid crazy people would find us and come to our house.
Shannon e-mailed me back a couple of days later. She wrote, "It is sooooo hard putting yourself out there to the public that you can't control but I either had to pick to really really edit ourselves or to just semi-edit ourselves. I know people that use fake names, etc. etc. and I simply could never remember to do that. I had to go full force or none at all." She told me to let her know when I got my blog up and running.
I wasn't done with my hand-wringing just yet. I wrote back and said I didn't know if I'd be able to find the time. She responded, "I don't think you need to worry about being SUPER consistent, just make a goal to yourself to blog once a week or twice a month. I know plenty of people who can't blog constantly and their blogs still enjoy a large readership. I think you just have to jump in and see if it is something you enjoy and want to keep up."
OK. Out of excuses. When I got the blog going at the end of October, she was the first person I e-mailed. Subject line: "I finally did it!!!!!!!"
We've kept in touch over the years. Shannon's little girl is doing really well, and she recently had a third child. I'm living vicariously through her, for now!
I started this blog, which has been incredibly cathartic for me in so many ways, thanks to the kindness of a fellow mom in cyberspace. And for that, Shannon, I am eternally grateful.
Shannon's was probably one of my very first disability blogs and I was really grateful for it. Another good choice.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had thought of consulting with someone for help. I just jumped in and then looked around...silly me.
ReplyDeleteI have never checked out Shannon's blog, but will do so now.
Oh, Ellen. I needed this today. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThese people sound fabulous and I can't wait to "meet" them through you. thank you for always being awesome. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI just love your blog, the way you come up with topics worth talking and thinking about. I could never do what you and some of the other great bloggers (like Bird on the Street and others, including those you've mentioned) do--first, I have no discipline, second, I have no damn time (I work VERY irregular hours), and third, I have no talent for the creative like you guys do. I can respond, but having to think up a topic? Fuggedaboutit!!! However, one thing I am good at, despite my big butt, is cheerleading! And I'll cheerlead you guys whenever I have a spare moment!
ReplyDeleteYay for Shannon! I actually have a hard time reading blogs with cute fake names for their children, disabled or not. It's just so distracting -- thank you for sharing your life with Max and Sabrina!
ReplyDeleteCerebral Palsy Baby was the first blog I found. I remember sitting up late reading through the whole thing. I only commented a couple times but her story helped me so much at the time and was one of the reasons I started my blog too. Maybe one day someone sitting up late staring at their computer looking desperately for hope can find some on my blog and those of other parents.
ReplyDeleteSame for me! Shannon's was one of the first blogs I read when we were first diagnosed and I found so many similarities. Great job to all the mommy bloggers "putting it all out there!"
ReplyDeleteOh, this had me in tears...what a heartwarming week this is turning out to be!
ReplyDeleteOh Ellen, you know that is very similar to what happened to me! But I emailed YOU! You were the one who gave me the good advice and helpful, kind words! And I am soooooo thankful for it! I always think about you and Max first, when I log on bloggie land! Ellen, your my mentor in mommy clothing! He HE He!
ReplyDeleteFrom the loneliness of sitting in an apartment in Egypt, trying to find someone else who might understand my son's recent diagnosis, i found Shannon's blog two year ago. It was my introduction into a world of support i couldn't live without today.
ReplyDelete