Blogging about older kids?
by Rachel Sarah
Filed under Kids, Tips & Advice
Ever since I first met Dr. Leah, aka The Sanity Fairy™ in 2007 at a conference for single moms, she has been very frank in her disapproval about one specific issue:
Bloggers who write so openly about their kids.
For the past three years, I’ve blogged about my daughter, including personal anecdotes, photos, and videos. I shared details about everything from her tantrums to her Hannah Montana obsession.
But Dr. Leah repeatedly warned me: “Before you know it, your daughter is going to be old enough to put her foot down.”
I shook my head. “She loves it when I blog about her.”
Indeed, at the time, I had a bubbly first grader who happily colored while I blogged. Yes, my daughter had started to read — Junie B. Jones, mostly — but she showed no interest in my blog.
Jump ahead to today: Sure, my daughter still happily colors while I am at the computer. But every so often, she has looked at my screen to see what I’m writing about.
Recently, when I was drafting a post about her growing up, she walked up and said, “Mom, why do you want the whole world to know about me?”
She had a point. I figured that it was an isolated incident — until we got into a morning quarrel the other day, and she said:
“I hope you’re not going to blog about this!”
Wow. Talk about a wake up call.
While writing this, I came across a quote by author Catherine Newman, on blogging about her kids:
“As they get older there are fewer and fewer stories that are mine to tell.”
I’m wondering if Dr. Leah has a point? Yes? No?
Many of you have strong feelings about this one: When should bloggers stop writing online about their kids?
Sure, anonymous bloggers might have more freedom to write more openly, but we’ve asked this question before: How anonymous are you really online?
Do you, like Dr. Leah, cringe when you read blog posts in which parents describe their kids using the potty or having out-of-control meltdowns?
On the other hand, maybe it is acceptable to blog about your preschooler, but not about your teenager?
We’d love to know.
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This is such a dilemma for me. I never expected my blog to get so popular. Even if I changed my son’s name on there now, people already know it. He is only 3 but he will get older. I am beginning to think I’m going to have to go back through 100 posts and change every mention of my son’s name.
Emily’s last blog post..Crestions, Crestions, Crestions
My blog (written through my son’s eyes) was started to keep my family in Africa informed of his progress in a one-stop-shop. He was born with special needs. It has since become a ‘dear diary’ for me (the blog would’ve been very different had I written it through my eyes). It has helped make the challenges we have faced more light-hearted, and it has celebrated his achievements. I have had many parents contact me about various parts of the blog and I love that I can help people and give them hope. Especially new parents who have been told having a child with needs is all doom and gloom. BUT having said that, my son will be 4 this month, is starting to talk and I must now think of how to close off the blog. It’ll be there forever so he can read up on it one day to see how much he achieved before the age of 3. Perhaps i’ll keep blogging, but through my eyes. I don’t feel I can continue it for too much longer. I’ll miss it though.
Nicola’s last blog post..Italy with papa
Twitter @ http://mommasunshine.wordpress.com
I dunno. I guess I don’t personally see it as a whole lot different than blogging about your spouse or an argument with a friend or with the person that you’re currently dating. The whole point behind a blog is sharing your own take on your life experiences, and, well, sometimes that includes our kids.
While I do intend to respect my daughters’ privacy to a certain extent as they grow older, I do still intend to continue writing about my experiences with them, when it’s relevant.
Momma Sunshine’s last blog post..One Year Ago Today…
Twitter @ aprilabtbalance
I don’t know how to write about single parenting without writing about my kids. Having said that, there’s plenty I don’t say on my blog about what’s going on with the girls. I hope that if/when my girls read what I write, they understand that it’s done to open other people’s eyes about what single parenthood has been like for us.
April’s last blog post..Late Weekend Wrap-Up
Twitter @ singledadlife
I have tossed and turned on this one. Since my kids are older, I would not think about blogging something negative or embarrassing about them.
I also now think this holds true for younger kids as well. I agree with some of the others. Single parent or parent blogs without discussing your kids is well, just about being single without the parent.
However, I would certainly keep what Dr.Leah said in the back of your mind. Not fun to get a laugh or a “comment” at the expense of your kids self esteem. Should be true for anyone you mention in your blog.
I know, I know, except for your “ex”…….but he is your kids father, so…..you get my point.
Barry’s last blog post..The Scent of a Man
Twitter @ http://www.singlemommyhood.com
April: That’s precisely my dilemma, too… how do you write about your experience without writing about your kids? I get it.
Twitter @ http://www.singlemommyhood.com
Nicola: yes, I thinks that’s why so many of us have started blogs… because it really does help you face the challenges, and get support. Thanks for your open comment.
I blog about my kids all the time on my http://RaisingGreatFamilies.com website. And, since my younger daughter has released her first CD (http://LizSeymour.com/sings) I blogged about her a lot there too.
And I’m even collecting stories from people about THEIR kids to share these life lessons with others at my http://ILearnedItAllFromMyKids.com website.
Interesting way you put your questions on here. Love the reactions people have had.