My blog turned five last week. Five years I’ve been writing here, with all that that entails. I’ve seen the rise of the Mummyblogger happen, and the rise of branded messages too. Things have changed an awful lot since I started and that’s neither good or bad. It’s just change.
It’s different now, this blogging space – MY blogging space is different. The thing about my blog turning five is that I actually care less about traffic now. Growth? That’s something my children are doing – my blog doesn’t have to grow a certain amount per month to keep me happy. Sure, I’d love my blog to be successful and highly trafficked, but it just seems like so much WORK, you know?
Evelyn is sick you guys, and that also changes my perspective. Any time I’m spending on the Internet is time that I’m trying to distract myself. Or time that I’m Googling seizures in newborns. (Don’t Google seizures in newborns if your baby is having seizures.)
Far be it for me to tell anyone what they can and can’t do with their own blog, but I am missing the stories. I am missing strongly held opinions, which seem to have been lost in the wishy washy of trying to keep everyone happy and not upset potential sponsers.
I don’t even know what I’m trying to say here. I want the Internet to distract me and frankly, the things that used to work no longer do. Twitter seems to be a mess of brand messages and self promotion, with no room for conversation and the sycophants rule.
My baby is having seizures and the Internet just seems ridiculous right now. How much of this space matters? Is being famous on the Internet even worth it? Why are we letting other people dictate how we ought to use our own spaces?
My blog turned five and I didn’t even notice, because I was too busy actually living my life.
I find myself caring less and less about what everyone else thinks, and just wanting to tell my stories.
When I read back through this blog, in ten years, am I going to get nolstalgic for the giveaways? Or for the stories I tell about my children?
Evelyn was born and I blogged her stay in NICU, knowing that it would bore people, because I needed to remember it. Now she’s having seizures and I am blogging those, so that I have something to remind me in 10 years (when things will be so very different) of just how terrifying it is to hold my newborn daughter while she twitches and seizes.
It’s funny how things change.
I didn’t know about Evelyn’s seizures and my stomach dropped. My heart to you at this already-emotional time. We discovered our Dash’s heart condition at 8 weeks. I think about those days and wish like hell I’d had the blog then. To pour out my stress and to receive the reassurance I so needed. That’s the thing about blogs – it’s whatever YOU need it to be.
Hugs
BB
Shit V, so scary. Is Evelyn ok? I hope so. Let me know if I can do anything.
I think there is a hell of a lot of perspective in this post. You are right. Telling our own stories is much more important than sprinkling brands. Keep blogging your own way.
oh hun 🙁 *hugejugehuge hugs*
I hope Evelyn comes good. I’m just catching up on internet happenings as we’ve been offline for a week. And yep, google is not your friend right now ((HUG))
sending love xx
I’ve learnt popularity in blogging is fleeting so blog what you love, what you need to, what makes you happy. I sometimes miss the excitement of being a new blogger but being an old blogger has its merits too and it’s nice to know that dedicated readers (now friends) care deeply.
We care very deeply Tiff. xox
I really hope Evelyn gets better very soon, the poor petal has already been through enough with her early arrival and stay in NICU. I really hope that in a week or two all of this will be a distant memory and you’re all happy at home continuing to live your life.
I am with you on the stories and the sycophants. I have felt like that for so long… I never tried anything on my blog except telling stories and I felt left behind for a (very) long while. But I think people are coming back round. I REALLY love your sentiment “Am I going to get nostalgic for the giveaways?” Er. No.
Take care all of you. Get better Evelyn xx
Perspective my lovely, We have it. 🙂
I really hope all is well with Evelyn. I completely agree about your internet/blogging observations. Far be it for me to dictate what I want to read in people’s blogs, but I do hope we start telling more stories, being more real, and talking about meaningful stuff concerning ourselves AND our planet.
Wishing you and your beautiful family love, happiness and health.
Regardless of how many times you post, what you post or even when you post, you still have many followers sending lots of love and happy thoughts x
Dear V, I’ve been thinking of you & Nathan and this news of Evelyn’s latest condition is quite terrifying for all who love & care for your family. There is no greater need than to gather together & get through a time like this. There is rubbish & off-beat stuff on the Internet & not a lot to distract from the worry of what you are experiencing. That you are blogging at all shows that you are wanting to still reach out & be part of the caring community. We are here for you. Love D xx
Big hugs darling girl xx
All the hugs and good wishes in the world for you and Evelyn xx
Thinking of you, hoping all will be well, every day.
(And yeah, I get what you mean. I’m finding my blog’s moving much more towards being a book / writing / opinion blog and I am v happy about this – I could write poems, review books, declaim my opinion and test out writing styles forever and be happy as a pig in mud 🙂 Accepting almost no review stuff now that isn’t book related and that’s a conscious choice too).
Sending love and light your way <3
No words.. just love and healing cyber-hugs. xoxox
I’m trying to keep the balance myself so I get this one big time. May your journey be as smooth as possible from here.
Just sending love, strength, clarity and hope.
xxx
Wow, can’t imagine the fear and confusion you must be going through right now with Evelyn’s seizures. I have no words of wisdom but am sending love your way x
Dear Veronica, the virtual world will always seem flabby when what we need is good solid here-and-now love, support and comfort, and although these words may be of little use, please know that you and your family have endeared themselves to many people and I’m one of them. Seeing Evelyn’s scrumptious little face is always a melting moment. I’m really sorry she’s having seizures, poor baby. May this all resolve speedily. Hugs to you. Lots of them xx
Thinking of you and Evelyn.
You’re right – about the blogging being what it is today. Stories, not giveaways. Priorities. Thank you for that reminder.
Do what you feel you need to do. My 30 yr old son had seizures linked to his immunisation needles when tiny. It was the scariest thing I’d ever seen…. I, who have never met you, send you love and light for you and yours.
There’s nothing more worrying than a sick child and your family have had more than your share. We’re all here to listen and help in whatever way we can, Veronica and Nathan. We all need that sometimes and we all need to be on our own sometimes too. We all cope in different ways.
Forgetting milestones is fine. It the individual days that matter and the love we share in each one that matters most and sometimes, the other stuff is more important than the sponsors. Hugs to you all. X
Shame man! I can’t imagine how stressful this must be… ((Hugs))
Massive massive hugs
A BIG BIG bundle of good thoughts to you. Your admiring audience do filter and differentiate; there is lots of self-serving (in the worst way) blogging out there. But yours is different – we love your ability to tell stories. You write beautifully and reflect the person you are. That is why we/they drop by and yes, we care.
Take care. I am sure you will work through this. You’ll also find the right amount of time for each facet of your life.
So for the five years past. Thanks. It is through you that I found out what ‘real’ blogging was all about.
Best. Gerald
Love and hugs xxx
Veronica, I was too shocked to even comment on the last post about Evelyn’s seizures. You are sounding very much like the “old hand” mum, taking it in your stride as much as possible, but you must be beside yourselves. Answers would be good. Thinking of you.
Im so sorry to hear of what you are going through with your beautiful bub.
I hope the love from your blogging community gives you some comfort.
I dont blog and the ones I visit are the ones that tell the stories and where we can all help and support eachother.
Numbers dont count but the caring does.You have so many that care about you.Big hugs.xx
I agree with what you said and the comments above, so my comment is a little redundant, but I hope that a cause and cure is found soon for Evelyn. Seizures are scary. I remember the ones my brother had as a child, every night as he dropped off to sleep. He eventually grew out of those, but there are still things that set him off. (He has epilepsy).
Sending you so much love! 🙁 xxx
Sending you love V. Keep blogging your way and your readers will still be here. Fads in blogging are fleeting and a strong voice will always win out. Hope Evelyn is okay xx
This why I read. To hear your stories. i started reading because I found you through a nomination for an award either right before you got pregnant with Isaac or just after. Initially I said for the EDS (i have hypermobility as well – your shaper recommendation has saved my hips) and the writing. Now I read for the writing and for you. Your stories. I have grown to care for you and your family. I have had a baby sister and brother in the nicu when I was 21 and your posts on your little one’s time there brought me to tears.
I dont know where I was going with this. Just blog for you because whatever you write is valuable. I’m hoping the seizures end up resolving and soon. I’m listening *hug*
Sending big virtual hugs to you and your family
Thinking about you all and hope that Evelyn settles down so you can just enjoy some new baby time, instead of all the worry you have had! BTW I like your blog – I used to keep a diary from when I was 14 till about 35. It is really good sometimes to be able to look back over events with the benefit of hindsight. I hope you keep it going, your way.
I’m finding myself caring less and less about the whole stats thing, as you can probably tell from the lack of blogging lately! I’m too busy actually living my life to blog it… well, wither that or I’m too busy in the alternate universe of WoW. 😉
Hope they figure out what’s causing Evlyn’s seizures asap and it’s something easily treatable.
Lots of love, sweets xx
How is Evelyn doing today, V? I am looking at those pics of her smiling and for my money, I can’t believe there’s anything too ominous happening when she’s smiling like that and gaining weight so well. It must be the longest day ever waiting for more news tomorrow, but thinking of you and praying it is just one of those newborn/premmie things that are scary, but settle down.
I’ve only been blogging a few months but I have been reading blogs for years and I too have noticed the shift. As a blogger I understand the desire for sponsors, but as a reader I don’t particularly like the sponsored posts. I’m with you on this one Veronica, I like to read opinions and difficult discussions and the nitty gritty of real life, so that’s what I try to write too.
Thinking of you and Ev at this difficult time, as a mother I can imagine the torment you are living through. Stay strong.
Rach xo
Sorry to read about Evelyn’s seizures Veronica. My son had one once and it was a life-changer as far as perspective goes.
I find myself having to dig a little deeper for strong opinions too and I’m also growing tired of hearing “protect your brand”. This just keeps people quiet or turns them away from anything slightly confrontational. It’s ok to have strong opinions. It’s ok to challenge societal norms. You can do this and remain respectful. We have so much more to gain from reading things that challenge our own tightly held beliefs.
Absolutely agree Carli.. “We have so much more to gain from reading things that challenge our own tightly held beliefs.” It will either make those beliefs so much stronger or could change them completely!!
first of all, hoping you get some answers quickly and Evelyn’s seizures are sorted … secondly, i am not a blogger, but i am a blog reader. i do understand that some are professional setups that earn incomes for the blogger, and some are purely a vessel: to write, to explore, to express, relieve tension, cry out for support or understanding. sometimes that line inadvertently blurs and as the owner of this space you can decide which way YOU. WANT. TO. GO!
and i think you know the answer already: “I find myself caring less and less about what everyone else thinks, and just wanting to tell my stories”. i’ll still be reading … xt
I am so sorry to her that your baby is having seizures. That must be absolutely devastating. I really wish all the best for you and your family, and that Evelyn makes a full recovery! I love how at times we get such clarity and then it just seems like life happens and you’re just along for the ride again!
I miss when blogs were funny and light. Mainly, before we all had kids. Now I feel like I’m just mundane, or mad about the world I am leaving my daughter.
And I will not google baby seizures, if you don’t google “white poop.” Really, that brings up a whole list of problems you don’t want to think about…
Veronica, my heart is with you. I am not going to google seizures in newborns. Epilepsy is the norm in our family as you know. Its no good me saying don’t be scared but do remember even though I am very very far away in reality. I hold out my hand to you to hold tightly across the world which in this space is close very close & I am standing by your side in friendship. So hold my hand Veronica & together there is a quiet strength. xxxxxx
Have just realised you have another pal called Alison, so best give my full name from now on. Got a bit teary reading about Evelyn, just wanted to send you my love.
I feel exactly the same way.
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