Today's question to ponder:
How many people in your face-to-face life know about your blog?
Not too many people in the circle of folks I see everyday know that I have not just one, but two, blogs that I publish. I don't palm off business cards to everyone I meet printed with Marianne Thomas, Blogger Extraordinaire.
And when I started writing Writer-Mommy last October at WordPress.com, I wasn't sure how long I'd stick with blogging. Or if it would even suit me as a writer.
Now that blogging has become my latest writing obsession crusade, it would seem the natural next step to begin signing all my personal emails with my blog address.
But I don't. I have to ask myself, why?
Rather than dwell on the question - and get all mopey and self-introspective - I did what I always do when faced with potentially anxiety-provoking social situations.
I jumped in, feet first.
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We live in a family-friendly neighborhood. I like kids - please, I have three of my own - but I don't aspire to becoming The House on the street.
You know The House, the one where everyone's kid ends up...all...summer...long.
Nope, that's not going to be my house. I'm happy to care for my own children but won't become the ipso-facto babysitter for the dozen or so young children on my street.
Knute and I, both normally outgoing people, have learned to keep our distance a bit from the crowd in our neighborhood. Boundaries, baby. It's all about establishing boundaries.
We've been in our house for over a year now and it's worked. Also, the fact that I have no problem telling the small children who show up unannounced and unaccompanied by any adults that no, they can't come over to play right now does the trick, too.
I have been fortunate enough to cultivate the seeds of a friendship with my next-door neighbor. She's got two darling weefolk that love playing with the Royal Monkeys and a bulldog who loves running the fence with our new pup Brownie.
She also runs a photography business, one she started up herself (go, mommybiz!). When I asked her about shooting some pictures of the Royal Monkeys, she asked for my email.
I gave her not just my email, but my blog addresses, too.
Why? I guess I had a hunch that she'd appreciate them. And I guess it was also one more way for me to extend the branch of friendship.
It's so easy to blog, to type posts and comments and messages and send them off into the ether that is the blogosphere where they'll wait patiently for you and everyone else to read them.
It's far more challenging to open up to the people around you, people whose names you know but whose souls you do not, and let them in, even a little.
I'm glad I did - and not just because she's fed my writer's ego.
I'm glad because I've made a new friend.
WM
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Post at your blogjoint about how public you are in your blogging life as a writer, then link here.
Or if you'd rather just leave a comment below, that's fine!
Thanks in advance for linking!
Not that many know . . . I'm actually an introvert, so I think a lot of people would be surprised. The few who do know me well, fully expect it though. But even my mom the other day, cocked her head, and was like, "You're funny. Really funny."
ReplyDeleteI'm very public about it. All the ladies at my church know - and the gals on the street. My main desire was/is to help people save money. When I hear people say that they're strapped for cash, I give them my site and a few other faves.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I don't really care to be that house on the street either - but my 8-year old has some friends who are unchurched so when they're over at our house, our family is a representation of how God is faithful and working (even with all of our craziness). So, if that's a time for them to see God working in someone's lives (as imperfect as we are) then I have to be OK with it :-)
Good topic!
Marianne,
ReplyDeleteI'm like your backdoor neighbor! Seriously, I live in Monroe! Isn't that too funny! I also found Carrie at moneysavingmethods and she lives close by too. It's weird how random clicks can lead us to people close to us. I guess I shouldn't say weird, because it's all God's doing! And, I have a lot of Lebanon women on my blog, they attend the Nazarene church in Lebanon - they're all converts so I know they'll be paying your blog a visit too!
And, when our kids' friends are over, I will say they are very respectful. But, one time, my friend's son said something about hating someone. I just said, "Oh, we don't say that word." And, he told his mom because she called and asked. We're friends so it wasn't weired or anything, because I would want them to correct my children too.
And, I seriously know what you mean about all the kids though - we live in a cul de sac, and some days we have everyone at our house EXCEPT our own kids. Like you said, love thy neighbor - but isn't it easier said sometimes :-)
OK - wrote you a book - love both of your blogs and am a regular now (and just found ya last week)!
I didn't mean to be public about my blogging, but then I had a glass of wine and told my sister...and I had another glass and told a few more...and a local magazine featured my blog...and now people from my church read it...and my Grandmother. Frankly, it's liberating and I'm glad I had that second glass of wine.
ReplyDeleteOK..I am just stumbling upon this post, but I definitely have to say I aspire to be that family.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are still young, but as I sit and type this on my laptop, I can see my son, daugther and 2 neighbor boys playing on the swingset.
Although I sometimes tell them outside play only, othertimes I let them in...and even set up playdates.
It has been hard for my husband, as he is private, likes things clean and orderly ( and we know kids will destroy that ).
But, I have told him even before we had kids..I wanted that to be our house. Not because I love having the extra work, but I want my kids to ALWAYS have their friends here.
That way, when high school rolls around, those same kids and mine will be coming to my house for the pool table and the video games and to hang out just like now...and I know what my kids are getting into.
I hear to many times of other parents letting high school kids drink and get into trouble at their homes...and I know I can't always keep an eye on them...but he more they enjoy hanging out at or house but with rules, hopefully, I can keep a closer watch over things.