I really don’t love writing about myself. I don’t mind it so much when I’m writing about crafting or cooking or fitness. But just me? Who cares about that?
But when I was recently recognized by two of my fellow awesome mom bloggers with the Blogger Recognition Award, it pushed me out of my shell a bit. So here goes..
It’s been nearly one year since I walked away from my career. Nearly one year since I took a leap of faith and quit my job and moved my family nearly six hundred miles away.
I did it to spend more time with my children. I did it to try to take away the guilt I felt from watching them grow up from afar, missing many of the most precious moments while I was working around the clock in a stressful profession.
A few weeks before we moved my son said to me, “Mom, is it going to be a better life in Florida?”
Thinking of that question still brings me to tears. Then the tears were for fear it would all be a big mistake. Now the tears are for so much gratitude that I can say the answer is yes. It is a better life. Because I can spend so many more of those precious moments with them. Dinner time, soccer games, ballet, bedtime book reading and lots of extra hugs and kisses and smiles.
Then after the kids were in school last September, came this blog. It was an outlet for creativity, maybe some nervous energy, and my incessant need to take on long to-do lists.
And this week I was recognized by two of my fellow mom bloggers for this thing I started on a whim and still feel like I’m fumbling my way through. I’m grateful to Meghna at Love Life Little One and Devon at Army Wife With Daughters for extending me the Blogger Recognition Award. It means a lot to me that my peers think I’m worth it.
Now my job is to tell how I got started. Check. And to give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Seems kind of weird since it feels like I’m still just starting out on this journey and unsure where it will lead.
But here goes.
1- Research, research, research.
Because it’s my nature, I jumped into this blogging thing going full steam ahead figuring I would learn what I needed to along the way. If I could go back and start over I would take my time and learn the best way forward before just winging it.
There are tons of great resources out there for bloggers to learn best practices for Pinterest, Instagram, blogging basics, monetizing, etc. Read all you can and go self-hosted.
2- Don’t let it become your priority.
This may sound counterintuitive. Just after I suggest delving into tons of research on blogging, I tell you not to make it your priority. But after flipping the script on my entire life and career to focus on my children, I still have to remind myself sometimes to put my kids first. I know that makes me sound horrible but it’s real.
Frankly, it’s hard sometimes when you’re a Type A leader. When you’re used to managing a large staff of people in an around-the-clock, stressful business.. you find that stay-at-home mom life is a much different pace. Especially when your kids are in school six hours a day. So you try to fill any open space. But don’t fill it too much.
After all, we’re all blogging about being moms. And Mom is the most important part of that.
I also need to pass the Blogger Recognition Award to 15 fellow mom bloggers, which actually seems hard because there are so many amazing bloggers that I have come to know and learn from over the past seven months, it’s hard to narrow it down. But here’s some awesome ladies who deserve it and you should check them out.
12- This Cool Mom
14- Beautifully Imperfect Mama
Moms, here are the rules:
1- Thank the mom who nominated you and include a link to their blog
2- Write a post to show your award
3- Give a brief story of how your blog started
4- Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers
5- Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to
6- Comment on each blog and let them know you nominated them and provide the link to the post you created
Have fun!
Thank you sooooo much! I loved reading how you got started and a HUGE fan of the fact that you included not letting blogging be your priority. Blogging has this way of creeping it’s way into your life and trying to take control!
Thanks so much. Yes it does have a way of taking over.
I’m a huge fan of you and your blog as well!! I’m in awe of your strength and character and your boys are just the cutest things ever!