Friday, April 16, 2010

Day 231 or To Be or Not to Be...

A Mommy Blog.

As the Ultimate Blog Party comes to a close, I have really thought about 38 and Growing. Where I started and where I have evolved with this little blog.

I was sitting here staring at my screen about to write the brilliant things that my daughter said to me this morning or to tell you about last night. The night wherein I was sitting on the floor crying after having put my daughter in time-out for the fifth time. Or taken away three of my son's dominoes (too long to explain -- basic answer, these are valuable commodities in our home!).

I was about to write all of that when I said to myself -- "Hey! When did you become a Mommy Blog?" Now wait! Before you run off thinking that I have a problem with that moniker -- I am participating in the 5 Minutes for Mom party after all. I love my kids. I love being a mom. I love writing about being a mom and hearing from other moms.

It's just that it wasn't how I started this journey. It was about me. Me. Me. Me. (Okay, that was obnoxious but you get the idea!) And that is part of being a mom. You give up a lot of your journey to ride along with your children on the most amazing journey of them all. But it is also, part of life for all of us. We think we know where we are going and suddenly find ourselves somewhere completely different! I guess I should have taken that left turn in Albuquerque.

So sometimes I am a Mommy blog. And sometimes I am not. Sometimes it is about me. And sometimes (read: a LOT of the time) it is not. But this is my journey. And as much as I sometimes would like to, I cannot extricate the Mommy from Me. I just have to remember the Me in the Mommy!

18 comments:

Carolee Hollenback said...

LOL - I started blogging about work at home and now a couple of years later, it's more a family type blog.

And yes, we do lose alot of ourselves when we become moms.

I've been know to cry- often!

Thanks for visiting my blog

Stephanie said...

KWYM - it's why I blog semi-anonymously. I figure, especially as a SAHM, blogging about my life means blogging about my kids (since they take up so much of my life), and I don't want some story that's humorous now to come back and mortally embarrass them when they're teenagers.

You have way more dedication than I to blog daily - kudos to you!

And thanks for popping in to say "hi" - as a Crazy Lady, it's nice to know I'm not talking to myself. :)

Nancy C said...

I guess I am a Mommy Blog, but I'm just writing about my life. I'm a stay-at-home-mom. It's my material. I find that I go in spurts where I write about the kids a lot, then about other things a lot.

TS Hendrik said...

I think you're safe on talking about your kids here and there without becoming defined as a Mommy Blog.

Alyssa S. said...

Funny, I've been thinking about this all morning. I've begun to think I need some master blogging plan but I don't feel comfortable pigeonholing myself as a "mom blog". Not that there's anything wrong with being one, but I'm not sure that's what I want to be. SIGH.

Kim Dettmer said...

I hear you...I get it, Oh, do I get it! How not to be the mommy...Yet how can I not. Me, important...yet I am a mom...but I am more than a mom too.

Tired Mom Tésa said...

I love the last line. It's so true that we forget ourselves in our kids sometimes. It's good to acknowledge it though every now and then.

Prairiemaid said...

See, you should have linked to J.Matlock's alphabe-thrusday....you could of done a post...I've got the mommy in me, kind of like "I've got the music in me...LOL

Just teasing you. It is so easy to allow the roles we play in life to become our lives...but maybe that is what it is all about in the end.

Thanks for coming by. I love comments and company. I have been a bit neglectful the last couple of days. I just want a nap. hahaha
Cause that ain't a happenin'.

Come back anytime. I am going to follow, so I will be able to find you again.;-)

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! and your SWEET SWEET comment! I hope the weekend is a good one and your kids are on there best behavior :) I can wish that for you right LOL anyways thanks again!!!

One Photo said...

You are so right - so how come I feel guilty if I ask my daughter to play on her own for just fifteen minutes?? Why does my husband feel the need for me to say thank you if he watches our daughter in the morning for the first time ever this week when she woke up extra early while I had a very quick shower as opposed to his more leisurely one before he went to work (he is usually gone before she wakes up).

So absolutely, I am with you, my blog is about being a Mom but also about me and a way to make me feel I am a person with a brain and a voice of my own, not just Mommy. So well said.

Mama-Face said...

This is interesting and I am glad you wrote about it. I checked into the mom blog party thing...and maybe it's just I'm an older mom...but I just don't feel comfortable with that moniker. I think because I honestly feel like I have nothing to offer that would be helpful parenting wise. My blog has always been about my fairly narcissistic journey in life. See, I'm writing all about me right now! (Yes, I do write about my children though. You are right; our children are an extension of ourselves).

Let it be known though...I think mom blogs rock and I see them as hugely important to a large chunk of the blogging world. And I read a bunch of em too. :)

Joanna Jenkins said...

Well said, Traci... the "me" part is so important.

As for blogging, the best part is you can write whatever you want when you want-- we'll be here.

Thanks for your kind words about my step-sisters passing. I know you recently lost a loved one too and your kindness at the sad time is greatly appreciate.

I hope you are doing well and hanging in there withy our loss.

xo jj

Claudya Martinez said...

I like all of you, the mommy part included. Your blog is about your life and insights. It's a life, insights, and growth blog. Sometimes those insights happen during your Mommy moments.

Betty Manousos said...

I love your blog , Traci.
So insightful posts!And I just know what you said about "me"time. It's essential!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Big Hugs!
Betty xx

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Funny how the smallest things (dominoes in this case) can upset the apple cart. Always a mom but as you say it is important to have me time as well. Actually every now and again be naughty, who knows you may even get to 'suffer' time-out.

Stephanie said...

When I started writing my blog, it wasn't intended to be a Mommy Blog, but let's face it, sometimes that is where the funny is!
Great post:)

Geist Bites said...

Neat.

I won't pretend that I really understand this- I am, after all, coming to the end of 'being a kid'.

Meanwhile, I'm not sure if anyone is going to mind if you're a mommy blog, since we're all here to read what you have to say anyway...

Technolust

Laffylady said...

...there is no mother without the "m" and the "e"....just keep it in mind..whatever blog you are, your great...LOL..!