Friday, August 10, 2012

Why Do You Blog?

Do you want to know why I blog?

I started because my mother told me I was a wonderful writer and should definitely get a blog. She has also told me I could be President if I wanted. And she may have once mentioned that I would make a great rhythm gymnast. She's a believer.

Once I started, I realized most of my blogs were about being a mom. So I decided to focus in and write mostly on that topic. It has evolved into a slightly personal journal that I publish on the internet for all the world to read. If you've read my blog a while, you know that I occasionally get on a soap box and tell you how best to live your life. But, mostly I write the stories of my life with my husband and my girls.

The funny thing is, I would never keep a journal if it was a notebook on my nightstand for no one to see until I'm gone. Knowing you all occasionally peek into my life motivates me to keep writing. I can't wait to hear your commentary on my life. If for no other reason than to show off, I write. And that's just the honest truth.

Sometimes I worry that my readers will think this is the only reason I write. To show off. (This thinking shows you how full of myself I am, assuming you think my girls and my life are brilliant.) But it's worth it to me. Because, in the end, even if my undercurrent motives are showing off, I still have this record of my life that is invaluable to me. I already read old posts and reminisce about the girls as tiny babies. I can't wait until they are older and can read the posts I've written about how much I love their dad. The posts I love most are the ones with the super boring details of our days that probably make you guys stab your eyeballs in boredom. They are gold to me.

I keep writing because I can't wait to hear what you think about my potty trained 19 month old. I am dying to hear your comments on the crazy thing Squiggle said to me the other day. I'm assuming you care. So I keep writing. And I'm so thankful that I do.

One of my grandmothers is 92. She is still in good spirits, but often does talk of wondering when she will get to go Home. A lot of her memories have slipped away, although she still recognizes people. She knows who my mom and dad are, but she has no recollection of being at their wedding. I have heard her say, "I wish I remembered all these stories you're all talking about!"

That is why I blog. Someday, I might not remember.

I don't care if I never have more than 100 readers. I'll keep writing. For me. For my girls. But I do need you 100 readers to stick with me. Let me show off a little. When I'm 90, I will be thanking you for listening so I had some good reading to get me through my last few years here.

And, Lord, please don't let the Internet break.

13 comments:

  1. LOL. I love that last line. I so GET that last line. I get the whole thing actually. Execpt I do write in journals. And I gotta say, you come from a long line of show-offs. Well, I don't know how long it is, but it's wide.

    And, Oh, the bit about Mom saying you could be a rhythm gymnast. I love that bit. I practically wrote a novel based on THAT bit.

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  2. Well, I still believe. (What is a rhythm gymnast?)You will have trouble working it in while you are on your road with your singing career and doing EC with your newly adopted baby. But still, if you want to.

    Actually, this post puddled me with the part about Grandma not remembering our wedding. She did start keeping a journal years after that, and I think she still pulls those out now and then. I'm pretty sure none of her entries were this eloquent, though.

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    1. Rhythm Gymnasts are the ones who are super flexible and do routines with hoops, streamers, and batons. You never really said that, but it is definitely in your realm of possibility. :)

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  3. You know why I read other people's blogs about their everyday life as a wife and mom? I'm nosy. And it makes me feel better that I'm not the only imperfect one with lots of opinions :)

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    1. Oh, I feel 'ya on the nosy. And I love that you put "Andrea in Pittsburg" you could also have put "Andrea with the most unbelievably gorgeous children" and I would have known who you were. :)

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  4. I love your blog, and like you, I write to remember. And to be heard. Every time I get what you are saying so much that I feel like we grew up as best friends or something, I remember how you started out by saying you are not the writer in the family. I relate to every one of your posts in a crazy way and I am going to have to agree with Kathy on this one...you are a wonderful writer! Thank God for moms who believe the best of us! Oh, and there are sites to pick from in which you can turn your blog into a book! You just choose the time frame and it makes a book, complete with the photos and a table of contents. Just in case the Internet breaks!

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    1. So awesome to have kindred spirits! And I am totally going to do that book thing!

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    2. http://blog2print.sharedbook.com/blogworld/printmyblog/index.html

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  5. Char, can I call you that? I love your sisters so much that I call them Seren and Felic, as if we've been best friends forever. I've often said that I blog because I want to be able to go back and read what my thoughts were at any given time. Not writing for the masses necessarily, just writing in a journal that doesn't require a pen and paper. So I too LOL'd at the last line. Keep writing, I love the stories about your "Gold".

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  6. Sure! Call me Char, and I'll call you Tiff. :)

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  7. I'm right there with you! I'm consumed with myself and my life and, for some reason, think people will want to read about it. Thank God for the nosy people :) because I, too, would never get around to writing anything if it weren't for them.

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