7 ways blogging is like parenting

Blogging

The more I blog the more I see how it parallels parenting in many ways. Sometimes the line between “work” and “fun” can be a little blurred. And there’s often an imbalance between output and return. Just like parenting, I was blissfully unaware of what kind of commitment it would be until I launched right into it.  Here are 7 ways blogging is like parenting:

1. You learn on the job

Blogging is not really something you can learn prior to jumping in and giving it a go. It’s a work in progress and the goal posts are continually changing. No sooner have you moved through the newborn fog of sleep deprivation than a new set of challenges awaits you.

Happy Birthday to me!

It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since I wrote my first post on a blog called Not another slippery dip. I remember the combined excitement and nervousness I felt when I pressed PUBLISH and sent my post out to the blogosphere. I say blogosphere because it’s sounds a lot more impressive than the two readers (my husband, and my sister) who were the only ones following my blog at the time!

I decided to write a blog to nourish my creative side, and to provide another layer to my life. I confess I knew nothing about blogging and what it would entail. I gave little thought to what I would write about, and I didn’t know about the “rules” required to establish a loyal following. Since then the terms ‘readership’, ‘messaging’, ‘traffic’, ‘hits’, ‘integration’, ‘widgets’ and ‘plugins’ have become part of my vernacular. I’ve learnt about Search Engine Optimization,  “engagement”, Google plus, Author Sure, marketing across multiple platforms, tweeting, sharing, commenting, uploading, and, more importantly, writing.

Why I blog and why I read blogs

Recently, the Sunday Telegraph featured an article by gossip columnist Ros Reines, in which she launched a condescending attack on Mummy Bloggers. She tore them to shreds and she upset a lot of people (bloggers). Her tone was mean and scathing.

It is my belief that people criticise things they don’t understand. At the heart of most judgment is intolerance; a lack of understanding or education. Rather than taking offense to her words, I have decided to share with you some of the reasons behind why I blog.

I know that not every blog post will appeal to all readers. By writing about my personal experiences I also feel quite ‘exposed’ and this is something I am still adjusting to.

So, why do I blog? Why share with the world my inner feelings, fears and experiences?