Rethinking the Mommy Blog
Finally, I'd created a blog and started writing about topics that were both easy and fun to talk about. I'd sit at my computer, and the thoughts would flow easily. Writing about my younger daughter's elementary school antics, with a few mentions of my middle schooler sprinkled in, had me mapping out my plan to deal with the popularity that would surely come from becoming a well known blogger.
Then it happened. My older daughter started high school. And not only did she start high school, but she started 9th grade at the high school where I teach. What more could a NerdyTeacherMom ask for? I was convinced that I would have enough material for a daily blog entry. And I did, in fact.
Except I couldn't bring myself to write about any of it.
Publicly reflecting on my child's academic shake-ups, social dramas, and physical and emotional insecurities just didn't sit well with me. Every time I thought about writing, the idea of me -- her mother -- putting her business out there for the world to read (not to mention the kids at school) made me feel extremely self-centered. I wondered if I'd be pimping my own kid for some views. Would I become a shameless, opportunistic, reality-TV-type mom?
When I couldn't bring myself to write about other topics -- my teaching, my own personal struggles, my interactions with students, their parents and colleagues, I knew I'd hit a wall. I almost out-and-out deleted NerdyTeacherMom.
But part of me still wants to write. So instead of throwing out the baby with the bathwater, I'm rethinking this blog and what I intend to accomplish by writing. I've decided to view my girls' experiences as inspiration, when appropriate. In the meantime, I'll need to be more creative and dig deeper within to find material that will motivate and inspire. And if I fall short of motivating and inspiring, perhaps I'll simply help a few others realize that they're not alone trying to balance the draining, yet fulfilling duties required of working parents.
Then it happened. My older daughter started high school. And not only did she start high school, but she started 9th grade at the high school where I teach. What more could a NerdyTeacherMom ask for? I was convinced that I would have enough material for a daily blog entry. And I did, in fact.
Except I couldn't bring myself to write about any of it.
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Publicly reflecting on my child's academic shake-ups, social dramas, and physical and emotional insecurities just didn't sit well with me. Every time I thought about writing, the idea of me -- her mother -- putting her business out there for the world to read (not to mention the kids at school) made me feel extremely self-centered. I wondered if I'd be pimping my own kid for some views. Would I become a shameless, opportunistic, reality-TV-type mom?
When I couldn't bring myself to write about other topics -- my teaching, my own personal struggles, my interactions with students, their parents and colleagues, I knew I'd hit a wall. I almost out-and-out deleted NerdyTeacherMom.
But part of me still wants to write. So instead of throwing out the baby with the bathwater, I'm rethinking this blog and what I intend to accomplish by writing. I've decided to view my girls' experiences as inspiration, when appropriate. In the meantime, I'll need to be more creative and dig deeper within to find material that will motivate and inspire. And if I fall short of motivating and inspiring, perhaps I'll simply help a few others realize that they're not alone trying to balance the draining, yet fulfilling duties required of working parents.
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