Monday, March 23, 2009
to blog or not to blog?
Ok, so I used to love to put up a new post on my blog. spend a little time, be creative and share with friends and family what is going on with me. It's always fun to see what comments you get and nice to stay connected. But I've got to come clean - I had a terrible day today and all I have to show for it is a lame post. Lately I haven't really had anything interesting to say and I've been reading all of these fantastically creative, funny and witty blogs that make it hard for me to keep up my own sort of upfront, direct, here's-a-picture-and-this-is-what-it-is blogging style. But out of duty, I felt like I should post something. I had all these videos of Luke and I thought I should to put them together. No big deal right? Well, stuff just took longer than I thought and I was at the computer way longer than I wanted to be. Luke woke up from his nap and I thought I could just "hurry" and finish. But he kept wanting to bang on the computer and I was getting frustrated with him. I found myself being a very bad mom, not giving attention to my son - it was all very hypocritical that I was trying to document how much I love him and what a fun kid he is while I was swatting him away from me. YUCK! I just feel terrible. After it was posted I didn't feel a sense of accomplishment I just felt guilty. I don't know how people do it. Especially the cool creative ones. Mine was even lame and I took so freaking long. Then there is even the question of reading blogs. It can be such a wonderful thing. Joey and I have spent hours lately reading family blogs and it's been a bonding experience for us and brought us closer to our families. But it can eat a lot of time. How do you balance it? What is the appropriate amount of time to spend on the computer? I'm just thinking out loud. In some ways, I feel better when I forget the computer exists. But then I'll get a phone call from an old friend or family member and feel bad that I haven't been keeping up on their blog. Oh, the dilemma. Well, tomorrow is another day. Maybe I'll have it all figured out in the morning. Anyone else feel this way?
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27 comments:
I'm sorry you had a rotten day. I thought your post about Luke was darling. I loved seeing all the funny stuff he does.
Sometimes I'm not as attentive to Andrew when I'm blogging, either. He'll give me ultimatums about blogging: "NO blogging today mom. Don't even look at the 'puter'"
I think everyone's trying to balance blogging time with family time. I'm bad at that too.
I agree... it can be hard to balance. I use my computer time as a reward for getting housework done. It works for me... if I do the laundry,finish a project etc. etc. then I can play for a bit on the computer (It's usually at night or when Ammon's playing with a friend)
OK, I went through the same feelings a few months ago. I was just in a blogging funk where I didn't have anything to post (seriously, we don't do anything...we do the same stuff every day). So I just decided that I wouldn't worry about making a post. If I didn't have something to put up then I woudn't. I usually have something good about once a week. My mom complains but I would rather spend more time with my kids.
I also found myself sitting at the computer even when I didn't have anything to really do-hence I was ignoring my kids again. Now Daisy's crib is in the same room as the computer so I can't sit at the computer while she is napping. I love it. I don't spend as much time on it.
The last thing that will help is a blog list. I used to spend so much time clicking on links to see if someone had updated and that took a while. Now it tells who has updated and I don't have to spend anytime browsing.
I agree with you though. You can spend a lot of time on the internet. And blogging isn't bad but I wouldn't say it was a good way to spend my time either. I don't know how some of those people do it where everything is cute and creative. I just don't have the time. Are you coming to book club tonight??
I'd reserve blogging for nap times and after hours. I think because you're so far away from family and friends that blogging is just something you're going to have to do to entertain me.
I don't think blogging has to be a competitive sport. I think a picture and a paragraph is fine and good. The best blogs always seem to be the really short clever ones anyhow. The only reason my blogs are so long is that the more words I use the lower my average of spelling errors appear to be. So I just start using words that I know I can spell and water down the one's I can't spell in the process. Makes me luke smart.
You are so funny. And you forgot half the equation sar&Jar+Shar&Jer+Joes&Kates&1/2aLuke
=rocking good time!!!
I didn't get the message about cheap flights...Have we missed them?? I'm glad you got the joke about us going to SF I thought you might think that's funny. Pretty awesome fake pictures though huh?
And I can't balance having kids let alone blogging about them. That's why I apparently do 369 blogs in a row when I finally hunker down and do it. Plus if it helps, when the kids are older it's actually a lot easier to find the time when they don't climb all over you and demand so much attention.
Hmmm, what else could I talk about.....oh yeah, so New York really was fun right? How long ago was that, like 2 years...man how time flies. Hmmmmm.....oh yeah, remember when you guys came down to Richmond and went bra shopping and it was hard to find one big enough? That was funny. Oh yeah, remember when I was all "the kids don't climb all over and demand so much time when they're a little older" that was a funny joke huh?
To sum up, I hope you keep on blogging. The end.
The trick is not to have so many friends. (you are so popular)
I find it can be addicting to wait for comments--it's a virtual pat on the back.
And the cuter I think my post was, the more I crave comments.
I try to remember that I'm really just blogging as my family history, since I never got back into the journal habit after marriage.
We're all trying to find balance, in all ways, at all times. It's what we do.
Oh Katie I love to hear about Luke and I am not tech savvy enough to post video. Christmas cards and letters were the traditional way of keeping in touch and they are time consuming as well. I have had days like that (especially recently with my house hunting time, notice I haven't posted much during the last month). I had to adjust my attitude. I blog to keep a record of my kids and our experiences. If others want to share these with us great. If not it's okay too. I can't keep up all the time but on days when I am really really homesick or miss my buddies...it's nice to feel like I can share something with them.
Love you and know I think you are wonderful!
are you kidding me? your blog is so fun and i LOVE when you post. you are just naturally funny and don't have to try. the vid of joes getting his lips blooped by luke was the best. all we want is to see your faces and have a sentence or two about your adventures. if you told us everything all the time we'd have nothing to talk about when we hang out in person, and that would be really awkward.
it is hard to balance. i try to force myself to not even turn on the computer until nap/quiet time. then the time i have with the girls is all for them and i feel i have earned some time to wind down catching up with friends blogs or getting the dishes done or even taking a shower.
do you have google reader? it's so great and such a time saver. i also have become a big fan of the save as draft button because i'm sure to be interrupted by a child needing something before the post is done.
these babies are our first priority and nothing feels happy or worthwhile when we're pushing them away. but i also know when i have some time to do things that make me happy i'm a better mom. i feel so much better about my day if nap time is time for me to get things done or have some me time, but the rest of the day is really focused on the girls. i have to recommit to that often.
but obviously you are a wonderful mom. and obviously i love to see and read about that on your blog because then i feel like i can be a better mom too. your posts cheer me up and make me feel glad i know you and make me happy like you and joey and luke. so i hope you keep posting, whenever the heck you feel like it!
thanks all you dudes. i think i get into something and am sort of an all or nothing girl - so it's hard to be interrupted. not just blogging - but any project. lots are worthwhile just trying to record our life or whatever (shutterfly, movies, etc. etc.) but i need to learn to be interrupted. when luke woke up yesterday i felt like "kates - you should put this away and do it later." and i countered with - "no - i'll just hurry and do it now so it can be done" and look what a mess i made. so i got to learn to save as drafts or put a bookmark in projects and come back to them. Our poor kids - always competing with the computer for our attention. I wonder what the oldendays kids had to compete with.
I totally get this Katie. When The "internet" was first offered in homes, I was like a crazy maniac trying to absorb all the available knowledge out there. I couldn't get enough. Then Chad started calling himself a computer widower. THEN...my kids drew me at the computer when asked to draw pictures of what each of us like to do. That made me feel bad and was the wake-up call I needed to just WALK AWAY!
There are still times when it is out of balance like when I am creating a Photo Birthday book for one of the kids, but other than that,I try to only post once a week on my blog, first so my two missionaries can see us, and second for a history. The comments are lovely, but not important to me. I do this for us, and that's it. I love staying in touch with friends and family through theirs and love seeing them when I get a chance.
Balance is hard, but achievable, and we love hearing YOUR voice whether it is a good day or bad. I enjoy the entertainment of the
"popular blogs" once in a while, but that is their voice and the uniqueness of everyone's experiences is what is endearing to me. My blog is a -2 as far as creative, but it gives the Elders people they love to look at.
I feel you, Katie! I'm totally absent from our blog, and feel like I can't even keep up with the laundry and puking cats and dogs, much less do I want to post about any of those things. Blogs are a great way to keep in touch with our families and friends, and for some people it appears to be really invigorating to spend a lot of time and be creative. But if that doesn't do it for you, don't force it. Spend time on what you love. Life's too short to blog angrily! Hugs, and we miss you!
do you know what i like about you? you like people and you're fun and talented and funny and smart and smoking hot and rad. and so many people like you too, so i can imagine that it's hard because you probably feel like you have to read everybody's blog who likes you. that's A LOT of people. you gotta start cutting some ties, kate. starting with sarah. she should go. and then maybe steve and pat. that jenny's no good either. and JUST THINK of the time you'd save by shunning all of joe's family!?
that's just the beginning. let me know if you need any help.
love you more than everyone else who reads your blog.
katie i feel the same way a lot of times. the computer can take up so much time, blogging, facebook, email, blah blah blah. sometimes i feel like a terrible mom bc i used to drop everything when bailee wanted to read a book (then again she was the only one at that point) but now when olivia asks me to dance or play with her im like, "just a minute im in the middle of something." and i feel like poop about it. i realized i needed to balance my time more so i just try to get other things done first (including dancing) and spend less time on the comp. who cares if your blog isnt as fancy as the next girl. you are one of the funniest and funnest people i know. and i love reading your adventures, even if they are without me. sniff sniff
I agree with Trisha. Dump everyone but me. Your comments always make my day. Just know that everyone loves you no matter how much time you spend keeping them and you up to date. I think your posts are great.
As for Jenny, I'm with Andrew, sometimes I wish that she wouldn't even look at the 'puter...but she makes me laugh so hard when I read her stuff. What can I say, when you marry into a cool family you just hope that some of the coolness rubs off on you.
see? we all understand. i read blogs - and type one-handed - while nursing. (and no new posts from me for a long while.) the balancing act continues...
and all future comments from you on my blog - should i ever post again - can be just "yay!"
Katie, can't spin today--I'm taking Trace downtown to get tubes in his ears! Wish us luck!
I know what you mean about the creative blogs but what it comes down to for me is that I live just about a million miles away from family so the blog and pictures need to be for the family. Sorry if people aren't entertained when they come to my blog. Basically every post of mine says, "oh and here is one of the kids..." "Oh and here is ANOTHER one of the kids..." If they don't like it go away :) I know that my family loves it!
I tend to put up posts when the kids are in bed and it is usually 11 pm WHEN I AM EXHAUSTED that I begin and then I end up staying up way too late! As far as checking other blogs, I use Bloglines which is the same as google reader or any other site that keeps track of who has updated for you! Good luck!
I have felt the same way! "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE SO I CAN PUT PICTURES UP OUR HAPPY FAMILY!!! AAAAAHHHH!!! YOU KIDS ARE DRIVING ME NUTS!!!" Kind of defeats the whole purpose :)
You're blog posts aren't boring-you don't have to be too cutesy to have a good blog. Ryan and I are always amazed to read your posts and see that you guys always look like you're having so much fun not matter what you're doing. Don't let the blog stess you out. :)
You can either LIVE your life or document it thoroughly
I totally relate, which is why sometimes my blog doesn't get updated for a couple months. I could spend hours and hours blog hopping, and lets face it, there are much better things I could be doing with my time. It is hard to balance, but it really is wonderful to keep in better touch with people we love. Hard to figure out!
Katie-you're doing your best and sometimes you/I just realize that life isn't as easy as you wish. Most parts of motherhood don't come on a silver platter, but thankfully they come! I love to see what you're doing--when I get a rare moment to myself. Thanks for beings frank and helping me remember to not feel too guilty about not posting anything for the last 3 months! Including our AWESOME 36 hour visit to your house!
Katie-
I know how you feel. The computer can be a big time-waster. I think it is all about priortizing during the day. Also, something I have found that works is to set a timer say for 15min. Then mindlessly surf or make a post or whatever for those 15min. but when they are up you put it away until next time. I hope you keep blogging though. It is fun to take a peek into everyones lives and see how they are doing. Even if it is not amazing rock the world exciting, that is just life and we are just happy to share it. Miss you guys and our "playdate" lunches! I can't believe it has been almost a year.
I solve this problem by not posting or reading blogs at all for a month. :) I must admit, though, I'm a total email addict. I check a dozen times a day--several times during work. It's my link to family and love and happiness.
Hi Katie, I just ran into your blog.
I love looking at everyone's blogs and seeing pics of everybody. I think we all feel guilty every once in awhile...just take it for what it's worth, learn from it and move on. HUGS
Katie, katie, katie.....you are still the same katie as I once knew so well..... What can I say that one of your many supportes have not already said?
I like what Jake said....
They grow up to fast...
My Katies almost a teenager what would I give to have her a little toddler fighting for my attention...now instead she fights me on Her turn for the computer...not my attention..
give Luke a big hug for me!
We look forward to your posting
when you find the time
AMY
I KNOW!!! I've felt the same way! My girls don't like me on the computer, so my computer time starts when the kids are in bed. But then Devin feels sad because he thinks I like spending more time with the computer than with him! SO hard to balance...kids, husband, computer...!
When I don't see new posts on your blog or see that you leave no comments on my blog, I'll know you are being a good mom. (I do LOVE reading your comments, though! Thanks for all the fun comments you left today, it's okay to be a bad mom sometimes...I think...)
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