My personal interests are something I fight hard not to feel guilty about. As mothers we feel guilty any time anything goes wrong with our kids. How could we have prevented it? What could we have done differently? We give our families so much of us that I feel like we should be allowed some carefree nights out. It should be okay for us to spend time doing things we like to do without reminders of what we could be doing instead. No guilt trips please.
I finished packing Thursday night, mentally prepping myself for a weekend of networking, learning, and speaking at the Denver Bloggy Boot Camp for the weekend.
Pat made casual conversation with me while I packed, “did you hear the latest from Maile?”
me: No what did she say?
pat: She said she doesn’t want you to go on your trip…she’s afraid the plane will crash.
(A thank you to the schools for sharing 9/11 books with my sheltered and worrisome child)
me: Ugh. Not her too…Kainoa has a hard enough time when I leave, I don’t expect that from Maile.
pat: Yeah, she said she doesn’t like blogging and that she doesn’t want to be a blogger when she grows up.
That one stung a bit. I was instantly irritated with my husband for sharing these tidbits with me just hours before I was due to leave. I racked my brain…had I blogged in front of Maile that day? She’d been away at school all afternoon and I helped her with homework when she returned. So why the negativity? What did I do? Was it simply because blogging meant traveling to conferences occasionally?
I tried to shake it off, but my daughter’s words…so sweetly reported to me by my husband…had rattled me.
I later talked to her, “Maile do you know what a blogger is?”
“No” she admitted. I smiled to myself…Maile is bursting with creativity. She writes books, songs, crafts, and creates comics. If anyone would enjoy a hobby like blogging, surely it would be someone like Maile.
“Blogging is writing stories and sharing them with lots of different people who read them and tell you they like what you wrote”.
“OH!” she perked up.
“Do you know what I’m writing about when I blog? A lot of times I’m sharing stories about you and the funny things you do and how much I love you.”
“Oh!”
“And nice people tell me they like what I write and I get to make friends with them…does that sound like something you might like to do someday?”
“Oh yes!”
I knew it would.
I think my job here is done.
Caroline says
Your job is definitely done. It sounds like blogging is right up Maile’s alley. She’ll love it!!! Have fun in Denver.
Angel says
Well of course she would want to do it now that she knows what ‘it’ is. I have an inkling that daddy wasn’t about to fill her in either ahem… she is such a doll baby..
Jessica says
My daughter is 7 and is already asking me if she can start her own blog. I let her write a few posts over the summer and she loved getting comments on it.
Reviewer11 says
Whoa, that was quite a scare. So glad that subject got fixed. Is Maile blogging, or not yet? I would love to see her creative blog but only if it’s safe for her and approved by you. :D
Karen and Gerard says
Maybe she should start a “Future Bloggers of the World” blog where kids of all the mommy bloggers could contribute things. Scanned drawings, short stories, special features about their parents, etc.
Lynn from For Love or Funny says
Remember when we were kids? There wasn’t even an Internet…
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation says
Your work is definitely done! Hope you had a great weekend in Denver!
Frelle says
i love getting a look into conversations bloggers have with their children. thanks for sharing this little moment with us :) I have one that wants to blog too.
Kir says
if she is ANYTHING like you, she’s going to be one AMAZING blogger/writer/mom.
xo
Kimberly says
Can I have her shirt? No seriously.
Was that weird?
I think she’ make an awesome blogger ;)
Francesca says
That’s my girl.
I’m booking you a flight for Atlanta now.
Pat: If you are reading this, get ready.
xoxo
Dawn says
When I’m taking photos of things, my boys always ask me if it’s for my blog? They will often suggest pictures (of themselves, something they made or just a rock on the ground!) for me to put on my blog. I think it’s funny they know what a blog is and what blogging is at their age.
tori nelson says
Love this! My grandpa always said “Start ’em young”. I’m pretty sure he was referring to forcing kids to work as farmhands, but- you know- potato, potahhto.
Jennifer says
Pat and his not knowing how to convince the kids you are awesome. Sheesh. I’m glad you were able to get right on that and get it taken care of.
Kimberly says
Way to go making a negative in to a positive! Any time my daughter says or does something funny any more she asks me “Are you going to post this on Facebook?” Haha!
Amanda says
It is so hard not to feel guilty. I watched a Today show and they were talking about why moms are always worried and have so much to do. It had to do with us always thinking about everything that needs to get done and what we will do next….and planning and planning. Guys just forget it and make sure they have time to relax. I’m trying to take that view and give myself free time to myself…and it’s hard not feeling guilty about it. But a happy mom is best for the kids. We need to take care of us, too. :) For me, it’s writing. For him, it’s the tv or football.
My Inner Chick says
—Have Fun! Learn Lots. Drink Lots of Martinis. ::))
Jen says
This is amazing. I love this post so much, I guess its because it totally hits home.
Ann says
*sigh* you can check that one off your list!
Maggie S. says
Ditto. Rag me continually for time spent blogging. First assignment for Basic Comp. I loved it. My husband said, “Of course you do, it sounds like you wrote it.” Instructor bled all over it and sent it home for revisions.
I agree. My work here is done.
Donna May says
Why is it we are so hard on ourselves…. is it being a woman? a mom? I hope I’m raising my daughter to value herself. Thanks for the reminder.
Mrs. Jen B says
I hope Denver was a blast. And I’m glad you set your girl straight on just what it is you do!
Tracy P. says
Ah, that’s funny! You’re right, she’ll love it. What I can’t believe is that she’s not one of your regular readers yet. So when will you unveil it to her?
janmary, N Ireland says
Good job!
My 2 daughters (13 and 11) now blog – one has hers totally private, the other allows a select few (grandparents and close friends, and me!) to read hers.
They aren’t so keen on me attending the bloggy boot camp either, but I just remind them of all those american stores (hollister, aeropostale etc) that I can shop for them in while I am over there ….. and they are coming around to the idea!
See you in Atlanta :)