1 year, 4 months, and 4 days.
That’s how long we’ve been blogging.
During this time, I have learned a number of things. Snippets of wisdom that I carry around in my head, right alongside the 90210 trivia and Brittany Spears’ lyrics.
Some highlights…
1) Once you sign on, the blogging journey will inevitably take you full circle. You’ll start out on Blogger, think it is time to move on and do “bigger” things, move off of Blogger, and then wonder how to get back to where you started.
2) There will be days when you adore blogging, and other days when you wonder why you are still on-line.
3) Women + Blogging = Telenovela-like drama. (That’s fancy for soap opera.)
And 4) There are people who you will meet, form a connection to, and realize that they may be living your life, except in an entirely different geographic location.
Talking to Jill makes me realize this, and, more importantly, makes me appreciate that I still have relationships with people who do not drink out of a sippy cup.
I’ve been lucky enough to get a sneak peek into Jill’s world, which, for better or for worse, is very much like my own.
“Mommy, Ben fell into the toilet.”
“Mommy, Ben has soap in his eyes.”
“What’s gonna work? Teamwork!” (As sung by a chorus of Jill’s children.)
“Back away from my sandwich, Penelope.”
There is really nothing that we can’t share.
Actually, strike that.
Last week’s, “Call me when you are ready to wipe!” probably doesn’t qualify.
cute post- saw Jill’s tweet about it. Agree the connections are what it’s all about (though we had been told the hokey pokey was what it was all about…) in blogging.
Cheers!
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I, for one, am so glad we found each other. I feel like we are kindred spirits in so many ways!
Kristina P.´s last blog ..Celebrity Interviews, "Twilight" Edition
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I think it is absolutely amazing what blogging has done for me and how it has affected me. I love the very real friendships I have made – and the already real friendships I have made stronger. I have been inspired by some and motivated by others – sometimes I wonder why I spend so much time here…but then…I can’t imagine what I would do without my blog and I always wonder when I meet another mother IRL if she blogs, and if she doesn’t why not….
Liz @ Loving Mom´s last blog ..Its Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!!
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I agree…blogging is that way. I feel like I have several twins out there in blogland.
He & Me + 3´s last blog ..I Heart Faces 47-Tooshies
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I love the connections I’ve made too. I have a love/hate relationship with my blog. It started out as a creative outlet but sometimes feels like something else on my to-do list. That’s usually when I feel like absolutely nothing is going on in my life that is remotely blogworthy.
Liz´s last blog ..Definitely with children
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Oh Fran, you crack me up. And even though I don’t have children (at least children who don’t have fur) I think we should still get a virtual
“Best
Friends”
necklace!
I get:
“Be
Fri”
and you can have:
“st
ends”
Pooba´s last blog ..We Are The Epitome Of Perfection When It Comes To Communication In A Relationship. Get Out A Pen, You Need To Take Notes.
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Aren’t the connections amazing? And I’ve felt those same thoughts, too. Please don’t tell me I’m going to hugely regret the move to WP.
Lolli´s last blog ..Top Ten Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers
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The connects that blogging helps you make with people are amazing. There is just one bad thing, I want more. I want to be able to actually hang out with these people. I wish someone would hurry up and invent (or perfect) a teleportation system. Then I would be over in a heart beat to share and laugh or two with you.
Jen @ buried with children´s last blog ..Think of Me
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I can totally relate to all of these feelings! I’m in a bit of a slump right now and hoping I can break out of it soon!
I’m liking your new place here!
theUngourmet´s last blog ..The day the muffins sank
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Wait! When will I know when I need to leave Blogger? Is there a rule? Or is it like love and when you know you just know? I need to know. Now I’m stressed. But all is good, I know you’ll help. Cuz what’s gonna work teeaaaam work! Now that song will be stuck inside my head for the afternoon. lol Oh and I laughed out loud about the 90210 trivia. Oh how I miss the Peach Pit and all it had to offer.
Kacey R´s last blog ..{In Love}
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Oh, come on, I know you appreciate the play-by-play potty talk. It’s *almost* like you are right there beside me, wiping ass. Almost.
Oh, and when we finally meet? It will be magic.
Scary Mommy´s last blog ..My Favorite WordPress Theme, Plug-ins & Resources
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Sometimes I wonder why you’re still online too.
And I love Jill.
Mama Kat´s last blog ..Tiny Tidbits: Dance Attack, Trees, And Victor E.
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It is fun to see all the connections I’ve made over the past two years. I started blogging randomly one day…and look where I am now. crazy.
Barbara´s last blog ..So Freakin Excited!
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Congrats on your time online, I know I’m glad to have made the connection.
Although I am bummed that you guys don’t drink outta sippy cups. Now I feel like a dork with mine.
beth aka confusedhomemaker´s last blog ..Le Creuset Giveaway: Food Made in Love
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I can relate to all and then some. It’s so nice to know I’m not alone.
Jen@ODBT´s last blog ..I heart faces – “We ♥ Tooshies”
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I got a “Mom this one’s really messy so I need help” today… ahh motherhood
Emmy´s last blog ..Ten Things
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Oh Wonder Pets…it’s sung around here daily. And we don’t even get Nick!
And I love coming over here. I’m glad to have you as my new bloggy friends.
S Club Mama´s last blog ..‘udoff
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I have to go check out Jill’s blog because it sounds like she and I have a lot in common!
Nancy´s last blog ..Sworn to Silence – New Moon Review
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As one of my very first blog-friends, you were one of the first to make me see that I could be friends with someone I had never met. Someday you, Kristina, and I need to get together…it would be like we’ve known each other forever, even though we’ve never met!
Deb´s last blog ..New Discovery
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That’s so true! I think it’s so cool how we can become friends with someone that has a totally different background & lifestyle!!
Alicia´s last blog ..CHEESE!
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She is pretty dang awesome, right?! Just like you guys (and a few other bloggers I stalk mercilessly!). And, when did you want to volunteer yourself to be my poetry writing muse? I’m telling you, being ifriends with Dumb Mom is akin to receiving an Oscar, minus all the fame and fortune. But like that level of celebrity. Okay, maybe just sorta like that level of celebrity only, um, less. Some would say it’s more like getting a Source award minus the near death experience. But yeah, it’s maybe like that because no one will ever know about it except for the 25 people who show up over there on my blog. So, um yeah. But the poem; the poem is awesome!
parenting BY dummies´s last blog ..Make New ifriends Monday: Unknown Mami
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At the very least you HAVE to enter my photo contest. Have. To! http://parentingbydummies.blogspot.com/2009/11/santa-claus-is-coming.html
parenting BY dummies´s last blog ..Make New ifriends Monday: Unknown Mami
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The genuine connections were the biggest surprise to me when I started blogging. It’s a MAJOR bonus!
I’m glad I found you!
xo
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I completely agree! Especially with #2, on those days when I feel like shutting down the blog. But then I remember all of the great friends and connections I’ve made, and wouldn’t want to just say goodbye to it all.
Thanks for that post…well written!
Kathleen´s last blog ..Tech Tuesday: Taking the Dot Com Plunge
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I agree with everything you wrote wholeheartedly! I started keeping a blog just to keep family and friends updated with our pregnancy and it just got bigger from there. Now I can’t imagine NOT blogging (although there certainly are days where the last thing I want to do is write a post)…I’ve “met” so many fabulous people through blogging!
Helene´s last blog ..10 signs that you and your hubby desperately need to get reacqainted…
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Wait a minute.
And forgive me for not realizing this before.
But. Have you been with WordPress since you relaunched?
Jill is a great bloggy friend, isn’t she?
angie´s last blog ..Wordful Wednesday-Pigeons
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I agree and sometimes I feel like I should be blogging more, but when I get like two comments, I’m like should I even bother? But the next day I feel different, I want to print all my blog posts and use it as a journal, then I know that it was all worth it. I do love to read other people’s blogs like you guys! You always have something neat and interesting to read about!
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LOL! Love your new site. It’s been a long time. Hope all is well.
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Don’t forget this one…”Mom, Micah put a pea in his nose!” only to find out 2 days after releasing the poor little pea that somehow he had actually crammed 2 up there. The remaining hostage was finally rocketed into my hand after a string of sneezes to high to count! LOL, Francesca
jen (Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby)´s last blog ..Please Pass the Bombolini!
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Yeah… sighhh.. Blogging is kind of insane. I wake up and never know how exactly I will feel about it. Mostly I love it, And I love the people that I have met, and I couldn’t go though a day without them… but there are other days when I want to shut it all out! I’m sure eventually I’ll find my piece.
Carissajaded´s last blog ..I don’t know how to do those post it notes that are so hot right now.
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It has been an interesting journey, this whole blogging adventure. And, I’ve had so much fun following your writing. Hopefully, we will meet one of these days on one of my trips to CA.
Jen´s last blog ..Carbs For Christmas: I Like It
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but you know what.. in the end i always say that every post, every new follower, every new template… every bit of it is soooooo worth it!!!!
Randi´s last blog ..Feeding My Addiction
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Very, very true! It is a circle, isn’t it? I have often felt the same way!
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Blogging has definitely helped me to feel less isolated as a mom….
Miss K´s last blog ..Blerg Humbug
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Hmmm….I think all of my relationships are with people who drink out of sippy cups or are imaginary. It’s quite possible that I lack the connection widget on my blog. ;o)
Lady of Perpetual Chaos´s last blog ..A Day Late and Probably A Dollar Short
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I wonder every day why I blog. It’s certainly not for the free stuff I get like the reusable hemp tampons or the one time someone mailed me a live bunny…
No, I do it because it’s a sickness. Oh yeah, I suppose I’ve made a few friends along the way too…
Amanda´s last blog ..And The Winner Is…
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Maybe I should start connecting with people rather than food!…lol. But even then, I have made some gd foodie friends. And it def beats talking to my pots n pans.
Za´s last blog ..Black Pepper Chicken (Ayam masak Lada Hitam)
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Our trip out for Bright Star’s funeral was so dang quick. But I am planning another trip to Cali next year. Maybe I can give you a piggy in person? Love the awesome people blogs have brought into my life. You are on that list.
Jo´s last blog ..Mountain Monday
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I hear ya. There are some wonderful peopel I have met through blogging. And other days when I just want to take the whole circus down.
I wish I could get paid to just read blogs and blog. THAT would make it easier to get to, eh?
I think I’m in a blogging funk, anyway. So much I want to share but nothing I can say. Boo hoo, poor me. Get some kleenex and baloons – it’s a PITY PARTY!
Love when you blog, Fran. Love when I catch it even more.
heidi´s last blog ..5 Gifts & A Giveaway
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