Appropriately, this is my 200th post. I've been terribly disappointed in my blogging for the past 7 or 8 months, which is a long time to assault readers with mediocre or downright crap posts. I seem to have lost something since having P. Correction, since I ceased being depressed about P-related things.
Soon after having P I had a series of existential blog-related crises, when I was not sure the direction this was going. I won't rehash all of that drama, as lord knows we've had enough of it. I felt my obligation was to the IF blogosphere since I'd hung around it for a couple of years. I was fearful that I would become the dreaded mommy blogger and alienate the faithful IF readers I had accumulated in that time. Someone once commented here that there is no reason to be ashamed of being a mommy who blogs, and at the time I sent her a rather defensive email. I claimed she didn't know where I was coming from as she was not an IF blogger herself, but I have come to realise that she's right.
I had a baby. A delightful, beautiful, rather mischevious little girl who is almost a year old, but you would be forgiven for not knowing that based on my blog. Omitting her from my blog aside from the casual reference or name drop has made me frightfully boring. Supressing many mentions of P has left me void of inspiration or wittiness. I reread old posts and wish I had that Pru back again.
The only remedy, other than more cowbell, is to change the direction of this blog a bit. I am going to start being more P and child-centric, because much as I have pushed her to the back of my blogging life, she is the centre of my real life. Those who know me or have read me long enough know that this will not become a blog of sunshine and giggles. I'm still the same twisted, sarcastic person. I have an abiding love of Jay-Z, violent and creative deaths on Rome, and a newfound obsession with googling tales/photos of fetus in fetu. Oddly enough, I think blogging more about my kid will bring out my non-boring-as-fuck side again. Christ on a bike I hope so.
I hope the IF masses (slight exaggeration if my stats are anything to go by) don't flee immediately after reading this post. If we decide to try for another child I'm certain IVF will be the way to go, so once again there will be posts about my love of dearest WHYBAML, drive-bys, and mental assassination attempts on co-workers due to the effects of the poon drugs. Only this time there will be a little strawberry blond creature making the journey all the more interesting.
19 comments:
I'm looking forward to it. reading about those who have reached the other side gives me hope and reinforces why I'm doing this.
Pru - You should never feel bad about blogging about P. If people don't want to read about babies, there is a million new IF blogs springing up every day. And ultimately, the majority of people end up on the other side of things whether through pregnancy, adoption or fostering and will come back.
I don't think any lack of visitors is becasue you have a baby. Maybe you're just not writing as much so people don't check in :)I write about Jasper non-stop, and my stats have continued to grow at the same rate they were before I got pg.
I'm glad that you're doing this as most IF bloggers do stop after they have kids, but I do think that it's possible to blog about P with an IF twist.
I'm always glad when an IF keeps blogging after they have kids, even when we were still going through treatment and I couldn't always keep reading it.
I have a bit of fascination with fetus in fetu myself. There have been a couple documentaries on them in the states and I TiVo them all the time.
Can't wait to hear more tales of Pip. I think it's a good way to look at yourself as a mom who blogs and not necessarily a mommy blogger. If anyone can strike this balance I know you certainly can.
Please keep writing, because you bring the funny as no one else I know can.
And I think it's completely possible to blog about being a mom without being a "mommy blogger." I think those of us who have been through IF and have ended up as mothers after struggling have a unique perspective towards motherhood that needs a space out in blogland.
So write about P. I, for one, will definitely keep reading.
It's your blog, you should be able to talk about whatever you want. If someone doesn't like the content, they can just quit reading.
I think it's only natural that you should be able to talk about your daughter, I mean, she's part of your life now. She's the result that all the IF bloggers are looking for. Plus, it's only natural and right that you should be able to brag on your kids, no matter how they were conceived.
And would a few more pics kill you? I mean, really? I'd love to actually SEE that strawberry blonde head.
Fetus in Fetu? Quite fascinating. I'll no longer worry if I squicked you out with those other websites.
And why do people seem to interchange "mommy blogger" and "motherfucker"? You went through hell and back to become a Mommy. As you said, those who have been with you this long know this and therefore it's no secret you have a baby.
Dearest, you are you and you can do what you want. I'll follow you wherever you want.
Even New Brunswick.
I want to hear both that having a baby is totally worth it, and that having a baby is AMAZINGLY HARD. Just so I dn't trick myself into thiking it'll be all sunshine and kittens if I get there, and then (God willing) get the shock of my life. I think IF mommy bloggers are very important to my foot-ground connectivity.
And anyway, you could make even sunshine-and-kittens with P sound good and bad-ass. So. Bring it on.
Just don't you stop blogging... It would be too sunny around here without you. Plus who would I pry about that old house we are fixin' up.
*kiss kiss*
Fetus in fetu. Holy crap.
I'm having a similar existential blog crisis myself. But I definitely want to hear more about P. And more scrumptious pictures, please--you do realize your baby is ridiculously adorable, yes?
Hey Jay-Z fan, you might want to give 'Big Shot Pimpin' by Brat a listen:
http://bootieusa.com/bestofbootie2005/
I'd miss your blog if you stopped bloggin.
I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more about Miss P too!
Bring on the P posts! I think you'll find there's plenty to snark!
Guess what? You picked up a new reader. And, to boot, I am a Mid-Atlanticer now living in the UK who has done fertility treatment, ended up with kids, and wonders whether I can write about both experiences without alienating the other side.
I just hope you are as bitchy and snarky as you promise, otherwise, I will have to defect.
Just as soon as I can work out the technology, I am adding your blog to my blogroll, girl.
I am very glad to hear and very much look forward!
The phrase "mommyblogger" has become an epithet. I hate that.
I'm just glad you'll be writing more, on whatever subject you desire.
As a new reader, I can objectively say that I think you're hilarious, and I look forward to continuing to read whatever you choose to write about. :)
Post a Comment