Chateau Chambord, Loire Valley, March 2008.
I mean would you care about me if I let it all hang out? My blog(s) are more about Google juice than personal narrative and lately, as I wander the web of mommy blogs, I wonder if I should open the kimono.
I realize that most of the successful diary blogs read like a reality show script. The mommy bloggers let it all out – warts, scars and all. I don’t know if that’s how far I want to go or even if you would care.Right now I write about adventures with my kids in hopes my insight into camping, hiking, sliding, and shopping will help others. I write about food and photos and sometimes offer personal essays, but this is mostly just a generic, informative blog.
DadCAMP is a collection of pieces I write on parenting, but even there my articles are more informative than diary. Sure, every now and again I will write a personal piece, but most of what I write is “hey did you see this,” as opposed to “here’s what happened with my kids today.”
The New York Times‘ Motherlode blog recently asked for a list of new blogs to read. “I love blogs,” she said. “The passion and the immediacy hooked me, and obviously I never left.” The comment stream became immediately filled with people begging her to come by and read their diary.
“What I really hope to share and read are bloggers doing the real thing: writing about life as a parent in a way that makes it all fresh and new and infuriating and joyful again,” KJ continued.
So I’ve been wondering lately if I should change my style. Should I sit down every night and Dear Diary my day? My kids got their hair cut yesterday, I didn’t think it was anything special, but other bloggers detail that to the glee of readers.
My boys gave me a Valentine’s Day card, but I didn’t feel the need to Instagram it and offer an art review. Should I have?
We all have stories, would you care to read about mine? Would I care to tell you? Because with the sharing of personal moments, and diarizing your day comes the weird moment where you take a picture of your kid’s leg stuck in a crib because it will make a great blog post instead of actually dealing with real life.
What do you think? Would you care? Do you care? Should I care?
Dad. Broadcaster. Writer.
Three time Guinness World Record Holder.
I run the world for Team Diabetes.
I care 🙂
Me too – perhaps a bit more because I’ve stood in front of the same chateaux myself.
I care. I have always written blogs about politics or life in Calgary. When my marriage fell apart last year, I had to rebuild my life and start over. I started blogging about that rebuild not really for others but to help me build the confidence in myself to start dating again. It is very personal, but also very therapeutic. And people read it and give feedback. Love reading your blogs, would read them no matter what you post. Just keep writing 🙂
I think it depends. As I’m sure you’ve heard me or someone else say before, “The Internet is forever.” Don’t put anything out there that you don’t want plastered all over everywhere.
As an aside, I just discovered your “to do list” on this site and I think it’s a neat take on the “bucket list” concept.
I subscribed to get ideas on great things to do with kids in Calgary and Alberta. So far, we’ve had a few good hikes and other trips based on your recommendations. Keep up the good work!
Pingback: Shane Koyczan's To This Day Anti-Bullying Video Goes Viral | DadCAMP