September 13, 2008 @ 9:10 am | Filed under: Blogging, Family
The wise and gentle Ann of Holy Experience has a post up this morning about some blog-related questions I, too, have grappled with, am always grappling with—this summer more than ever, as I’ve wrestled with the question of how much to say about a new diagnosis my son received, one that was not exactly a surprise and yet was certainly a lot to take in, and which I very much want to write about (can’t imagine NOT writing about) for a number of reasons, but I have made myself tread slowly while I ponder the question of where the line is between frankness and invasion of privacy.
(Boy, how’s that for a run-on sentence?)
Ann explains why she shares secrets. Her reasons are very much akin to my reasons. Examining our lives helps us see them more clearly, live them more joyfully. Recording our stories is how I know I’ll remember them: the small moments that are so important because they, like the tiny pieces of a mosaic, are what come together to form the big picture of our lives.
And sharing the struggles, the successes, this is how we mothers help each other. Seeing the ways other women handle the broken tiles, the sharp corners, the dropped pieces, helps me to better discern how to sort through the jumble of tiles in my own hands and scattered at my feet.
Thanks for articulating it, Ann, and thank you for welcoming us into your kitchen, your fields, your good times and bad, so that we may be inspired by the mosaic you are piecing together with such tenderness and love.
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Thank you for pointing out this post. I always read Ann anyway, I love the weights and cadences of her words – but this is not the first time you have taken one of her poetic, almost otherworldly posts and enriched it even further with your own beautiful, earthed writing and insights.
I think we all try to balance honesty with privacy, especially when we write about our children. Blogging is such a weird thing to do – and yet so potent and so helpful.
((Hugs)) with regards to Wonderboy. He is so blessed to have such a family to support him with his issues.
Posted on September 13th, 2008 at 2:12 pmThank you so much for this. I’ve been struggling with the “why” of blogging. A certain cynic in my life thinks it’s all shallow showing off, and can’t understand why I’d stoop to that level. Thanks for giving me the words to articulate this impulse to blog about our lives.
Posted on September 13th, 2008 at 10:46 pmYour blog has been an inspiration to me and I am so thankful I came across it recently. I appreciate all of your insights and getting a peek into your world.
Posted on September 14th, 2008 at 3:53 amGod Bless.
I have only recently discovered Ann’s blog after seeing many references to it (and to her) over the past few months. Her “Buddying” post of August 28 made a particular impact on me, to the point where I began to question (all over again) my own commitment to blogging and its proper place in my family.
On a personal level, I love that I am documenting the lives of my children and that we mothers have the means to examine and laugh and cry and learn together. I do hope, though, that my choosing to share the fun and the foibles of our life has merit and is not just…prideful affirmation-seeking on my part.
And that’s just me.
There’s a careful balance that’s required of us, certainly, but as long as we keep prayer at the top of our [very long] list, we should [I pray] be fine.
Posted on September 14th, 2008 at 4:00 amPS. And I don’t care at all for the term “mommy porn.”
Posted on September 14th, 2008 at 4:02 amThought provoking. Recently I went on a women’s retreat with our church and our new minister came. She did a workshop about our lives as scripture, which she started off by saying that God didn’t die when the bible was finished. I haven’t really worked out everything that she meant about our stories as scripture but I think it might somehow be connected to these questions you are asking about blogging. Something about allowing folks to see how God works in your life. And allowing others points of connection so that they may see how God works in theirs. Does that make any sense at all?
Posted on September 14th, 2008 at 5:45 pmPerhaps another thought. In my large family the children range in age from 24 to 1. Blogging give the older ones a chance to see what is going on back home & remain connected to their younger siblings. When they call or visit there is something to talk over or joke with – almost as if they had never left home. Things I am thinking & considering but may not say aloud are there for them to consider and give their point of view. Though as the children grow there is more privacy (using on line names) Lastly, my mother died young when I was just 22. I would love to be able to go and read her thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. Perhaps the situations are not the same but glimpse her reasonings would be wonderful. Would it be as honest or helpful if only the perfect were posted? Perhaps. It is a fine juggling act.
Posted on September 18th, 2008 at 6:03 amMy Boy Wonder — Here in the Bonny Glen says:
[...] other day I mentioned that Wonderboy got another new diagnosis this summer and I have been wanting to write about it but [...]
Posted on September 29th, 2008 at 1:04 pm