I hope you enjoyed a very Happy Mother's Day!
Mother's Day was a beautiful day for our family! It gave me the perfect opportunity to put things in perspective and make some important decisions for me and my family. This is a post I have considered for a very long time. So today's post is all about keepin' it real.
Photo Credit: Janine Grover Photography
What Blogging Means For This Mama
All I have ever wanted is to be a Mother. Little Man is everything I could have ever wanted in a little boy. He is sweet, compassionate, patient, and bright!
But for a very long time, we have been trying to grow our little family. I know that our struggle with infertility is not unusual. So many incredible families wait and wait--hoping to experience the miracle that is a brand new baby. About 6 weeks ago, we were given the devastating news that our chances of having another child were very, very slim. There is very little that the doctors can do, so they offered very little hope. At first, my world seemed to crumble all around me. After weeks of prayers, I feel at peace. All we can do is wait and hope! I am learning faith, patience, and a whole host of new virtues all at once! Of course we will never give up in our hopes for bringing another baby into the world.
My very first reaction to our news was: "This is could be my only chance! I've got to make every.single.moment.count!" Little Man is already 3 years old. He is growing up so fast that some nights when I put him to bed, I can't help but blubber. He is such a good boy, and I can't believe he can talk and walk and go potty and spell his name and recite 15 brands of vacuums off the top of his head. He is an awesome kid. But I'm not doing enough as his Mom. This might just be my only chance to be a Mom!
Oopsey Daisy has become a fulltime job for me. (Crazy, right?!) The problem is.... Being a Mommy is also a fulltime job. I simply can't be the best at both jobs--I've tried. I either fail at being a Mom and succeed at being a blogger or vice versa. I can't afford to fail at being a Mama! This might be my only chance.
So from here on out, I am choosing to be a Mom. And I am thrilled about it!
Our family has chatted about this option for months. We are incredibly excited about what this means for our family. I can now go to bed with my husband. (And I might just get a full night's sleep!) Instead of shooing my boys out of my way on the weekends so I can complete crafts, we might just go hiking. Or play t-ball together. And guess what?! I think I'll start cooking dinner every night. This is huge! But from now on, family comes first. Blogging will take a back seat.
But....
Blogging is a blessing.
I don't know if I can really explain this, but I need to blog. When I began Oopsey Daisy, I was a brand new Mommy (and often a "single Mom" when the Mister traveled every week), and I needed a creative outlet just for me. The blogging community became a second family to me. I can never thank you enough for welcoming me into the blogging world. You will never know what your support--a kind comment or e-mail, a retweet, or a "like" on Facebook--has done for me! So thank you! Creative blogging is my own therapy!
Of course blogging has changed a lot over the last 2 1/2 years. There have been lots of exciting changes for sure. But the one thing I do miss is the personal connection. The truth is that I spend 3-4 hours editing pictures and writing a craft tutorial, staying up until about 2 AM on average. Although I see my posts stumbled, tweeted, and pinned I actually receive very few comments. Of course seeing my posts on social media is thrilling. I absolutely appreciate the love! But I truly miss the positive feedback and the personal outreach.
I have always felt that blogging is a strange sort of "calling." I have no idea why I feel compelled to share my ideas. But I do! I have an inexplicable desire to share the few things that I know and that work for me. I love hearing from readers and sharing experiences! One of the most inspiring parts of my blogging adventure has been meeting other real-life bloggers. They all feel that same desire to share their creative journeys, and it brings us together. I love that! Some of my closest friends are blogging friends. We have an unexplainable bond. I hope that never changes. For me, blogging is all about the friendships.
Please stick with me!
I hope you'll continue to read Oopsey Daisy! I might post 3 times a week or 3 times a month! Who knows?! But taking the pressure out of blogging means it will be 100% fun. YAY for fun! Here is what I'll be blogging about:
* I am passionate about Mommy School and sharing my Mommy School packets with you. Now I'll have more time to dedicate to Mommy School. So if you're a Mommy School fan, stick around!
* I have a whole house that needs decorating! I can't wait to share my adventures with you. I know nothing about decorating, my friends. But I have tons of ideas and can't wait to get started! I have an entire entry way that is 100% empty. Yikes! It's a blank slate just waiting to be painted.
* Besides a few "business" obligations I have already committed to, I will be blogging purely for pleasure! I feel like I'll only be sharing the "good stuff" with you from now on. No more manufactured posts. I will be blogging authentically.
The truth is: I am excited.
Starting today, I will live first and blog second. Instead of the other way around.
