My Beef with Blogging

Dear friends & possible blog stalkers,

I receive many complaints about not blogging enough and not sharing enough updates on our family. I hear what you're staying. I do. And I love reading all of your blogs on a regular basis! However, I have a few issues/beefs about blogging.

Reason #1- (In the form of an example story) I like to read my friend Rachel's blog. Rachel and I were close friends in Jr. High, but we lost touch after high school . Thanks to Facebook... we reconnected, and I read her family blog. Well, she had this adorable story about her son, Gavin, who's about 5 years old. You see, Gavin had a missionary tag from church. He liked to wear it everyday. One day Rachel asked Gavin why he wore it so often. He said, "It's my baker's tag. I own my own bakery. It's very successful."

I thought that story was so adorable. I'd never met Gavin, but I just knew I liked him. So, I go over to Rachel's the other day for a BBQ. It's the first time I've seen her in years!!! I see Gavin. I'm a complete stranger, and I ask "where's your baker's tag?" He looks at me funny and must have been thinking, "Who is this lady, and how does she know about my baker's tag?" I felt very strange after that. I had this odd window into this boys life, and he had no idea who I was. I thought it was kind of creepy.

I wouldn't want someone to bombard my poor child with stories that he didn't know I was sharing with the world. You have to admit, that is kind of scary.

Reason #2- Blogging makes it WAY TOO EASY to share WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION! Sometimes I see someone, who I may not talk to very often, and after reading their incredibly personal blog, I feel uncomfortable knowing things about them that they probably wouldn't have shared with me in a normal conversation. For example- fertility issues.

Reason #3- Blogging makes for good/awkward gossip. "Hey, did you hear that so-and-so is getting divorced?"

It's not my business to share that information, and I try to avoid that sort of thing, but I'm a stay-at-home mom- What else am I going to talk about? The color of my child's poop?

Reason#4- It takes FOREVER for me to post anything! Getting the pictures and text to look good together--- what a headache.

----------

I've considered going private to avoid Reason #1, but going from public to private is often the
"cause of death" for anyone's blog. Plus, I never remember to visit private blogs anyway. So, I basically keep my blog so that I have links to everyone elses'. Selfish--- I know.

In conclusion, I'm not sure what to do. I'm not completely convinced that blogging is a good idea. I love reading them, but the possible consequences frighten me. That's why I don't post more. Thoughts?