Something to Think About
Jane, 7, was angry --VERY angry --with her parents today and posted the above sign on her bedroom door. It says (mostly), "I am staying in my room forever. You can pass me food, day after day after day. Including desserts." (Note how she spelled 'desserts' correctly --I love that kid so much.)
So, Mrs. G. from Derfwad Manor has a very thought provoking post up about how she is pretty horrified by bloggers who discuss their children's very private lives on their blogs. (Click here to read it.)
I got that kind of uncomfortable, might have been sent to the Principal's office feeling.
I've been going through and re-reading my blog because I'm trying to find a post without pictures to submit to Sue's book project. I, um, use a lot of pictures as illustrations of whatever my particular point is. (Well, you know, when I have one.) And I don't know if you've noticed, but I talk a LOT about my kids.
I don't THINK I'm violating their privacy but I just don't know. It's a fine line. Like, I think that note by Jane posted above is HILARIOUS but will there be a point at which she's embarrassed that I posted it? I'm so proud of my kids and I just adore their decided personalities and the fact that they are so creative and such WRITERS but am I stepping over the bounds? I would never want to use my blog (or any of my writing, for that matter) to hurt ANYONE, but especially not my children, whom I love more than anything or anyone in this world.
My husband hates being anywhere near the blog and I try to tread lightly there but, honestly, I don't think he'd be happy unless I left him out completely. It's not the content to which he objects so much as it is the fact that he appears here at all. But I don't know how to write about my life without involving him since he's about 90% of my adult interaction since we moved to New York. So, I do write about him and he does appear here and I've told him that it's part of the heavy, heavy price he pays for having linked his life to mine.
I asked Ana (10) if I've ever embarrassed her and if she'd prefer not to be written about. She said, "No, I like being written about." I said, "What do you like about it?" And she said, "I don't know. I just do."
Mrs. G. made me think, though, especially now that I've sort of developed a little following. I'm not sure what I'd write about if I didn't write about my kids and husband. I guess it'd be another knitting/weight loss blog--assuming there ever WAS any weight loss (not that I'm bitter.)
Maybe I need to get a life.
Comments
I think you're okay, though.
I don't think you've ever crossed a line with your writing, and I've been reading it for a long time.
When I'm writing about my kids, I've started asking myself whether I'd be OK with them reading this one day. Since it sounds like Ana already reads yours, you have a built-in censor right there. :-)
From my perspective, your blog shows very clearly how great your kids are. Nothing to use against them later. And your husband? Didn't even know you had one ;)
(My husband fiercely wants blogging to be strictly compartmentalized too.)
And perhaps it helps him to understand my perspective? Maybe?
I really was addressing mothers writing about hugely intimate, hurtful and potentially embarrassing subjects. Stories that most parents wouldn't tell in mixed company in front of their children.
I would have posted that adorable, fiery note in a second.
I think I kinda agree with kohgardner on this one