Parenting is both the best and the toughest job in the world. It can seem like the last thing that parents need is something else to do and worry about. I thought that about blogs. It seemed like it would just be something else that would take my time and add to my stress levels. Then I started a family blog.
Here’s why parents should start family blogs. This is what I’ve learned first-hand since starting a family blog.
When you have a large extended family or when your family doesn’t live near each other, a family blog is a great way to keep in touch with family members. I realized that I was e-mailing photos of my kids to a whole list of people. I was posting pictures on Facebook, but then emailing them to people who weren’t on Facebook, and individually telling stories to everybody. Half the time I wouldn’t remember who I had and who I hadn’t recently sent a family update to.
Having a family blog eliminates this problem. When I have a story to tell or pictures to share, I post them on my family blog. I’ve sent invitations to family members and friends so that they know about it and can view it. This way, though, I’m updating everyone at once. It takes away a lot of stress. By posting everything in one place, it actually saves me time. It also keeps grandparents, aunts, etc. happy because they have a steady stream of updates on my kids.
Blogging is also good because it creates a record for your family. I don’t keep a journal or write down a lot of the things that my kids say or do. Even though at the time I don’t think I will, I forget things. As your kids get older, you start forgetting the quirky, endearing things that you have done. My husband and I sometimes end up looking at each other trying to remember how exactly how old they were when they said their first word or took their first steps.
By keeping a blog, you are recording these moments. It’s a great way to have a good record of your family. My daughters love looking back through our family blog with me. I’ve included pictures of them, posts about occasions (birthdays, holidays, etc.) and also everyday scenes, and little stories and anecdotes. Sometimes I might just post funny things that they say or things that they love to do. This way I can look back through and remember all of these great family moments that might otherwise be forgotten with time.
Blogging is also a surprisingly good way to unwind. If you need to relax after the kids are in bed, it’s amazing how just spending a few minutes blogging can make you feel like you’ve accomplished something, but also help you to wind down for the night. On days when you don’t get anything done other than caring for your kids or going to work, it feels good to know that you posted something.
It’s also important for parents to have a support system. There are times when you don’t want to phone someone up, or don’t have time to go out with friends. However, you can still need support and interaction (especially with other adults). Blogging allows you to do this. From the comfort of your home, you can interact with the rest of the world. It doesn’t matter if you blog during your lunch break at work or at midnight in your dressing gown or at five in the morning with a kids on your lap. You can publish a post, and then people can respond to you. You can get feedback and comments and support from friends and family who follow your blog. (You need to consider privacy issues as to whether you want a private blog for only friends or family, or a public blog that anyone can read.)
There are a lot of sites, like Blogger, that offer free blogging platforms that are easy to use. There are a lot of advantages to starting a family blog.
I have a private family blog just for friends and families that inspired me to write this article. I do, however, also mention my family a lot in my public blog, The Hidden Domestic.
To view a family blog that I love, Salt and Chocolate, click here.
