Today, my son is celebrating another birthday. Before I get into the nitty gritty of this post, I want to share Joe’s response to our question, “What do you want written on your cake, Joe?” He answered, “We love Joe.” Continue reading “Friday: How do you measure a year?”
Tag: Blogging
Dec. 1st: This isn’t just a post, it’s your present.
My dream? To be featured on WordPress’ Freshly Pressed. The dream of others? To be featured in my post. Huh? What? Is that wrong? Your dream, I mean? Well, I was hoping at least someone I knew wanted to be featured in my post. Because, Ms. Mom to triplets and a singleton, this is your post!
No, I’m kidding. I won’t talk about you throughout my entire post. However, on December 1st, I always remember two things: 1.) World AIDS Day and 2.) your birthday, which happens to be your 40th one. So, remember, Ms. Mom to triplets and a singleton, AIDS is preventable. If you have sex, practice safer sex; and, if you use needles, don’t share needles! Oh, and happy 40th birthday!
In other news, the end of this month marks a full year of blogging for me. I am certain all of you are thankful for the words of wisdom I have posted over the 2010 year. My faithful and loyal readers are too many to thank personally. Okay, that’s a lie, and you know that’s a lie. So, I say “Thanks!” to my few, but loyal, fans: Crazy Puppy Lady, Tortey, Triplet Mom, Betty (or is it Veronica?) and Andrea HT. And, I will get around to paying the five of you, I promise.
I am working on my last post of the 2010 year, and I am looking forward to writing during the 2011 year. Whether you feel I’ve junked-up the blogosphere or added quality posts, I’ve enjoyed myself. And, assuming this is not your first time visiting my blog, I further assume you’ve enjoyed yourself, too. A little? Maybe?
With the start of December, a list reviewing the highs and lows of the year start popping up all over the place. The year in review seems to begin the first day of the month, as if there aren’t an additional 30 days to follow. Among the year-end lists comes a list of famous people we’ve lost during the year. Added to the list this week: Leslie Nielsen. “Who are you? How did you get in here?” “I’m a locksmith. And, I’m a locksmith.”
What are some of your top memories of 2010? What are some of your highs and lows from this year? And, if you’ve read several of my posts, which one was your favorite? Which post was your least favorite? If you don’t mind sharing, I’d really like to read what you have to say.
To date, I have received the highest number of hits during the month of March, totaling 901. And yet, the busiest week was in September, with 335 hits during the 37th week of the year. The busiest day took place that week, September 13th, when I received 167 hits. Supposedly, WordPress doesn’t count me hitting myself – hitting my own blog, I mean. If it did, I’d break 100 every day!
Now, I realize me talking stats about my blog may not make for good reading, but I am amazed that I’ve received any hits at all. I mean, aside from the five folks I mentioned earlier, I didn’t expect to break 5 hits in a day, let alone 30. And yet – I get an average of 30 hits a day. OK. Don’t laugh. I am small potatoes, I know. I may not even be a potato. I get that. Still I write. And I will continue to write – for the five of you or the five hundred of you. Hmm… I wonder if I could get five hundred hits in a month. Something to shoot for in 2011, perhaps.
Happy birthday, Ms. Mom to triplets and a singleton! Happy 40th birthday! Have a super dooper day and a magnunderful birthday week! And again, even in your 40s, if you have sex, remember to practice safer sex, and if you use needles, don’t share needles!
Regrets Possibly Pending
I have received many comments about my blog. Not surprisingly, some people worry that I share too much. When I started writing the blog, my husband’s main request was that I maintain a line of privacy – of sorts – with regards to how much information I share. And, according to my husband, I have not yet crossed the line (though I’ve come close); but recently, my husband did ask me to delete one picture I included in a post, and I deleted the photo without hesitation.
Earlier this week, I read another blogger’s post about things best left unsaid or unpublished. In fact, I read the post several times. And, though I do not fully agree with the author, I understand the points she is trying to make. And, I do believe her words should be heard, if only to keep things in perspective. So, I made myself hear her, and I made myself reflect on my writings. Are my regrets pending? Will I look back, when my boys are teenagers, college students, etc. and feel regretful for exposing my life (and the lives of my family) to countless people? Will the feelings of my sons be hurt, because I wrote about a day (or month) when they drove me crazy?
No, the boys do not have a say in what I choose to share. No, I am not asking them for permission to write about their life. Does this make me a bad Mom? Some may answer ‘yes’, but I answer ‘no’. I don’t know what my boys will think about what I have written and what I will write. I hope the boys find my writing funny and entertaining. And, I hope my boys find the serious posts heartfelt and honest, even if it hurts. [Note to self: Be prepared to read the previous sentence directed at you, when the boys release their ‘Tell All’.]
This life of mine is my reality. I am living my reality. And, I am doing the best I can for myself, my husband and my kids. There is not a doubt in my mind that my current reality is manageable because I write about it. This blog was created the beginning of this year, and though the I still run into speed bumps, I am in a far better place today, in part, because of my writing.
Today – October 20, 2010 – hundreds of thousands of young people across the USA are wearing purple to call attention to the deaths of six youths who committed suicide after they were bullied or harassed because they were gay or were thought to be gay. I mention the ‘day of purple’, because many of the bullying takes place in cyberspace via YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc. One need not be gay to be bullied; moreover, one need not be bullied or gay to consider and/or commit suicide.
What does the above have to do with my writing? I believe one benefit to writing is letting others know they are not alone. In the past, I’ve written about my own suicidal thoughts. In fact, when I wrote my blog about that dark period, some of my friends reminded me they didn’t like it when I went through that stage the first time, and they didn’t like reading about it again. Why? Because it made them uncomfortable. Words are powerful, whether spoken or written. Words are supportive, whether spoken or written. As cheesy as this may sound, words can be used for good or evil. When I write, I am trying to use my words for good. And, I hope my boys will learn something from my experiences, regardless of the actual experience. [Note to my boys: The previous sentence is not to be used as an excuse for you to feel it is OK to experience everything you want to in life, not while you are living under your parents’ roof. Keep it legal and safe, boys; and, follow directions.]
The blog I read earlier this week, that inspired my post today, dealt with a girl stumbling across a Christmas letter her Mom had written. The girl was hurt by the words her Mom wrote. I think it is important to add that this person found her Mom’s letter by accessing the Word document and figuring out the secret password. This was not some random letter her Mom left out for all to see; although, it was the Christmas letter . . .
Still, it brings me to another point, when your feelings are hurt because you went out of your way to find the meanness, you looked in nooks and crannies that did not belong to you, you picked the locked which was intended to keep the thoughts private – is it fair to attack the writer? And, that is a question I ask myself, because I wrote You are what you seek after I felt bullied by someone. But, in my post, I made the point that I was responsible for going out of my way to find the mean words. I sought it out – found it – didn’t like it – and wrote about it. In addition to calling out the person, I was calling out myself. I was holding myself accountable for actively putting my nose where it didn’t belong.
Being a bully is wrong. Using words (spoken or written) to hurt is wrong. Again I ask myself, will I regret these posts in the future? I don’t think I will. And, I don’t think my boys will react negatively to what I have written or may write in the future. Time will tell. In the meantime, I will continue to live this reality as I know it, making sure my husband and boys know I love them with all my heart, even when I have bad days.
Then again, aside from knowing I love my family, what do I know? I currently have two part-time jobs, one of which is from 11pm until 7am, two nights a week. The lack of sleep is turning my brain to mush. When I started this post, I am sure I had a point, but the point may have been lost – like my sleep. Oh, and if you are interested in reading the post I mentioned titled “Things best left unsaid (or at least unpublished), you may do so by clicking here. Good night. Oh wait. I’m working tonight. *sigh*
Lenore's Thoughts Exactly 