Finding Balance as a Blogging Mom

Being a mom is hard enough; but being a mom who blogs can be even harder, especially if you blog with consistency.  Blogging has its challenges, it can take away precious time from your family.  For me, I consider myself lucky.  My kids aren't little anymore.  Although they still need me and demand my attention often at the most inconvenient times, they don't need me in the way toddlers need their mothers.  My kids will wait patiently, most of the time, so I can finish typing that ever-so important sentence and finish that fantastic thought.  Finding balance between family life and on-line life can be difficult and even stressful.  Being organized is the key, writing blog posts ahead of schedule while the kids are napping, at school or quietly playing can help alleviate some of that stress and frustration if you are always trying to meet a deadline.

Set a goal for yourself, are you a random blogger, daily blogger or weekly blogger?  There isn't one correct way to blog, unless you are so random that your blog posts only change with the seasons.  If this is the case, you might lose a great deal of your followers.  If having followers is a goal, you will need to blog more than 4 times year.  Some people might say not to post twice in one day, but sometimes it is necessary.  Don't feel constrained by random rules.  If you want to post twice in one day do it.

Find that balance between family life and on-line life.  If you find that the kids are screaming and you can't concentrate, then it's time to put the mouse down and pay attention to the kids, the blog posts can wait.  I tend to blog in the early morning while all are still sleeping or late at night after everyone has had dinner and are just relaxing. I've mentioned the kids and not neglecting them to blog.  Don't forget about the husband.  Most husbands are unfamiliar with blogging.  They think we are just "playing" on the computer.  It wasn't until recently that my husband really started understanding what all my late night computing was all about.  I had been contacted by a major on-line educational company to work with them on their blog.  My hard work and late nights have started paying off.

To keep the creativity flowing, keep a running list of blog topics and ideas.  I keep a separate document on my desktop for ideas.  Blog in draft form as ideas hit you, write down the general idea and then go back when you have time to revise.  Often I will have as many as five posts in draft form waiting to be completed.  Once they are completed you can schedule their posting times.  When I know I will be on vacation, I will write and schedule a time for my posts to go live.  I may be on a beach somewhere nice and sunny and know that my blog is up to date.

Blogging can be very rewarding.  It is a great way to be creative, tell the world what you are thinking, share ideas with others who share the same interests as you, and sometimes can lead to job opportunities.  If you find that keeping up with your blog is stressful, difficult, feels like a chore, then it may not be for you.  Just because everyone around you seems to blogging doesn't mean you have to.  Blog because you like to, because you feel passionate about it.

Tips to Staying Balanced

• Schedule time to Blog
• Keep a list of blog topics
• Schedule posts ahead of time
• Share your blog with your loved ones

Now, time to thank all my followers and loyal readers.  I feel so fortunate to have such a following of readers.  I read every single comment and although I don't comment on each one, please know that I love getting comments.

And finally,  once again my blog has been nominated by the Circle of Moms Top 25 Teacher Mom Blogs.  If you enjoy reading my blog, please vote for me.  The only thing I receive from this contest is perhaps some new followers and the satisfaction that my blog means something to others beside me.