Interview with FireMom from “Stop, Drop & Blog”
“Stop, Drop & Blog”
The first blog (no longer live) was initially started during our wedding planning stages so that family could keep up with the big event. The website was sent out with the wedding invitations as it included directions, local hotels and pictures. After the wedding, it evolved into The Misadventures of Married Life. And, as we tried to conceive immediately and were successful after about three months, it finally took the turn to what is referred to as a mommy blog. We recently (Jan 08) moved the blog to a new domain to have a fresh start. The main core of our readership happens to be family members and close friends who like to keep up on our lives. I’m bad about sending pictures (or printing them) and updates either by mail or the ancient way of snail mail. Since the boys’ births, it has evolved a little more to include a bunch of parenting stuff wherein I try to look hip and cool. Really, I am faking it.
I started my first online blog in 2001. Actually, that’s how I met my Husband. As stated above, our first website was purchased for our wedding in 2004. That transformed into a blog January of 2005 and our current site began in January of 2008. So, that’s about seven years of online blogging presence. Crazy!
The ins and outs, ups and downs of parenting incorporated with our love for babywearing/breastfeeding/cloth diapering, how open adoption effects our family makeup (and my self-image), our faith and, of course, life as a fire fighting family. Oh, and book reviews. Seriously: we’re book nerds.
Ragamuffin Soul (http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com) - a Christian dad with a great sense of humor and adorable children! ThisWomansWork (http://www.thiswomanswork.com) - a Mom (biological and adoptive) who is an activist and a writer who inspires me to be the best that I can be in everything that I do.
Just keep writing. If your focus and your tone change and evolve over time: THAT IS FINE. No one becomes an accomplished writer over night and no one gets there without writing. Keep at it. And don’t let the nay-sayers get you. Someone will read your words and identify with what you’re saying. Keep at it!
LOVE it! I have learned so much from my readers. I love interacting with them either via comment or to take it even deeper via personal e-mails. I love knowing that they have stories to share just as much as I know that my message is being accepted and understood.
Yes! Most of our family reads our blog which is why the decision to announce that I had placed a daughter for adoption in a post on our previous blog during the Summer of 2006 was a big one that involved a lot of discussion between myself and my Husband. My family was aware but there were certain members of his family that did not know. FireDad’s coworkers at the fire department and my friends from my old job (read: you know, outside the home!) keep up with me by reading!
However, I am a Community Moderator for Adoption Forums (http://forums.adoption.com) and the Administrator for FertilityForums (http://forums.fertility.com). I I also frequent TheBabywearer forums (http://www.thebabywearer.com) and DiaperSwappers (http://www.diaperswappers.com).
I blog almost daily at our family blog (http://stopdropandblog.com). I also write a co-blog as the birth mother in open adoption on the Birth/First Parent blog (http://birthparents.adoptionblogs.com) at AdoptionBlogs.com. I can also be found at The Chronicles of Munchkin Land (http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com) where I address our adoption story.
Oh, between my job and fun reading, probably far too many hours!
I really just use Google Alerts to keep me updated if anyone is writing on the subject of adoption. Otherwise, I follow links from new readers, incoming links and the links off of regularly read blogs!
I didn’t know that having an online journal was considered blogging back when I started mine in 2001. As time progressed, I started to learn about the blogosphere and jumped in, feet first!
I honestly cannot tell you. Too long ago!
My Husband; his honesty, his love and his bravery. My Sons; each new thing they accomplish and discover encourage me to keep trying in my own walk. My Daughter’s Mom; her parenting and her love are an inspiration to us all. My Daughter; her smile and her eyes remind me that love can beat all odds.
The Chronicles of Munchkin Land (http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com)
I met my Husband! I think that’s pretty influential. I’ve also made friends, learned a lot about my own journey and been challenged to think outside of my own experience. That’s huge.
Filed under Parenting Blogs
