I know I normally try to keep my posts fun and light and not too personal, but this last week I have to tell you has kicked my you-know-what.
It was one of those weeks starting on Thursday with one child with a high fever and cough. By Friday night it became an up all night party at the "R" house, with 3 sick kids, fits, 4 nights of less that an hour of sleep, breathing treatments, whining and crying (mostly me.).
It's one of those event they don't tell you before you become a parent, and if they did, you wouldn't believe the horror.
I know we are going to all be fine. This too shall pass. I hope. It's just bad a virus. And I know after our Ped. appointment yesterday with two kiddies walking away on oral steroids and a refusal at my request for a sedative, I am blessed that my kids are inherently healthy, but while going through it, I have to admit, it's a nightmare. I can't imagine having a child who is seriously ill.
Then that brings me to my second thought on well, thoughts...
I always wonder how much personal info to share on my blog. Does it betray my blog if I step outside of the box and complain a little or share something personal that isn't a tutorial? I just read a book by a blogger in France called Petit Anglaise. She actually fell in love with commenter on her blog and left her partner. It's a good read, juicy, but I can't imagine going through the tragedy of the whole thing and sharing it with the world as she did in her daily posts.
I mean does any one really want to hear me complain? I don't like to listen to me myself. How much information do you share or do you think is too much?
Well my good friends, in my own defense, I did have some great posts ready for you this week , but they may be a bit slow in coming.
Sometimes that whole "real life" thing really gets in the way.
jen
Posts
Jen, it's those small carefully chosen tidbits of your life that make you so human to us. If you didn't slip a bit of it in once in a while, we'd all think you were this amazing super woman of DIY/craft world who never had any problems or hit any roadblocks. We wouldn't like you so much if you were really that super lady. Chin up, lady! We love you out here because you are human!
ReplyDeleteI am very open and honest on my blog. I think that you have to be true to yourself and what your heart/brain tells you. I am in the middle of telling about my daddy's cancer and how my ex left me 17 years ago. I cannot tell the stories all at once so they are spaced out. But, I want people to see that I have gone through a bad place (kicking and screaming and crying and saying WHY ME GOD) and I have come through a much better person with lots and lots of blessings.
ReplyDeleteIt's like your story. My babies are grown but girl I totally understand this post! You hang in there! Just think, you have shown some other mommy blogger that this is real life with kids and you get through it. You lean on your net friends for kind words cause you do the same thing for them when they post what is going on.
Oh my, I am totally wordy today. Sorry about that but this is an issue I faced when I decided to show the blog world who I really am and I have not regreted it.
~and a refusal at my request for a sedative~ LOL...best line!!
hope all is better today!
See, that is the whole jist of it. Sometimes life does get in the way. I feel for ya. I hate having my kids sick. I do cherish all the love and support that I get from my blogland girlfriends. If you can't gripe and complain to your girlfriends who can you go to? I don't feel that deterring from being a decorating blog is such a bad thing. It isn't always a bed of roses!
ReplyDeleteHope that everyone gets better soon. Love the pic of the girls looking out the window!
I have to agree with anon. I think we have a unique dynamic here in blogland, wherein we consider people "friends" and yet we have never even met them in person. And to go a step further, there are a select few blogger that I consider "close friends", ones that I feel I know on a deeper level because of something that they posted about, or a comment they left me, that I connected with. I've shared alot of personal things on my blog, but I think that's what people are sometimes drawn to. The tutorials are fun and inspiring too, but adding something personal, just makes it that much better. Having said all that (maybe too much!), I hope things get better for you Jen, and believe me, we have ALL been there! Good luck dear.
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Kim
Jen,
ReplyDeleteI'm with "Anonymous." You're just a girl after all. (as my kids used to tell me when I had a meltdown) We're with you!
we never feel quite'big enough ourselves' to deal with our kids being sick.. no sleep etc.. phew.. you are just a human too!.. jus' wouldn't be right if we never saw that!.. hope your babies are better soon!!
ReplyDeleteYou're a REAL person, why not share a bit of REAL life here on your blog. I like to see the real side of bloggers. :) Hope everyone is on the mend at your house.
ReplyDeleteHey you are a mom first and a blogger somewhere down the list. I wouldn't say life got in the way. I'd say life is the way and blogging about decor had to take a backseat this time.
ReplyDeleteI hope your pack of kids feels better soon and that you are able to catch up on some much needed sleep. You go super mommy.
tammy
I'm new to blog world and we just moved to a new state, so I've glommed onto this blog like a desperate fiend. I often wonder if some of these blogsters are real. Their lives always seem so together and perfect...I relish seeing that you have problems and melt downs like I do. Hope you get those sedatives next trip to dr. You can never have too many legal drugs on hand for emergencies. :o)
ReplyDeleteJen,
ReplyDeleteAnon hit it didn't she? I, too, am careful to keep my private whoas off my blog for the most part, but sometimes it feels good to share/vent, and I think people feel more of a connection when you write personal tidbits. I sure hope everybody is feeling better real soon!
On another note, if you have the time, please come by my blog for my 200th post giveaway - it is Anthropologie!
:)Heidi
I follow blogs that are sort of eclectic in their subject matter. So, anything that is shared is taken in the spirit that it is given!
ReplyDeleteI only have 2 sons and they are 5 yrs. apart. Their whole childhood, none of the 3 of us was EVER ill at the same time. And I can truthfully say, no one was ever ill after the other (you know, one gets well and the other comes down with it). Crazy. So, I REALLY sympathize with those who have multiple family members ill at the same time! I can't imagine! It was bad enough with one of us being ill. Maybe God only gave ME what I could handle!
Oh, Jen- I hear you, girl. My fam was sick-sick-sick a couple of weeks ago and it was a complete nightmare. It was a bad stomach bug (which could have been completely avoided if my MIL hadn't decided to stick her fork in my baby's mouth within 24 hours of having the bug herself, but I'm not bitter...) that went through every member of my family. Illnesses like that always make me wonder how single moms kep their sanity with sick kids. Anyway, I'll pray that you're all healhty soon!
ReplyDeleteI think it 's good to post these kinds of real life things! It's good to be able to vent to people who understand...those of us with kids have all been there and completely get it! You should be able to post whatever you feel like posting on any given day...it's all these little life events that tie us to one another.
ReplyDeleteI like to hear about the person behind the tutorials. Knowing that there is a real person behind the great projects makes me like the person, and the projects, even more. It makes you relateable. But that's just my humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteThis just makes me love you even more Jen, this shows that we are all human, and all mothers 1st! I am very open on my blog, that is how I wanted it from day one, so for you to have a bad day (or 4 bad nights) is only human, and we are here for you to vent to! Love you!
ReplyDeleteI think its hysterical! I remember when my son had the rotavirus I thought this is the worst feeling in the world...will it ever end? 14 days of fever, puke and diarrhea. I just thought if I can get through this I can get through anything haha!
ReplyDeleteIts just all part of the wonderfulness that is you.... I don't find it complaining at all, just sharing~ It is just life, something we all go through-- just showing us all that we are not alone, even though we are "alone" when we are holding the hair of our little girls while they get sick.... where is everyone then???? lol
ReplyDelete*big hug*
~Cheryl
I agree with everyone above. Life is life, it is REAL. Not always rosy and happy and bubbly! Not by a long shot!!
ReplyDeleteI think it makes me feel like, hey, I'm not the only one!!
Have a great day and I hope everyone is better!
Lou Cinda
Oh you poor thing, its so hard to take care of one sick kiddo at a time, but all at once? I hope you get some rest.
ReplyDeleteI like to hear about the "real life" stories behind the art work, decor, or crafts. Sometimes blogs give a false sense of perfection, and we all know that life isn't really like that!!
I think it makes you human.
ReplyDeleteJust between you and me...some blogs sound too good to be true. Kind of like the annual Christmas letter that comes in some Christmas Cards.
Oh don't worry Jen, you're just "keepin' it real" and believe me, we all have our own "real" and remember, your blog is YOURS...I hope you all get to feeling better soon, I've been there, done that with all of our five boys ~ I had one night that they all were "sick" in their beds, one right after the other...and then up all night...ugh. But you're right, this too shall pass!!! Hugs and love, Dawn
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to know that the bloggers I follow for creative purposes have the same "crazy life" moments that I have too. Thanks for sharing. I hope your family gets feeling better SOON!!
ReplyDeleteI am SO sorry---sometimes being a parent takes you to the edge...
ReplyDeleteafter having been a teacher, I would NEVER home school---not with my crew... I looked forward to letting someone else deal with them---oh! did I just say that out loud???
I'm sorry your little chicks are sick. It kinda makes everyone miserable doesn't it?
Hope they're running and playing soon---OUTSIDE!
annie
ps
thanks for stopping by!
Oh jen sorry to hear your children are sick... all at once too, sending get well wishes your way, and by the way, we are all hear to give you a cyber hug when life sidetackes you!!
ReplyDeletexo,
LuLu
It's great to be positive and creatively inspiring most of the time, but real life does get in the way and nothing wrong with sharing. Having several small children sick at the same time definitely does a number on you. Those darling pajama clad girls looking out the window is adorable though! It's amazing how sharing makes everything better. Hope everyone is on the mend now. Blessings, Tammy
ReplyDeleteHi Jen
ReplyDeleteJUst stopped by to say how much I loved meeting you yesterday! Along with ??? I am so embarrassed but I don't think I ever got her name and does she have a blog? We talked up a storm and I didn't get such vital information. I so apologize. If you could send me that info, thanks so much
Blessings
Jen, sorry to hear it's been a rough go over there at the "R" house...I hope everyone is feeling much better (and you're getting more sleep - yikes)!! I hear ya with the breathing treatments and oral steroids...we've been going thru the exact same thing with my son...he's basically had a cough ALL Winter, so I am taking him to the allergy and asthma specialist on Fri.
ReplyDeleteAs far as what you should put on your blog, I say it's just that, YOUR blog and if you feel like writing about something other than DIY projects, go for it! People will still want to keep reading!!
Hang in there ~
:) T
Jen,
ReplyDeleteLook what you endured! Sick kidos, no sleep,and being, maybe, a little scared (concerned) with the high temps.
You have every right to complain. You are normal!
Someone else needed to hear what you went through, just to know they aren't alone because they just went through it also!
Now, go get some rest.
Jen,
ReplyDeletemy heart goes out to you with everyone sick at once. that is tough. I hope when everyone is better you treat yourself to something special for you! you deserve it!
I kind of think our blogs evolve as we evolve and what ever direction you choose is good, because it is you!
You are so inspiring to so many!
Best wishes for a healthy house hold!!
Wendy
I hope everyone is feeling better in your home! It's so stressful when everyone is sick all at once. Especially when lack of sleep is involved.
ReplyDeleteI personally really enjoy the tidbits of your personal life tucked in between your creative projects every now and then. It makes you...human. I mean, we all like humans, right? It's always nice to know we aren't the only ones who can be too tired, too cranky, and more than a little imperfect sometimes. At least, I do!
I am so sorry that it had been such a bad week! Those weeks when I don't sleep because the kids are sick is borderline psycho:-)
ReplyDelete