WHEN YOUR MUM BECOMES A SUBSCRIBER

You know your anonymous blogging days are over when your mum becomes a subscriber to your blog


ANONYMOUS - I DON'T THINK SO!

The funny thing about starting this blog was that I never expected anybody to read it. I thought it would be good to have a space online where I could record my thoughts and one day go back and read them - something for posterity was probably my other thought. I didn't use my name or my photo and I thought I was flying under the radar. Even my husband didn't know I'd become a "Blogger".

BLOGGING BUDDIES

As time has gone along, I've been amazed to connect into a giant network of other bloggers who are sharing their lives and encouraging me to share mine. I have gradually gotten braver with time and it's wonderful seeing comments, interacting on Facebook sites and generally making friends all over Australia and the rest of the world.

I still felt safely anonymous because I genuinely believed that none of my family or friends knew I wrote a blog and none of them would be interested in my meandering thoughts even if they knew about them. It was quite a big leap for me to start a Facebook Page for my blog because it would mean some overflow with my personal page and people might wonder what all this Cresting the Hill stuff was. (By now my poor husband had read enough to know that his wife was happily sharing their life all over the internet - and was quietly resigned to the fact!)

LIKE MINDED FRIENDS

What amazed me was when some of my friends told me they read my blog regularly. A few told me they had very similar experiences with their marriages and with the ups and downs leading up to midlife and where we are today. What??? When did that happen??? You mean I'm not the only midlifer who has weathered a bunch of storms??? What a relief!! And to think I assumed I had complete anonymity....

The next step was my daughter reading stuff and by then I was so used to having my life on display that it didn't matter. I email my kids with anything I'm going to write that mentions them because I'd hate to embarrass them in any way, and they are cool with what their strange mother/mother-in-law does with her spare time. Probably a little bemused occasionally but that's fine too.

AND NOW MY MUM!

Now I have reached another milestone......my 75 year old mother has bought herself an IPad and entered the world of cyberspace. First she was surfing Facebook like a pro - she has 'friended' and investigated everyone she is related to, is an IRL friend with, or has travelled with. She is working her way into the wonderful world of Pinterest too. And the other day she asked me how to read my blog!

So, with much fear and trepidation, I sent her a link and she went on a blogging binge. Apparently (after previously mocking my time wasting - "who would read stuff like that") she started reading my posts, and emerged an hour or so later and is now a convert. I'm a bit scared that she'll figure out how to comment and then I might really be in trouble! I also wondered what I'd written about her previously, but I think I'm fairly safe with a Mothers Day post and a couple of other references - I'll soon find out if I'm in trouble! She's sure to hate the photo I've use of her in my header - but I think she's look pretty darn good for a hip and happening, IPad using great-grandmother.

"One of the most important relationships we have is the relationship we have with our mother" - Iyanla Vanzant
Mum and me in Barcelona a few years ago
You know your anonymous blogging days are over when your mum becomes a subscriber to your blog


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Midlife Monday - www.crestingthehill.com.au

39 comments

  1. I think it's lovely that your mum wants to read your blog. Every now and then a friend or family member will mention that they have read my blog and I am usually in shock, because they never leave a comment to let me know so I assume they don't read it!

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    1. I'm the same Janet - if I had friends who blogged I'd be reading them all the time so I had the inside story on their lives. Obviously other people aren't as bizarrely curious as me!

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  2. That's great that your mum is now reading your blog. My Mother is 97 and mostly blind. I tell her about it, but she doesn't completely understand what blogging is all about.

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    1. My mum didn't get it either Jennifer - until she discovered the joys of the internet, and I think she likes the insight it gives into my world.

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  3. fantastic. My dad is one of my most loyal readers and my mom just bought her first tablet. Its cute.

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    1. It is rather nice seeing them embrace all the scary technology and watching them discover how much fun it is.

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  4. Four years… Maybe seven… I had a blog and no one in the family read it. They knew about it they just chose not to and I was good with that :-) and then one morning I woke up to mail chimp subscriptions from my parents. And things have never been the same :-)

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    1. I know what you mean Carla - it's a little bit of censorship - you have to think "what would mum say?" and perhaps word it a little differently - fortunately my mum is pretty open minded!

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  5. I think that is sweet that your mom is now reading your blog. I love that my adult son sometimes will mention he has read something. I too touch base with them if I am going to say anything about them. What almost made me cry is when my son told me he had recommended my blog to a couple of friends in my niche.

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    1. That's so lovely that he recommends you Tamara :) My friend told me the other day that her daughter reads my blog - I was kind of chuffed at the idea of a 30 year old finding something worthwhile in what I write.

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  6. Now get her to comment. I follow a blogger for years and her Mother comments and always mentions she is the author's Mother and it is heart warming to read her comments still after all these years cheering her girl on! I don't think anyone in my family reads my blog. If they do they don't comment.

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    1. I thought the same Haralee, but occasionally my daughter will say she read something. I guess my midlife isn't all that exciting to my children! I'm going to give mum a lesson on commenting when she's visiting next - so stay tuned!

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  7. Leanne, Your Mom's adorable... like you. I started blogging the same way, thinking I'd post a little bit, here and there. I guess the laugh was on both of us!

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    1. Isn't it funny Laurie how we thought we were alone in this whole blogging gig - the laugh was definitely on us!!

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  8. How wonderful that your mom is a reader of your blog! I'm afraid my inner censor would rear her head if my mom were still alive and reading my blog (or at least there would be topics--namely about my mother's bad behavior over the years--that I likely wouldn't address, at least not as candidly as I have).

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    1. There is definitely an element of "oh oh, what have I written in the past?" Especially since she went back and read heaps of my old stuff. Hopefully she'll still be speaking to me after all of this :)

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  9. oh OH OH do I feel this. Luckily you are lovely. As your mom already knows.

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    1. That's a very kind comment Anna - I think she was still a bit rattled about my interpretation of past events - but hey, it's my blog and my thoughts so I guess she'll have to go with the flow :)

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  10. Awww this is so sweet Leanne! I only wish my mother was around to read my shenanigans! LOL Get that mum of yours blogging! ;)

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    1. I'm not sure that the blogging world is ready for my mum Bren - she's become a demon on Facebook and Pinterest - who knows what would happen if she started sharing the gory details of her colourful life on a blog! She might end up on Ellen :)

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  11. I gave Mum a copy of my last book for Christmas - now *that's* confronting!

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    1. Holy Cow! That's the whole thing in a bite sized bundle Jo! You were brave indeed :)

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  12. I am so glad that I don't have to worry about that. I think some of my family reads to snoop, but not for any real interest. Your mom is beautiful. It's great that she is embracing technology. Next she'll be starting her own blog!

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    1. I am a bit worried about her doing the whole blogging thing Rena - I'm not sure the internet is ready for my mum to start over-sharing her life :) And I know your mum (in her better days) would have been an avid reader of your blog x

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  13. My sister subscribed and then read me the riot act for being to personal on my blog.

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    1. Mum did get a bit titchy about some of the stuff I've written - but it was my life and my memories (and she doesn't come off too badly) so I guess they have to suck it up :) I hope your sister recovered!

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  14. I know this is quite confrontational when "someone" we know reads (and comments!) on the blog...But I have ensured over the past 3 years that nothing on the blog is a surprise to my family. I have, however, used the blog to be honest about some of the difficulties I have faced in transitioning life and in my way, it's for any family members or friends to get a greater understanding of how things are because face to face convos are far more difficult. It is what it is! Nevertheless my blog only ever mentions family IF I have their permission and IF there are no easy identifiers. I am incredibly careful to protect privacy. My 93 year old dad has never read the blog on-line because he has no interest in connecting that way but he loves it when I print off some of my posts that are part of my life history and he has interest and he gets to read them on paper and I think he shares them with friends. I like that! Thanks for linking up for #lifethisweek 6/52. Next week: LOVE. Denyse

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    1. I know exactly what you mean Denyse - it's about being honest and true to ourselves but also taking the feelings of other people into consideration. Being hurtful doesn't make things better and doesn't change history. Blogging for me is about sharing the journey - and I always check my family is okay with what I write too.

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  15. Well, well, well look what you started. I bet you never imagined how far your musing would travel. I am commenting from Switzerland. Like me, I am glad your mom discovered your your blog. She will be your biggest fan.

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    1. Wow Pat!! You are definitely a long way away from Australia! Thanks for stopping by and for the encouragement - my mum seems to like what I write and the way I write it, so fingers crossed it stays that way :)

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  16. So wonderful that your Mom likes commenting and being in cyberspace. That is great.
    Thanks for sharing at over The Moon party,
    Bev

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    1. I think it's great that she's discovered the internet while she's still bright enough to enjoy it and get the interaction that it provides Bev.

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  17. I am Leanne's mother. I am so very proud of what she is doing with her blog. Who thought up the word blog? Anyway I must say how much I enjoy reading her thoughts, although some from the past have made me quite sad when she writes about her father and his lack of parenting care. There really is no excuse for poor parenting and I am guilty of catering to the needs of my husband perhaps more than the needs of my three children. Yes times were different and a 20 year old mother is pretty clueless when comes to rearing a family. All that aside I love my kids dearly. Now and always.

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    1. Hello Faye, Leanne's mum. Now I know where Leanne got her beautiful smile, just like yours. You are so right that you cannot shine today's light on a past era that was a totally different world. We all have hangups and like Leanne encourages us, we learn and move on. None of us had the perfect childhood neither are we perfect parents. The trick for us all is to be humble, thankful and forward thinking as you have displayed in your comment.
      All the best,
      Kathleen

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    2. Kathleen, you said that SO well! Thanks for your kind words and the fact that you understand the importance of acknowledging the hurt of our past, while choosing to move forward and putting it behind us. It's so easy to make excuses and to try to explain things away, but it is what it is, and we learn not to repeat those things that caused us pain. (and thank you too for the lovely compliment on our smiles) xxx

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  18. Love it Leanne and hey, who knows, she might just start blogging too! Saw your link at Blogger’s Pit Stop #60.

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    1. Who knows Dee? I never know what she'll get up to next!

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  19. WOW! I wonder when I am going to have this privilege. Though I get a lot of from my mom, she has not taken this needed step

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  20. Thank you ladies for your kind comments. I am so very proud of my daughter Leanne the way she has cherished her family and been such a loving caring mother. No, I can't see myself blogging at this time in my life, but you never know. I am not sure the world could stand the revelations that might be revealed.

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.