Often, when people ask me what I write about on my blog, I say ‘anything, everything, life, the kids…’, and they give me that look. The look that is a little suspicious, a little judgmental, a little wary. And I get the feeling they’re thinking, “You write about your kids?? You’re a terrible mother.”
I’ve also read somewhere (I can’t think where but I’m sure you’ll have read similar things), that parent blogs are exploitative. That we are using our kids to win friends and influence people, and make money. Seriously, I think some people see Parent Bloggers as no better than the people who shoved kids up chimneys or down mines or into mills.
But it’s just not true.
I think most of us bloggers write about our kids to remember stuff, to document their funny phrases, cute actions and the difficult moments that when we’ve come out the other side we can look back on and ponder and learn from.
It’s also a fantastic way to get advise and support when you’re struggling.
Of all the blogs I read that are written by parents I can honestly say that none of them would I deem exploitative in any way. Not at all, not one bit, ever.
And now I’ve got that off my chest, here is some gratuitous dancing from Miss E and M as I have a cold and can write no more.
Tee hee.
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February 6th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Ooh, dancing kids! Have some money! Be my friend! Influence me!
February 6th, 2009 at 10:29 am
You aren’t exploitative at all…ME, on the other hand…. I am guilty of hearing one of them say something and thinking: OOOOH that’s bloggable!
February 6th, 2009 at 10:46 am
I did try to sell my children to a chimney sweep once to make some extra cash for beer and wine but there were so many forms to fill in, medicals to undertake, insurance etc that I couldn’t be bothered in the end. Talk about Nanny State Britain!
February 6th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Let them eat stale cake, that what I say to anyone who disparages exploiting children
February 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
The Wiggles are exploiting our children!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
It’s natural if you have kids to want to talk about them, or write about them in the case of bloggers. It’s what parents/grandparents do.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Kylie Minougue has just recorded a song wiht the wiggles, she’ll probably be the Pink Wiggle (I’m not kidding).
February 6th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
~snigger~
You make a good point though. Brava!
February 6th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
yeah…I’ve heard it….and I do think it happens, but not among the bloggers I read.
I get sad then bloggers complain about their family ALL THE TIME. ugh….how hurtful for them.
LOVE the video. They are “getting down”!
February 7th, 2009 at 2:02 am
i heart you to bits, i think you know that. i heart your kids. i think you know that. what you don’t know is the depths to which i loathe the wiggles.
oh my bob how the loathing encircles me like a hamster ball. a hamster ball i use to run around chasing after them in hopes that one of the front end spikes will cause damage to their personage.
but only for a minute, because i don’t actually want to be within range of them or their dancing antics.
whereas i *did* enjoy the dancing on this post, i am ignoring the music.
February 7th, 2009 at 7:08 am
You go ahead and be exploitive all you want. You are providing us with a great deal of fun, after all. And little kids are to laugh about. That’s what makes them adorable to everybody. We just can’t help ourselves.
I suppose bloggers who write about their animals exploit them as well? They happen to be my best friends and an important part of my life and a constant source of humor. Is an animal activist going to come down on me now?
February 7th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Exploit away!
February 8th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Lilacs, see, it works. Mwah ha ha haaaa.
Lee, I do that too, but otherwise we’d forget this stuff right?
Dumdad, tsk, that is so annoying. ;D
Daryl, yep, stale cake and mouldy cheese.
Sybil, oh my bob, they are.
Akela that’s what I think. I wish I’d blogged earlier as I’e forgotten so much of Miss E’s crazy baby moments.
WT, noooooooo. Blimey, I wonder if we’ll get the pleasure of seeing it over here?
Kim, yay. A good point and dancing kids.
Corey they are sooooo getting down.
Holl, I have seen the Wiggles LIVE. You envy me really. I know.
Finely Tuned Woman, if they do I will set my kids on them. ;D
Iota, ok lovely.