This week I have been reading some of my favorite blogs and I kept thinking – I could have written that – That’s how I feel! Ever feel like that? 

Here is one of those statements:
From Casual Friday Everyday – in regards to children:

”I want them to look back on their childhood and only remember goodness.

To remember a Mom that wasn’t just physically there, but emotionally there. A Mom that was really, honestly connected to them. And a Mom who not only took the time to be there with them, be there doing things and making memories, but a Mom who always made them feel special and safe and important.”

So true… I am obviously very physically here for my children – I am pretty much ALWAYS with them (except for when two of them are in school.)  But if the kids are home, I am home with them – pretty much ALWAYS.  Once in awhile we leave them with a sitter (like 3-4 times a year).  BUT the question remains… am I doing all that I can for them and really connecting?  Am I making the best memories I can for them?  Or… are they going to remember a mom who was always working and too busy for play?  A mom who frequently said “just a minute” instead of “okay, let’s go and do that – right now!” “You are more important to me than my work.”    HMMMM something to continue to think about on my road to striving to be purposeful in all I do. 

In Nell’s post she also compares herself to other moms who seem to have it all together.  I agree… it is so easy to look at other moms and think “why can’t I have it all together like X”  Well… when truth comes down to it…  we are all human, we all have bad days, we all make mistakes.  If one mommy is looking like she is doing a better job (either via blog or real life) it probably means she isn’t showing you everything.  So let’s not be too hard on ourselves.  Deal?  Deal.

The whole thought of being real did stick out to me a couple months ago when a fellow blogger asked me “so what does it feel like to really have made it?”  My response “HUH?”  “There are so many other bloggers who are so much more popular than myself, and I don’t really feel like I have “really made it.” “ 

But then I started thinking… what do we portray on our blogs and even in real life to our friends?  We portray the good stuff.  The stuff that makes it look like our life is great and grand and “perfect” and that we have “really  made it.”  Everything can look good on the outside, but totally be falling apart behind closed doors.  I have seen this time again and again and again and again.  It was on my heart then, and it continues to be on my heart now – to be transparent, to be real.  But that takes courage, it takes guts.  My family, my friends, my neighbors, our church congregational members read my blog…  These are real life people, many who I see often, and I do not want to say or do anything which may be detrimental to those relationships – it’s not worth that.  Which brings me to a whole other point… I do it too, but why do we come so quick to judgmental conclusions when we do hear the blatant truth from each other?  I feel like I do fairly good at being understanding and not jumping to conclusions when a friend is transparent with me.  But.. have you ever had that experience where someone tells you something and you are loving and caring towards them at the time; but deep down, from that moment on, you know you will look at that person differently?  (not always in a good way?)   That my friend is what I fear when I am transparent with those I know.  Where do you draw the line…

I’m not the only one thinking about this…Consider Michele’s Post here and Kingdom Twindom’s post here with a call out for Bold Blogging.

I have blogged boldly before… I vow to try to do that a bit more frequently this year.   How about you?  How transparent are you on your blog or in real life with your friends?

C-

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 10:09 pm and is filed under The Menu Mom Chit Chat. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.