Yesterday, I was accused of ignoring this blog. And that when I did post, I was 'phoning it in'.
It was 3am when the accusation came through. I tossed and turned, sleep impossible as the damaging words rebounded in my skull.
Who would be so cruel as to say such a thing? And at such an ungodly hour?
You know who, don't you?
Yeah. It was me.
I love this blog. And I have spent the past year working to build it into something I am proud of.
But as I learnt all too well when moving house prevented me from blogging consistently for over a month, the number of visitors will drop right off if you don't keep up the pace. And if you've set yourself a pace best described as 'cracking' then in times of stress, it's easy to become overwhelmed.
At the moment? I am overwhelmed. I am running on emptier than empty. And nothing much is striking me as amusing. Which is problematic when part of your schtick is to make with the funny.
It is times like these that I really consider giving the blog the arse. I have two small, relentlessly demanding children. They are a full time job.
Running a successful blog? That's a full time endeavour, too. But at best, it gets squashed into the spare moments around being the mumma. Which is fine because I enjoy it. Normally. But when life's regular programming is interrupted, I wonder if I have set myself an impossible task. Maybe starting a blog about being a mum would have been smarter when I'd pissed at least one of the kids off to school?
Anyway, I'm here tonight and feeling okay. And even though my posting has been sporadic at best, each time I write something new, up goes the visitor count, loyal readers popping in to see what The Little Mumma is up to. I can't tell you how that makes my heart sing. To know that I am not just screaming into the void.
So helloooooooooooo! And thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Before I go, let me tell you what I discovered today as I did our taxes. Having a housekeeper is a TAX OFFSET. And so is having a child housekeeper – that is, a housekeeper who is also your child. It all seemed vaguely creepy to me but after investigating some more and discovering it's legit, I have decided to adopt a 19-year-old who I will love as my very own….maid.
Clean house and tax break? Where do I sign?
(Insert picture of sexy young pool* cleaner here)
* We do not have a pool but I am a fan of 1970s porn**
** I am not a fan of 1970s porn***
*** I have never actually seen any 1970s porn but I hear there were pool cleaners and funky tunes****
**** What's not to like about sexy pool cleaner porn set to the beats of a bygone era?*****
***** I am a fan of 1970s porn – on principle
I can relate (both to needing a half naked pool cleaner & to not being able to keep up a blog). Apart from the fact that I find it excruciatingly hard to string a sentence together these days, it’s exhausting being a mumma to two young buds. Bloody exhausting. I am exhausted just thinking about it 🙁
But, I do love your blog – I love your witt, your honesty and your ability to make me feel slightly sane by showcasing your insane- ness (and I mean that in the nicest possible way, because this motherhood gig has sent me crazy too!!)
Sooooo, please don’t ditch the blog just yet. Just lower your expectations of yourself – you don’t have to blog every day or every second day. Just blog when you WANT to and the readers that matter will still be there waiting for you!
Blogging from the heart is not about quantity, it’s quality and that goes for traffic too!
Ps – I’m dying to know what part of melbourne you live in. Not because I want to stalk you, just curious. Im in the inner north 🙂
Oh, Jess! I am squeezing you against my all but destroyed (but formerly fabulous) bosom.
Of course you would understand where I am coming from. I think anyone who tries to do ANYTHING as well as mothering two or more small children understands. There are only so many hours in the day and at some point, a body just gives up, doesn’t it?
And the mental exhaustion is worse! How I manage to write anything ever is amazing.
Thank you for your support, Jess. You’re a love. xxx
I’m one of those loyal readers 😉 Now, can I just say this – it’s your honesty, every time you post in your blog, that keeps the readers coming back. Your honesty here is just another example of what many of us can relate to, and what keeps us coming back 🙂 Through good times and bad, I always find something here that I can relate to – something with which I find myself nodding my head in agreement. Keep on keepin’ it real 🙂 xx
I know, I know … and don’t think I’m judging because I’m struggling too and I’m not anywhere near as prolific as yourself. I’ve been trying to write something for about two weeks now and it just isn’t happening. I’m in the process of clearing out the physical clutter so perhaps I will feel better once purged and able to think straight.
Then again, maybe one of the kids will come down with something and I’ll be up for five nights straight as I was last time. Maybe this, in the words of the film, is really As Good As It Gets.
But please don’t worry … whenever you write, we’ll be there. This stray cat ain’t goin’ nowhere.
We’re practically neighbours, my love. xxx
Yes, you are. And thank you for that.
Relating is crucial – and never more so than when we become mothers. So thanks, Bilby, for what amounts to a pretty huge compliment in my eyes. xxx
Mel, if you leave me, can I come, too?
I have been catching up with you. Apologies for my absence. Sorry about R – sick kids put the kybosh on EVERYTHING. Hope he’s on the mend soon, lovey.
Good luck with the writing. I will be checking to see how that’s coming along. No pressure. Like, really, NONE. xxx
I lurk and read when I can.. That usually means I read a few at a time, but hey I’m here 🙂
You are here. And for that, I am making virtual love to you. Or something.
Angie it must seem at times like you are pouring your heart out to nobody, but believe me you have such an impact on so many lives. I’ve been following you (not in the creepy stalking way) for only a few short months, but god I love it when I see a post from you, and I can’t wait to read it! It doesn’t matter how often you post, only that you do occasionally feel the need to splurge your thoughts and feelings, which make me laugh out loud, and make me feel as though I’m not the only mumma in Melbourne questioning my sanity and struggling along whilst adoring my child and not wishing to change a thing! We are grateful for your blog, we support you, and we will be here to read you whenever you’re ready. Lisa
I have a feeling there a many, many readers who will never give up on you – why would they? Too much of a good thing going here. It’s not the quantity of posts that keeps people coming back, it’s the quality.
You. Are. Awesome. Don’t forget it.
Lisa, to be honest, I feel very lucky to have the readers I do. No matter how far apart my posts are, whenever I write something new, the traffic here spikes. And even when I’m not writing, still people pop in to see what they might have missed. I am so grateful for that.
Prior to moving, the traffic was higher but that’s also because I was writing more often. It’s all normal stuff but just a bit disheartening because I had worked so hard to build it up to that point.
But I always know I am ‘talking’ to someone. I have a lot of loyal readers and appreciate every single one of you!
Thank you, lady. You’re the best. xxx
I agree with MJ – it’s the quality that keeps people coming back. You make me laugh on a regular basis, except when you make me cry . . . but not in a bad way. More in a sympathetic, “I’m with you” kinda way. Keep on keeping on.
Welcome back Little Mumma.
I’m with everyone else Angie, you rock. I get excited everytime I get your latest blog. Yours is the only blog I read. You always make me laugh, even when I’m crying. I only have one bub who is demanding as hell so the fact that you manage to write at all when you have two is truly remarkable.
Looking forward to your next installment, whenever that may be 🙂