So you guys know how I love finding out about people (the journalist in me) well this week I chatted to Charlotte over at The Stiletto Mum , she is part of the SA MOM BLOGS network and her blog is a great read.
She is one of the most honest bloggers I have ever come across and you find yourself really relating to her..
Here is what she has to say about blogging:
-What made you decide to blog?
When my eldest was a baby it was just the two of us, I had time to scrapbook every moment of her life. By the time I had my second we were a family of four with my BF working two jobs so I never had to time to continue with the scrapbooking. I felt it wasn’t fair. I started my first blog called “Imperfect Mom” but I did a total of 2 posts and left it to join Moomie (a parenting forum that can be found at www.moomie.co.za). Moomie was great, but I still felt that I’m not doing for my second that I did for my first and one day I found WordPress and started “Scaredmom’s Blog” I blogged at scared mom for just under 3 years. The Stilettomum was born because I was no longer scared of parenting and I knew who I was and what I wanted out of life. Now I blog about taking on life, love and parenting one stiletto clad step at a time.
-What was your concept behind the whole thing?
An online diary for my children so that they can see their childhood through my eyes but somehow over the last couple of years my blog became a place where I blog about my custody and maintenance struggles. I was open about everything and gave advice to so many people. I loved it. I have moved back to mostly blogging about my children and myself.
-Did you find yourself nervous at prospect of letting people into your life in this way?
I have always been very open, so the idea of people looking into my life did not bother me much.
-Do you ever worry that your kids will be like “mom why are you exposing my life?” (I worry sometimes)?
As Amandalynn got older I mostly ask her if I can post x,y,z. She knows about the blog and sometimes I will show it to her on my tablet. Both my kids have Facebook pages and I tag them in every photo I take of them. People tend to think that is a bit much, but now when they turn 13 and I allow them access to the World Wide Web their entire lives will be there. I think it is awesome, maybe they will hate it, maybe not, but I will cross that bridge when I get there.
-Does your family read your blog?
My aunts read my blog and most of my friends read it as well. They aren’t always happy about what I post, but they need to then deal with it or stop reading.
-What do you hope to achieve through the blog?
I’m not doing this to make money, I’m doing this for myself and for my children. I want to be able to look back when they are all grown up and think about how good life was/is. I have started putting my book in PDF format, I want to print it in book form for my girls.
-What do you think about the blogging culture in South Africa?
I have met a couple of blogging moms and they are awesome. I do not really follow any other kind of blogs. I cannot really comment on the culture in SA but the culture for moms is we help each other and support each other.
-What do you think makes for a “good blog”
Honesty. You cannot be all happy all the time. Be honest.
-How do you personally measure success in the blogging world?
I often get emails from moms about my struggle and how honest I am. That for me is success, if my struggle helps other then my blog is a success.
*Thanks Charlotte you rock and I love the fb idea 🙂
