Reflections On My "Baby's" First Year

www.crazedinthekitchen.com

In just a few weeks, I’ll be celebrating my “blogiversary:” My blog-baby will be one year old. And, like many parents do when facing their child’s first birthday, I’ve done some reflecting on the past year.

(No, this is not going to be a “letter to my blog on its first birthday” post. Sorry. I get why parents do that on their kids’ birthdays, but it’s not my thing. I’m more of a “have a big drink and send up a little prayer of thanks that I managed to keep the kid alive for a year” type.)

ANYWAY…

As is true with parenting, I’ve learned quite a lot from my first year of blogging. I’ve learned how to use the blogger.com platform—a feat in itself. I’ve learned to put myself out there using facebook, twitter, and various blogging communities. I’ve learned to carry a notebook and pen with me absolutely EVERYWHERE, because my kids are so good at giving me blogging material, I swear they do it in their sleep. (I’m not even kidding—just wait until I get around to writing about what happens when I take my 4-year-old on his middle-of-the-night potty trips.)

But most of all, this year of blogging has taught me to find the funny in almost any situation—even ones that seem awful or embarrassing at the time. Is every living creature in my house pooping simultaneously, and they all require some form of butt-wiping by me? Call it “the perfect storm of poop”—and write about it. Did I really just write my contact info on the back of a grocery list that features “YEAST CREAM” as one of its items—and then hand it off to a potential new friend? Make a note to start calling it “athlete’s foot cream”—and write about it. Did I give the neighbors a show by running the garbage cans out to the curb in my jammies as the garbage truck approached? Buy some pajama jeans for next week’s show—and write about it.

I’ve written some posts I’m really proud of in my year of blogging. I’ve built a bit of an audience, and I’ve even been paid to do it once or twice. But, despite all that, I consider my biggest achievement as a blogger to be being a contestant on Blogger Idol. Not because of the prizes I could win or the feedback I’ve been given each week, though those things are all great. No, the best part of being on Blogger Idol is how it has pushed me out of my funny-mom-blog comfort zone—sometimes with a gentle nudge (writing as a male), and sometimes with an enormous shove (writing a tutorial on breeding unicorns). Week after week I’ve found myself trying something new—something that I’m sure I wouldn’t have tried if I were just writing posts for my blog.

Because of Blogger Idol, I’ve learned that I can write about serious issues that strike a chord with many readers, like lung cancer and breastfeeding. I’ve learned that I can write imaginative pieces, like a day in the life of my family as superheroes. I’ve learned that writing about things that make me sad, like memories of my mom, can be just as rewarding as writing about things that make me laugh. I know that the growth I’ve experienced through Blogger Idol will affect the content of my blog going forward, and I’m excited about that. Yes, I’ll still write about my kids and my life as a stay-at-home-mom, but that won’t be ALL I’ll write about. I have ideas and opinions about topics far beyond the scope of my home, and I can’t wait to put those passions into words on my blog. Blogger Idol has given me the confidence to do that, and for that I am so grateful.

So, if this were AMERICAN Idol, I think Simon or whoever is judging these days would say that sure, I hit a few wrong notes and was a bit pitchy at times. But I left my comfy world of kids, poop, and laundry over and over again and somehow managed to find the right combination of technicality and creativity to land here, in the final three. Family humor may still be my strength, but in my second year of blogging I’ll be taking on new challenges, trying new genres. I am incredibly proud of how I’ve grown through this experience. Thank you, Blogger Idol, for making me a better—and BRAVER—writer.

Thank you for reading! Please click here to return to the voting page--and vote for Crazed in the Kitchen! Thank you!

 

From the Judges:

Growth is such an amazing thing! Glad to see that you aren't afraid to venture out of your comfort zone as a writer. There is so much more to this gig than just poop and snot. I suppose if I were to give you any constructive criticism here, it would be to lay off the parenthesis. Sometimes they just aren't necessary. I thought this was a great post! Good job.
-You Know It Happens At Your House Too (Guest Judge)

I still remember your audition. It was the one that I judged all others by. I thought that day that you would be a force in this competition and I certainly was not wrong. Like I said in another critique we can't really judge these. Only you can judge yourself at this point. Keep doing what you are doing because you are striking the right chord with the audience.
-Daddy's in Charge?

I love that you were able to pick such a specific thing that Blogger Idol has accomplished for you: Being a braver writer.  I'm also really glad to hear that you can already see how this experience will affect the future of your blog and your writing.  Nicely done.
-Spaghetti Westerner (Last year's champ!)

love that you have found it rewarding to write outside of your comfort zone. I read your blog before this competition. And I can honestly say my favorite posts of yours have been your more serious ones. It's been great seeing you push yourself as a writer and discover new things about yourself through all of this. Great job as always.
-Daddy Knows Less (Almost last year's champ...)

Unlike DKL, I loved your humorous posts. I think that not unlike the singing competition, the judges and fans that have stuck by throughout the process have watched you grow as a writer. Good job.
-SooperDad Blog of Awesomeness

Yes! I'm excited that you feel you've become a better and braver writer. This competition did the same for me. Writing for prompts can be very difficult, but you've done a great job of it. Some will say that a blog needs to corner a niche audience, but I believe that a consistently strong style and voice is even more important. Continue to branch out. You're a good writer.
-From the Bungalow