Mummy bloggers do it with integrity. But I'm a daddy. Mwah-ha-ha-ha-har!
No. Be serious for a moment. It's time to tell you something. Something important. Something relevant. (There's a first time for everything.) I've been meaning to do it for some time. You could probably have guessed it. But I'm going to say it just to make sure.
I am entirely responsible for all this drivel; nobody writes this stuff but me. I write what I want, I edit if I can be bothered and I publish without anyone's permission but my own. Like many mummy/daddy bloggers lately, I'm sometimes sent stuff to review or asked to mention something. If I want to, I will. If I don't I won't. And if I do I'll say exactly what I think, you can rest assured of that.
As a man (at least, the last time that I looked) I take an unseemly interest in the charts, league-tables and comparisons that abound at present. (Number 16 at the mo, in case you're wondering!) But as a technological ignoramus (you tell them Violet Posy) I haven't got a clue about that SEO stuff, still less the interest to massage the figures. I seldom look to see how people 'landed' here, which search terms led them to what page, how long they stayed, where they went to once they had finished or what they'd had for dinner. Perhaps I should. Perhaps I would if I was in the least bit professional about it.
But I'm not. In the best sense of the word, I'm an amateur. I do this for pleasure. It's wonderful - for once - not to be beholden to anyone for something; not to have performance targets hanging like a Damoclean sword above your head; and not being enslaved to someone else's deadlines. I'm delighted that what began as a personal record of my career change to full-time fatherhood has evolved into something other people sometimes want to read. I try not analyse the reasons for that too closely. I'm just delighted to be part of a growing blogging community, exchanging anecdotes, sharing the good times as well as bad, offering mutual support and helping overcome the isolation of being at home with young children.
Ultimately, though, there's only one thing that keeps me blogging. There's only one thing that gives meaning to those blogging stats or helps explain the PR pitches. The most rewarding thing about the worldwide surge of interest in parent blogs is this. Forget politics or the economy; shelve that stuff about rising crime and global warming for a moment. There is something more important. It's the most important thing that most of us will ever do. It's the future. It's bringing up our children.
Who wouldn't want to read about that?
Now I have to tell you something. I'm glad you take responsibility for your own words, I agree with you about our kids, I came here via Rachel, Clareybabble & goonerjamie, I keep coming back, and I'm going to have Hoisin Chicken Stir-fry with Hokkien noodles for dinner.
ReplyDeletePhew... I feel so much better.
Too right, and well said.
ReplyDeleteVery well said, Tim, and a timely reminder that we have the most important job in the world!
ReplyDeleteHear, hear! I could have copied that out verbatim on my blog because that's exactly how I feel about the whole blogging business. The only differnce is I haven't been sent any stuff from companies or PR agencies to review. Any breweries out there interested?
ReplyDeleteSpot on Tim. It's your blog and you can write what you like and I like what you write, very much. Brilliant post and a great reminder about why we blog.
ReplyDeleteBravo! Another great scribble!!!
ReplyDeleteThe blogging community is bril. You can swap stories, read others tales, ask advice.
It is great support when bringing up a family, which is by far the hardest job I've ever done!
Love RMxx
Spot on, we all blog for different reasons, bu I too like you do it because I enjoy it and the support I receive - oh and what is SEO?????
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, and well done you! I admit to coming here for nostalgia's sake as well as just because you're my kind of guy. But I was also thinking of you while reading an article about raising boys and stay-at-home dads in Sunday Times' Mag and thinking, why didn't they talk to Tim? Hmmm....
ReplyDeleteHear hear. And an extra hoorah! for the technical numpties amongst us. I have stat counter. I didn't even know you could do half the things you just described!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favourite blogs to read though I don't always feel that I have anything intelligent enough to say in response and so I frequently just enjoy a read of your posts and leave without commenting.
ReplyDeleteDead right. I have no idea what a SEO is, and unless it means Send Extra Organic-wine, I dont much care.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more!
ReplyDeleteIt is always great reading blogs that have no other purpose than to chat.
And thank you for letting me win a prize - the gardening set has arrived safely. Now just to persuade one of my children that they'd like to go out into the cold and wet to use it... !!
Me likey.
ReplyDeleteThat is all.
Totally agree with you Tim
ReplyDeleteI don't worry about SEO for my blog, but for my work website I am trying so hard that I have started using my blog as a comparison measure!!!
ReplyDeleteAnyway I thought your news was going to be that you were a bloke!
Charlie is due to conduct your Performance Review next week, isn't he.
ReplyDeleteA very important job indeed and one which we mummy/daddy bloggers love to write about. Great post, couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteCJ xx
Bloody well said Mr Dotterel. I am applauding from afar. You have hit the nail on the head and then some!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
ReplyDeleteThank your lucky stars you're not in America where the FTC is starting crack down on what us bloggers say and do. So much for the land of free speech.
Good approach and well said. I love writing about my experiences as a parent and, more than that, I love reading other's experiences.
ReplyDelete