Keep Yer Blogging Hair On!

I'm reading a lot at the moment about the state of the mummy/mommy blogging world. Getting too comercialised, too bitchy, snarky, combative (delete where appropriate.)  I say I'm reading about it because I haven't come across any of it. Although I think I cover quite a lot of space, blog-wise, for some reason I am completely out of the loop when it comes to the bitch-fests that have  apparently been going on. I can't even give you an example, so far is my finger from the pulse.

And it's great. I love being so out of things that they don't bother me. Or is it because I'm probably one of the older bloggers in the mum field and well, I don't really care what anyone else thinks of me? I'm not particularly controversial so I don't attract a lot of snark, but if someone does happen to disagree with me - cool! Have your say, just do it nicely.

Whatever. I thought I'd post a few "guidelines" about how to rise above the fray or, better still, to avoid the fray in the first place. Take what you will from it but do remember that this is just a blog and it tries to be tongue in cheek most of the time too.

- limit your blogging. I know when you first start blogging, it becomes an all-consuming behemoth but try to be disciplined from the start and you won't find yourself burned out and questioning your very existence within 6 months. Furthermore, you won't be so sucked into your blog groups that every little comment has to be analysed and counter-argued.

- forget the stats. If you're really stat-fixated, get rid of it. I'm not saying it's wrong to care about your stats, but if it upsets you that you get 90 visitors one day and 30 the next, it might be time for a little break from it.

- ignore the competitions. Would I be thrilled if I won a top blog prize? Absolutely, but I don't enter myself for anything. It's just blogging at the end of the day. Again, if competitions cause you angst and your pitiful number of votes causes serious inner wranglings, - stay away and congratulate the winners.

- don't feel judged by others. OK, some of us do manage to meet from time to time; some have even become good friends through blogging. The majority of your blog circle however, will never be your neighbours, you won't bump into them on the school run and they won't be spreading rumours about you (other than possibly to other, equally remote, bloggers). So don't get so wound up about their disapproval. You don't even know if it's someone you would respect if you knew them anyway. The nice sounding mother who e-mails you kid-friendly recipes could actually be barking mad and in serious need of a visit from child services.

- and if you're the blogger who constantly feels the need to promote your way of doing things, either through comments or posts, please - sit down and shut up every now and then. I'm all for a good debate, but it's not just your way or the highway. In most cases you won't convince other commenters that your way is better; you'll come across as agressive and bitchy, and you'll get yourself all worked up into the bargain. (Your fown lines will stay like that too!)

There now. Don't you feel better already. ;-)

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