First of all, I just want to say THANK YOU for the tremendous outpouring of understanding and support I received from this amazing community a few days ago when I announced some changes in my approach to blogging. I am so thankful for your kind words, emails, and comments that spoke peace to my soul amidst a difficult decision. You are WONDERFUL, and I thank you again for believing in me.
While that alone could be my high for the week, I will add one more for good measure (It has been a good week):
My High
This event will actually happen tomorrow, but I already know it will be the best thing that happens this week: Carson is getting baptized. He is my baby, and I cannot believe he is already eight years old and ready for his baptism day. Man alive, they grow up fast!
Be still, my beating heart.
The Best Article I Read
It’s Digital Heroine: How Screens Turn Kids into Psychotic Junkies – “That’s right — your kid’s brain on Minecraft looks like a brain on drugs. No wonder we have a hard time peeling kids from their screens and find our little ones agitated when their screen time is interrupted.”
Do you wonder why Steve Jobs and other Silicon Valley executives opt for low-tech parenting? This article provides the answer. It is eye-opening and a bit of a terrifying look at what screens are doing to our kids’ brains. Can I throw them all away, please? I want to go back to the days when this technology was non-existent.
Something I Learned
I learned a couple of things this week. First, I discovered that some people actually care about what I am doing here at Simply for Real. Because this community is small, sometimes I don’t get a whole lot of feedback, and I think, “Maybe this is a waste of my time. Perhaps my efforts don’t matter to anybody but me.”
Thank you again for letting me know otherwise.
Also, I learned that Pinterest is a powerful tool for bloggers like me. I have been avoiding it like the plague because it felt like a place for crafters, DIYers, and birthday party enthusiasts. But I have discovered the power of group boards.
I joined one board with a following of 15,000 people, which is a whole lot more than the couple hundred who currently follow me. Pinning one post to that board has brought in thousands of viewers within a few days. The potential for growth is tremendous!
If you are wondering why I am choosing to focus on Pinterest while kicking Facebook to the curb, that is the main reason. And because I have had it with Facebook lately. (Anybody else tired of the political overload and negativity?)
Hop on over to Pinterest and follow me, if you feel so inclined. And check out some of the group boards that I contribute to by scrolling down to the bottom of my list of boards. The group boards start with “Best Pins for Moms” and end with “Simple Living Bloggers.” They have some great content, but you will have to follow them separately.
Something Funny That Happened to Me
A sweet older lady at church asked me if I was pregnant. I started laughing and told her no, so she said it must be the dress. Here is the super horrible selfie that I took after church so that I could have a record of this memory. (And so I could send it to my friend and tell her the hilarious story.) While I took it personally for a minute, now I can laugh. And laugh. And go to the gym.
My Favorite Instagram Post
There’s nothing like starting off the day by visiting Dr. Dad.
The Most Popular Post on the Blog This Week
5 Things I Don’t Do for My Kids (Because I am Mean)
Kids are capable of doing so much more than we sometimes expect of them. Perhaps it is time to put on your mean mom pants and require them to do these five things that teach good ‘ol life skills.
What was your high this week? What did you learn? Let me know in the comments section below, and have a fantastic weekend!
