I have to admit.....when it comes to traditions that we as a family adhere to.......i fail.It's probably because i grew up with not doing them as well as my husband........but I'm a changed girl.
I happened to be reading NieNie a week ago and she talked about how they have a back to school party....and i just wanted to have my own twist....it's the least i could do for the kids. So...we made breakfast for dinner and i made these cupcake ice cream cones for dessert.
Let me tell you....i scored some major points that night....
I've had a lot of time here on the good ole computer this weekend......because this dang head cold knocked me down.I don't know about you...but i rarely get sick and when i do.....it's hard to tell myself to relax.
I was lucky to have all the kids in school Friday....and then Bryan even got them out of the house for half the day Saturday......but i kept sneaking out of my room......and either starting a load of laundry....or unloading the dishwasher..........
maybe it's because i know it will all pile up on me if it don't......
but.....
i did.......
and i spent some time on the computer..........
first i want to say thank you for all of your wonderful words.....
second....i wanted to touch on the subject of having anonymity on blogs.
I have a handful of readers that have blogs that are by invite only.....and came across a bunch more of you
that were thinking of doing the same......
I came across this blog about a family who found out that their family picture was being used as an ad in Prague {Czech Republic}......and she assumed that it was probably just lifted right from her blog or facebook.
I'm not going to lie......
i definately think about my content........you all know my kids names....you know the town i live in.....you could probably pick my house out if you drove by it....{it's the one with the toys strew all over the yard}
some of you even know my address because you've come to my house for a "shop lola b's'......
so for me....i can't really hide....nor do i want to.
What i'm curious about...is that are you nervous.......or does something like this cross your mind at all?
For instance....when my blog friend Wendy from Shabby nest came to visit....she politely asked me not to show her kids picture...even though i begged to be able to do a post on her visit.....but i understood where she was coming from....
so....don't worry...i don't plan on going private...but i am interested in hearing your thoughts on the issue.
xo
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52 comments:
I hope your head cold goes away. I am just like that, I don't relax when I am grounded at home usually at all!
As for the protection, I sometimes wonder if I should be more private, but I figure if someone truly wants to find me they could do it, so why hide? I put my faith in God and watch my last name being open online and for the rest of it I am not afraid.
Your children are beautiful! I think your son looks a lot like you.
I wouldn't keep my blog private - if something made me nervous to post about, I just wouldn't, but I agree with the first commenter - if someone wanted to find you, they could. I did have to go more private on twitter because I had some weird people trying to follow me (i.e. porn sites, spam stuff, etc.), but after a while I'll open that up again. I think if you're comfortable with what you're putting on your blog, that's all that matters - most people that read these blogs are generally really nice! Love the kid pics!!
How funny I was going to post on this, I am very open with my blog however, I keep my son's name and my husbands name a secret, I think their privacty is important. I also don't show very many pics of either one, and if I do, it is a side shot or back shot, hand, foot, etc...I recently went through my whole blog and took any photos of my son's face down (there were about 3!!). I am a little weirded out about by the whole thing, that made me feel better but as for myself, I am open, it is my blog so you might as well know me for who I am!
hope you are feeling better!
I have thought about this as well. I try not to include my kids on there but sometimes they do come up in a picture or two. I had attended this Internet safety thing with one of my students at his middle school and no matter where you put it, it's out there. I don't use my last name but heck, how many Zizette's are out here (you'd be surprised and I even think there is another one in another country with the same last name!).
I think it goes to discretion. If you ever go private invite me, I love your blog. And if people were private I would have never found nienie who recently I find as a source of great inspiration.
Feel better.
ZIzette
Oh boy....do I EVER hear about this one - a lot! My family is often saying that I'm crazy for having ANY pictures up -- of me, and of anyone else. And I suppose if your follow their logic through to it's ultimate end, it does make sense. I also suppose it is a sorer subject with some, if they have had a breach of privacy somehow in their lives via the web; so they would logically think anything less than total anonymity on the web is being cavalier with the safety of ourselves and our families.
Probably the most vocal and visceral responses are to my idea of doing home-shows like you do several times a year. THAT ONE REALLY GETS PEOPLE MAD! I get "ARE YOU CRAZY??? INVITING TOTAL STRANGERS INTO YOUR HOME? THEY'LL SEE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AND COME BACK AND RIP YOU OFF -- OR WORSE!"
Geesh.... I didn't know I lived among such dregs of society! :)
So these diabolical people I'm thinking of inviting into my home-show are the people I pass in the grocery store everyday... hmm... maybe I should just nail my door shut and never leave the house again! :)
Yes, it rots that we even have to have this discussion, but at the end of the day, one has to live - truly live -- or what's the point?
Get well soon!
Ruth
My blog began as an extension of my interior design website as I no longer wanted the cost and work that is associated with a mailed newsletter. My full name is on the ole blog. This will not change anytime soon. I refer to my kids and husband by pet names that are only used on the blog so if they were called that in real life they would not respond.
I have never posted a picture of the front of my house. Small safeguards.
Love Nie's tradition of back-to-school celebrations. Your twist on it for your kids was fabulous!
I go back and forth about the private blog thing...
If we ever have kids I'm not sure I would write about them.
I don't know.
Hmmm.
I am very open on my blog too. I started off referring to my husband as "hubby" but that just sounded wierd to me, so Steve is Steve, my kids, Seth and Cameron and even my cats! (Chloe, Sissie, Simon) But yes, I do worry sometimes that my open-ness may one day bite me in the butt! But...I am what I am!
I LOVE your blog!
Lou Cinda
When I started the whole blog thing I made the decision not to show the faces of my children or tell their names. For their privacy.I fell that I am still able to tell my story and write about my life and our family without needing a face behind the words of the people I am talking about.Funny story about too much info...In my post about my husband I could not give details about his new command for a couple reasons. One being he was just briefed by Pentagon officials regarding bloggers who blog about what he is now in charge of {lets just say not nice bloggers} He thought it would be funny to tell a room full of "military personel" that his wife blogs! he said the look on their face was priceless...he then proceeded to show them my blog and said "don't worry my wife writes a "fluffy blog"!! LOL I say hurrray for fluffy blogs!!!!
get well, and drink hot tea!!
xo,
LuLu
p.s. Yes, I agree with Sarah--your son TOTALLY looks like you! Were you blonde as a kid?
Hmmmmmm I think about the privacy issue every now and then. I do use my kids real names and my first name. My last name isn't listed anywhere and I don't list the town we live in (at least I don't think I ever have). I do show my kids' faces. I guess most of the time I figure that *I* am a nice person so the people who read my blog are. Ya know? My kids play outside almost everyday with tons of people walking and driving by. We go to the store where everyone can see their faces, etc. We could get a creepy person following us from there just as easily. So I just try not to think about it. I figure I am safe enough not posting our last names, phone number and address. That said, your kids are all so cute! I love the blond hair!
I look at is as practicing what I preach or will preach as I teach my kids about privacy, stranger danger, etc. I don't want my kids to post private information about our family, for their own safety. So, I only have our first names up and have only revealed our general geographic area.
I believe that if some crazy person wants you or your children they will get them. Technology is a blessing and a curse like that. I do take some measures of protection but "privacy setting" is not one of them...yet... ha. With that said ... I never put any children on my blog with out asking their parents first because even though I choose to be public I have to respect that they may not want to be. My thoughts for the day...
I think about it but maybe I am one of those ones that think that "it won't happen to me". I think it is a bit different too because I don't have any kids. I also have a Facebook account with gobs of pictures, but of course I have certain filters on all my albums and on my page. If you ever go private, I would love to come along for the ride as I so enjoy your blog.
When I first started I read a post about how anyone can find you if they really wanted to and it freaked me out. I went through and made sure not to use last names and gave my girls and husband nicknames.
My mom is really paranoid and prays over my blog on a regular basis.
The longer I blog the more relaxed I feel. Don't know if this is a good thing or not. I have made real friendships with people and feel a sense of community in the blogging world.
I think being vulnerable and honest with your life lends itself to having real connections. If you guard yourself too much that will never come. So in that sense I'm glad I've let people see our lives. I pray nothing ever takes away the peace I feel...all it would take is a real life horror story to send me into panic mode.
Great conversation starter Kasey. Hope you are feeling better. Those cupcake cones made me drool:)
If you want to score major points as the coolest mom at school, take those ice cream cone cupcakes to a class party. Trust me. I've done it and the kids LOVE it!
I do keep my kids names anonymous on my blog. And everywhere else on the internet. I show their faces though.
I make no secret that I'm in Kansas, but try to keep our town a bit more quiet.
Even with all that, a while back a guy started following my blog, then started following me on twitter. Then I said something on twitter one day about my daughter and he said, "Yay! Congratulations to ______" and referred to her name. :( FREAKED me out! I emailed and asked where I knew him from and never got a response.
Block block block.
I'm not overly paranoid, but I do think it's smart to use caution.
my husband has a job that makes him sooo paranoid about all of this. i try not to say his name or post many pics of him. two of my children are also adopted so i try to be careful with their pictures but it's so hard! your kids are such an important part of your life that it's hard not to show them off occasionally. i do try to be careful though and i've never put our full name of there....
now i'm doing a home show and have a blog for that and my whole address is going to be out there for the world to see. what do you do? i think sometimes we still have to be able to trust in society or we'd be paranoid freaks.
so there...and your kiddos are very cute.
yummy cupcakes!
I do worry about it sometimes...but I think because I know most everyone that reads my blog I don't worry so much. And they are pretty much what I'm talking about all the time. I don't know... It really is something to think about though. :)
xo
I think if people want to find you they will whether you publish your name and your pictures or not. If you don't want to be seen or heard don't use the internet - our insatiable need for the internet brings with it the good, the bad and the ugly. My personal philosophy is to believe the best about everyone and to not be disheartened when sometimes I am disappointed. I think positive thoughts foster positive reactions...at least I hope so. By the way, your children are angelic and I for one love knowing more about you and your family. xv
Sorry to hear about your head cold, hope it goes away soon.
Interesting reading your point about privacy/security and all your answers too.
I definitely wouldn't want to do invitation only on my blog....what I love most is making connections with people who I don't know and widening my world that little bit more.....I don't really want to "control" that part of it....I am in England and love knowing that someone in Brazil is reading what I write.
Having said that, I wrote about my trip to Italy and did think carefully about including my last name - in the end I did because I thought historically it was relevant. I publish photos of my children but haven't named my son and only named my daughter because someone who knew me mentioned her name in their response to me.
At the end of the day, I am really trusting and tend to think that everything is as honest and open as me.....hmmmmmm!
Great post :)
hope you feel 100% really soon.
i go back and forth about this topic a lot. sometimes i wish i would have not used my families names so much but it's too late for that. when i started blogging, i honestly only believed my friends would read. i too believe if someone wants to find you, they will with the help of my blog or not.
I guess it is making the decision to live in a world of fear or love. I choose to believe most bloggers are women who just want to connect and get inspiration from each other. If you go down the road of what if's, you'll drive yourself insane.
how interesting to read everyone's thoughts and comments on "blog safety." i'm terrible, people who read my blog know almost everything about me. but i've decided, along with several other commentors, that if someone wanted to find me, they would. in the mean time, i'm just going to continue bloggin away.
xoxo,
K
Sorry you're still down and out! Lovely pics of the kiddos :)
:) T
You know y thoughts about the kids, but I don't know if I would make a blog by invitation only.. You could make it so anonymous users can't post.. I heard about that ad thing too. it happened to a close friend of ours a s well it was from facebook....
hope you feel better soon...I don't think I would have my blog by invitation only...I am careful what I put up..not alot of faces of my family but I do put up some..everyone knows my kids names....I just try to believe that most bloggers are lovely people...and we live in a good world.
hey kasey! yes, i was just thinking the same thing! i just started a blog and only have a few that visit but i cant help but wonder if i am putting to much out there! is a psycho going to stumble across my blog and see my sweet family and come find me?! i hope not! i hate that we are in that kind of world! i will keep posting and praying! i better stop typing about it because its creeping me out!
My blog is public but I try to be cautious about sharing too much. I post pix of my family & use our first names because that's mostly what my blog is about; however, I usually ask permission from extended family & friends before I use their photos. And I've tried to keep info like our street address & last name private. Like most of your readers, I like to think most bloggers are like me...friendly, considerate & harmless. So I guess a person could argue that I'm naive, too:)
I do hope you are feeling better; why is it when we moms are sick, we still do the laundry, etc? Because we know no one else will;)
OH, what a touchy supject! I didn't want to go private. I kicked and screamed. My hubby is a lawyer who has to prosecute sickos. Needless to say, he has seen more than anyone should have to see...ever. And he admits that while it's not as common for someone to stock kids and families from blogs...it DOES happen. Unfortunately, it happens right in our town.
So, the deal was that I either keep my kids and other personal stuff off the blog, or go private. You know how that turned out.
p.s. I hope you get better quickly! I'm the same way with staying in bed...who does that? ...men??
Can you come over and see if you have any suggestions. I am having problems with my follower section and I need advice.
Thanks Cheri
Its So Very Cheri
Well, I don't have kids. I do have a husband and two dogs and I live in a small town. For a long time, I kept the town private and still do - although there have been hints. People can find out my last name easily and my husband's is right on the blog. I do ponder this occasionally but feel that I cannot live in fear. It is all too easy to stay fearful in this world. I choose to send out positive energy and trust that is what will be sent back to me!
I've always been one of those throw it all out there on the web nilly willy. However, recent events--a pesky but harmless poetry related stalkerish issue, has made me super self-conscious about what's out there (can be criticized and used against me, for example, or used to glean info.) I don't think I've come to the point of quitting my blog or making it private, but it's something I never would have even thought about before, my opinions, or personal info, photographs etc. Where I work, where I hang out, where I live are all pretty much available if one does anough digging and only now am I a little freaked about it.
Hmmm... very interesting. A little bit scary {about that family in the Czech ad}, but interesting. I am in a MOPS group, and found out they posted my daughter's first and last name and picture on their website. I didn't like that very much.
But, my blog, like yours, is a business blog but I psot a lot about my family. My stats are not near as good as yours, but I have about 400 readers daily. It drives my business--without a doubt. My blog is very real and personal, but so am I and so is my business. It's worth it, but it doesn't hurt to be smart... watermark images, post them low res. Oh, and MONITOR(!) who's reading! I do ;)
hi kasey- i used anonymous on your comment page the other day,i dont have a blog or photo and am very backward when it comes to p.cs(you know i only found out what a blog was about 4 months ago!!!!!!!) can you believe it!!!!!!!!!!anyway i hope my anonaminoty(is that a word) didnt add to an feelings of insecurity about the whole.your the biz chickand you inspire me- Jo from newzealand
Well, you know how I feel on the subject. ;-)
By the way, love the cupcakes!
Hmmm...you know when I first started the blog...I did it for family and friends...and just didn't realize how neat it really was...so I started off using first names only...I have never used our last names or said my city...but I understand why people do...however, as for me...I will continue on...
And I love your cupcake idea...how fun and cute! Your photos are adorable of your kiddos too...but no surprise there, right?
Hope you get to feeling better...
I honestly haven't thought much about it. I guess maybe I should, but if I do, I may quit blogging cause of all the bad stuff that "could" happen. I don't live in denial but I just try not to dwell on that kind of stuff to much.
I have to say before I go that your oldest son looks so much like you! They are all cuties!
Hmmmm, so interesting. Because I am relatively new at this, I did feel a bit indifferent about posting about my kids,specifically their pictures. However, I am the kind of gal that just likes to have faith in the real goodness that exists more than the badness (a word??). Heck, danger is everywhere and I just don't want to waste too much time on it.
It really does not make me nervous but it does make the hubby worry. There is so much to worry about on a day to day basis I just refuse to worry about one more thing. Except for the chips and Salsa I just scarfed down!
The cupcake are lovely- I hope you feel well soon.
Since my blog is simply a photo journal of sorts for myself and my family, I choose to keep it private. My shots are mostly of them and our life, so I'd rather be able to decide who views it. If I had a traditional blog I'd still probably be careful how much personal info/pics of my family I included. I'd just rather be safe than sorry when it comes to them. Call it paranoid, over protective, whatever you choose, I think it's a personal call that we each have to make and be comfortable with. I hope you're feeling much better today. Colds are no fun!
first, don't worry about the dishing piling up, just rest!!
Second,
I do feel a little weird putting my kids up on my blog. Truly, I don't know why.
My best friend always has her kids on her blog and she's one of the smartest people I know.
So, I think everyone should just do whatever makes them feel right.
Have a super week,
REST
Cari b.
More good feeling wishes coming your way. I hate when I get sick!
I do have pics of my kids on mine every once in a while. I guess I am just naive but I don't really worry about it. If I did worry about every little thing I wouldn't even have a blog. I would be stuck in my house surrounded by a moat with 5 doberman pinchers with my money under my matress and holding a big gun:)
Lovin this back to school party! Too much fun!
Hope your cold has flown away and gone!
People are crazy in this world, so we should all be reminded to be careful as blogland can feel so fluffy, warm. I wish that were completely true, but I had a couple of very scary men following my blog for a while, so it took me to thought that I should guard certain information. I am just sayin...some crazy cats out in this world, but love your blog just as it is!
I do not worry too much about blog privacy. I have mentioned my town, but haven't posted an address or phone number. I tend to ask people in pictures if I can mention their names, or else I just don't say who they are. We'll see how I feel when kids come along.
I criticized a certain blogger BIG TIME about all she revealed. I know her kids names, birthdays, where she lives, where she shops, when and where she vacations, etc. How careless I thought she was.
This was before I had my own blog.
If you read me, you know, I hold nothing back.
How can I write openly and honestly about my life, and NOT include my children. They ARE my life. It is a hard call.
What I have chosen, to not feel like a total hypocrite, is to hide a few things. The name of my kids school, the exact spot where I live, nude photos of myself and husband in the shower..(just kidding on that one)
My feeling? It doesn't take a blog today to find someone. Do what feels comfortable and appropriate to you.
And honestly, for all anyone knows I am a single man, with no children, living in a one bedroom in Brooklyn. And you are an over weight high school student, with no eye for detail, and a love for acid washed jeans and leg warmers.
I have thought about it but for whatever reason, I just don't worry about it. I am very open on my blog. I don't have a huge following or anything but I started it to keep family in our loop. I sometimes wonder if I should be more careful but I love the realness of blogging and don't really want to be. I know we are in good hands so I worry about other things instead. : )
I think about it now and then. Most of my readers live out of state so I wouldn't bump into them anywhere, but I like sharing personal photos and stories about my life. It gives me an outlet and a way to connect, but if I felt that my kids were in danger I would stop or go private.
I now have 2 blogs.. a blog that is private that mostly gives intimate details of my kids lives and our lives as a family. And the other blog is just starting up to be more of a blog for me.. to tell stories of the kids without using their names {I use their nicknames} and there is one picture of them on the blog. I am not totally hiding them but reserving a little of them just for our family. And to be totally honest.. on my family blog I posted about how naughty my 4 year old had been lately and his great grandmother sent me an email {she's 86 and yes, she can email!} telling me to take him to a psychiatrist.. oh good lord! She just didn't get my sense of humor! So for the funny stuff like that I omit my kids names and still get to tell my stories to everyone who may or may not be interested! So really I'm just hiding them from my own family.. the ones that weren't invited to read my new blog! ;-)
I love to read your blog, it often puts a smile on my face. Thank you for keeping it real and making me feel "normal"! '-)
Well, as a newbie, I thought long and hard about what I should say or not say. I don't think I will put my kids faces on the blog. I do have a picture, but it is from behind. I have never mentioned their names or my husbands. I always use little pet names. I don't know, though, I could change after doing it for a while. I love your blog and the realness about it all. You are very open and that is why I like it so much.
On a lighter note, if you want a good laugh, check out my last post.
Adrienne
Well, I'll tell you what... my mother would have a freakin' heart attack if she knew about my blog and then kill me because there are pictures of her and her house on it too LOL Mostly though she would worry about perverts looking at my kids and I worry about it too, but unless you live here in my town and read blogs, the only thing you would know is our first names and that we live in Ohio.
Although... I did have a commenter that harassed me and Rich a while back and I think it was his ex-wife, so it bothers me more now, than when I started, that we can be found if someone was looking. I still wouldn't go private though.
The world can be a scary place. But I will not live in fear. Because that would be, well, scary.
Hi, I don't know if you'll see this or not, but I really want to blog on this.
I'm like you, very open and I want it that way. However, someone took some pictures I had on my blog and changed the content of the story and turned it into the newspaper. Well, it caused proplems for my husband, who is the city manager. I immediately went private. I knew that the theaf had to have been a neighbor. However, I opened up another blogg that is open.
cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com
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