Boundaries and the Blog as Confessional

I cannot help it.

Despite putting my writing 'out there' for public consumption, I cannot get over the fact that certain parts of my private life should remain private.

So, I've taken down my more recent efforts at autobiography.

Sorry to disappoint, but Midwest Moms was never supposed to be solely about me. It is a platform to for me to translate my parenting experience into a form that could help other parents. Putting my own story into narrative form serves an entirely different aim. And while I may continue that writing privately, I feel uncomfortable with making it available here.

My apologies to those friends who have been so encouraging. But sometimes second thoughts make sense. This is one of those cases.

- Julia

Did YOU Make The List?

I am the keeper of The List.

Not the Bucket List or the Naughty/Nice list (although I admit I’m a helper on that one)…

The Christmas Card list.

Today, as I do every year, I sat down with it to try to “whittle” it down.

First, I searched my memory for all the vital family members we must send cards to.

Next, I listed our local friends and neighbors.

Then, I listed childhood friends, college friends, and the families of our children’s best friends, friends of our parents, church friends, school friends, teachers, the mail carrier, the kids’ bus driver, my husband’s work associates, my husband’s work friends (not the same thing!), my girlfriends (although, let’s be honest… I listed them in the ‘family’ column because they are like family to me!)

And the final tally is…

-sigh-

My list grew by seventeen.

I guess I am finding it impossible to channel my inner Heidi Klum...

You are out! Aufwiedersehen!

That’s okay… somehow, I have the feeling my Naughty/Nice list will go the same way.

- Midwest Mom