Hello friends. Today I’m going to share my heart with you all about my decision to be done blogging. Five years ago I had a little family blog and it was great fun, random posts about our life, pictures of fun family times, nothing exciting for anyone really but me. Then I decided maybe I could blog about recipes as I was always being asked to share and that’s how my first real blog “Love From My Kitchen” was born. After doing that for a while, I then moved into the home project/DIY realm of blogging. The first cloffice was a big hit and after that I decided to change the name of my blog to “The Blooming Hydrangea.” It’s been fun sharing projects, recipes and life with you. I’ve made so many great friends in the blog world, even attended my first blogging conference last summer and met some great people in person!
But there is the downside for me of blogging which is the pressure I and only I put on myself. I may have a bit of perfectionist in me. The blog world is a great place full of so many supportive people, it’s amazing. That is definitely one thing I will miss but I won’t miss the time spent writing up posts, pinning, fb’ing, tweeting, hometalking, etc. It was getting way overwhelming in the social media department, once again, all pressure I put on myself. Which then lead me to put pressure on myself in other areas of my life and it just wasn’t good.
Back in October I took a mini blogging break and it was good. I decided to blog again but it’s definitely been sporadic. Lately I’ve just not been feeling it and really now that the house is almost complete, what would I even blog about? So, I know that all bloggers go through these spurts of wanting to throw in the towel and call it a day but usually we power through those and are good to go again. While that may have been the case in the past for me, the decision was definitely made for me today when my little guy brought home a sheet for Mothers Day and one of the statements was: My mom likes to___________________________ His answer was “be on the computer.” My heart dropped, it hurt, I am sad for him. The pull of the blog world, pinterest, etc. is too great and I am not a disciplined person. Something I should work on regardless of blogging. Anyways, I just knew that my decision was the right one. I blogged about something like this once, almost two years ago, which you can read here, What’s the real cost? Blogging, Home Improvements and Children. Here’s an excerpt from that post: “If I knew I only had 2 weeks to live, would I spend it on blogger, pinterest, fb or google? No, I would be trying to fill every moment spending time with those I love, soaking in my children and what they have to say, making sure they know how much I love them, making sure my husband knows he is respected and loved, that I couldn’t have asked for a better man to marry. Because the truth is, we really don’t know how much time we have on Earth, we like to think we’ll live to be 85 but we don’t really know what our future holds. “
So there you have it, my children and my husband need me. It’s been fun, I’m so grateful for those who took time to read my blog, comment, pin, fb, etc. It’s been a great ride but it’s time for me to get off the ride and walk into the sunset.
God Bless!
ange
Im sorry to see you go but completely understand where youre coming from. Enjoy your family and thanks for all the inspiration!
NOOOOOOO…..I know I don’t comment so much but want you to know you are an amazing person, a wonderful blogger and a inspiration to all…I will miss you
but I do understand, trust me…please keep in touch. Lots of love
XO
Kristin
wow. just wow.
Ange, this post made me so sad. So sad to see you go. I completely understand your reasons though, FAMILY FIRST. Please know how much you’ll be missed. Thank you for the wonderful inspiration you shared and your blogging friendship!
So sad to see you go Ange – but the great thing about blogging is you can always come back to it one day – maybe when you’re 85! You will be missed – but I know you will be living life to the fullest.
Kelly
Will miss you, Ange. But hope you see you on Facebook!!
i get it
and whole heartedly agree
taking a break for me
has been so good for my head
and my family
i still put a post now and again
but whole days go by
when i don’t even use my laptop
i can now enjoy baking
without having to photograph
every single step
enjoy your time sans pc!
{alison}
Ange, I totally understand but know that you will be missed. You are making the right decision. As great as blogging is, I agree that it can be a time sucker and when the benefits stop outweighing the cost, it is time to end it.
This is beautiful, and my heart breaks for you knowing how I’d feel reading something like “My mom likes to be on the computer.” Thanks for the reminder that balance is SO important when kids (and even husbands) are involved, and that the scale should never be equally weighted but WAY more focused on family. You’re awesome for sharing this!
wishing you all the best! i know we will stay in touch on facebook so it’s not goodbye!
ooh Ange, I am SOOO going to miss seeing your face pop up all the time in my feed or on FB. I 100% understand where you’re coming from. You have gorgeous, young children and you should soak up every minute with them! I have one kid and couldn’t imagine having a whole brood to take care of while trying to blog. You’re going to be truly missed. And I’m oh-so-sad I won’t be seeing you at Haven this year; it was such a pleasure getting to hang out with you last year!! You’re seriously one of the girls that I felt most connected to through this crazy blogging journey. Just wanted you to know that I will be thinking and praying for you!! Hope you see your head pop in once in awhile. If not to blog, just to say a friendly hello! xoxo Erin
Good for you, Ange! Proud to be your friend!
Ange, I read this post so long ago on my phone and had to collect myself before I came back to my computer to comment. I am so sorry to see you leave the blog world, but I totally get it. Your kids are still young and in need of your attention, and blogging is a huge time suck. You have given so much of yourself on here and I hope you enjoyed it and will look back on it fondly.
Please don’t feel like your time here was wasted —- because you have lifted up SO MANY people through your writing as you shared your heart, your hardships, and the joys of your life. Your home improvement projects were so fun to see, but truly your generous spirit, and your encouragement to others about marriage, motherhood and being a Godly woman is what I will really remember you for as a blogger.
I enjoyed reading over here so very much!!! I hope that your home staging business brings you a lot of gratification without the stresses of blogging. You are inspiring on so many levels and I am so VERY glad I’ve had the opportunity to know you. Thank you for touching my life in such a positive way and being such a wonderful friend!
Yeah! I am soooo Happy for you. You are making a really GREAT decision. You will be missed and I have really enjoyed seeing the changes in your home and loved your style taste. I’ve taken a break from all the blogs I’ve been following. Just thinking how much time I spend with my nose buried in the computer. What kind of role model am I for my children. It is so hard to make choices like this, to not be in the grown up world. Go make memories with those kiddos! And next time your kiddos have a fill in the blank quiz they’ll put “Spend time with me” A big hug! And thanks for being an inspiration!