500 posts
This is my 500th post. Now, it’s not really my 500th post because when I switched over from blogspot I deleted a bunch of very sporadic posts but it’s close enough and it has caused me to think about how this blog has evolved over the years. The earlier posts were pre-kids. Pre-pregnancy, even. But now, this blog is, unapologetically, a daddy blog. I have made a conscious decision that my posts will be about fatherhood, parenthood, or the kids. I do this because, for me, this has become a tool for me to document my journey of fatherhood and will allow my children a glimpse into this part of their lives.
But it can also be a tool to let them glimpse into my life. How do I see the world? What is important to me? What other areas of life deserve to be looked at in an irreverant way? Lately, I have avoided topics that shed light on me. And maybe I should change that.
Adding to this, and I try not to give this too much thought, but there are now other readers to this little corner of the blogosphere than family, friends, and my in-the-future children. I still find it a little amazing that between 300 and 400 different people read what I put up here on a daily basis. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think that was a little cool. Which leaves me to ask each of you reading this, “Why do you keep coming back?” What is it that you like about what I write here? Would you be interested in more about me and a little less about my kids (because, frankly, I don’t see the main focus changing away from TheMonk and Bri.)? I’m just curious.
Finally, this is relevant because I am contemplating joining Fussy’s little NaBloPoMo project for the month of November. To do this there is no way I could write soley about TheMonk and Swee’Pea for 30 straight days. I’m going to give it a try and we’ll see what I can throw up here that will be both appealing to read and fun to write. If it becomes too much of a chore then we’ll see. Of course, to help me, I’m going to break out Maggie’s book and see what I can come up with.
Here’s to the next 500 posts.
Update: Upon further review, it appears unlikely I will be able to post every day due circumstances beyond my control. Mainly, life. So, I will post as often as I can. How’s that?
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Wow, you’re going to be busy. You might need grandmother to help with the children.
Comment by Grandmother — October 28, 2006 @ 3:53 pm
As a mom of 5-year old twins, I disagree – I DO think that you could write about the kids for the next 30 days, and it would be interesting to you and to us! Their current stage of their little lives is so fascinating in that at least one of them does something new every day.
Comment by Aina — October 28, 2006 @ 10:26 pm
Why I come here? Because you write well and you are interesting. It’s also always very nice to see others perspectives on fatherhood and the like.
As for writing about other stuff, I’m all for reading it if you fancy writing it. People have been tolerent of me when I digress from tales of my family, although the focus will always be firmly on my children. About one vaguely random post to every ten family focused posts seems about right to me. I also tend to stay off the topics of politics and religeon – because I just don’t want to get into those sort of arguments on my site.
Comment by Dan — October 29, 2006 @ 12:56 pm
I come for the cute pictures of the kids.
And because I like reading what you have to say, Matthew. You’re a good writer and a great dad – an excellent combination.
Life, by definition, is beyond everyone’s control.
Comment by Deanna — October 30, 2006 @ 1:27 am
It’s just cool seeing how other dads are doing it. Plus, it smells really nice in here.
Comment by whit — October 30, 2006 @ 8:55 am
It’s fun to watch you journey through this stage of parenting. My kids are all past this stage (ages 9, 7, 4) so reading your blog brings back many happy memories. Your twins are at such a fun, cute age – I love hearing all about them. And of course it’s just interesting to hear about life with twins.
Comment by momto3cubs — October 30, 2006 @ 9:29 am
The NaBlowPoMo is a cute idea but as funny as it sounds the original NaNoWriMo is going to be easier for me. Mostly because we’re going to be out of town (and without computer/internet access) for several days in November. I can make up the novel word count on the other days but can’t blog. Oh well…
I’m here because your twins are so freaking adorable.
Comment by Katie — October 30, 2006 @ 12:50 pm
I’m going to give that a try, but even I who posts 4-5 times a week think it might not happen for me. But i plan to try.
I come here well….you were one of the first three blogs I read (starting when the twind were newborny’s) and I loved reading about your outlook on life. I love listening to fathers talk about parenting, becuase frankly there are few who do. Also, you crack me up, so I keep coming back. Talking about the kids is great and I enjoy it, but I also enjoy hearing about you. Oh and the cuter than cute pics are always a good bonus. Oh and congrats on 500 posts.
Comment by Melissa — October 30, 2006 @ 3:38 pm
Congrats on 500 (plus) posts…I’m over 400 behind you. I’ve been slacking on the blogging (and blog reading) for most of the year, but now I’m challenging myself with the NaBloPoMo project too.
Anyway, I read your blog and other well written and sometimes irreverant accounts of parenthood because knowing what other dads and moms are doing and thinking helps me with my job as dad…it’s like a virtual roundtable on the parenting industry.
I’ve also spent some time thinking about whether posts about myself are relevant to my “daddy” blog. My conclusion: they absolutely are. My blog is for my daughter. I hope that she’ll read it one day and save it for the future (which is why I still try to watch my language and subject matter for the most part). That being the case, I don’t want it to just be a blog about what she did growing up…but who I was while she was doing it. Your kids should definitely have some memorialized account of who you are as well.
Good luck with NaBloPoMo…we might have to get some (short and easy) memes going to fill in some days.
Comment by Clare's Dad — October 30, 2006 @ 9:20 pm
Matthew – I’m dissapointed that you aren’t going to do the challenge. What if you just had a few one-liner “thoughts for the day” ready for the days that you don’t have time to write? I’m sure Andrea wouldn’t mind if you took a few hours away from chores this week-end to stock up:) I was so looking forward to a new blog everyday. Reading the blog is always one of my favorite parts of my day.
The reason I read your blog is because it makes me feel like I know my niece and nephew intimately even though they live so far away. I feel that they are very much a part of our lives even though we see you all so infrequently. And besides it helps me know what is in my future since Lance is a year younger than the twins.
Perhaps you’ll reconsider…
Comment by kate — October 31, 2006 @ 1:37 pm