Friday, August 06, 2010

5 Years of Creative-Type Dad!


It’s been 5 years since this blog was created. As I write this everything around me is reminiscent of those first days: I’m up late at night right as my now nearly 3-month-old son won’t fall asleep and wondering if he’ll ever understand that nighttime is for sleeping. I’ve seen some pretty scary diapers tonight that would make any grown-man cry and I’m now beginning to wonder if he’s been sneaking in chilidogs and beers between breast feedings.
Unlike those earlier days, this time around I do feel a little wiser, confidant, and more experienced with some idea of the road ahead.

When I began this blog it was filled with random thoughts of things I ran into on the Internet, but it quickly evolved as my now 5-year-old daughter began to grow. Then it turned into tidbits of my excursion through parenthood. Now that my daughter is starting to read and seems to be picking it up pretty quick, I’m now faced with that question that other fellow parent bloggers have contemplated over the years, “how long do I keep this up?”

I don’t know.

Since Twitter and Facebook updates seem to have now taken over with their quirky sometimes-impersonal one-liners blogs overall seem to be on a downward trend. I’ve considered moving this blog to those formats but overwhelming still prefer my anonymous presence on those things instead. I do enjoy Facebook games; I don’t enjoy the drama of old acquaintances contacting me, knowing about the personal lives of co-workers and family, and especially using broad “status updates” instead of one-on-one interactions as a legitimate replacement for building friendships.
I still have a feeling Twitter and Facebook will lose their novelty within another few years and something else will eventually replace them.
I know things aren’t the same as they once were when I started or even two years ago, but I do feel an obligation to write something about my son’s journey as I did my daughters. If anything, a blog is still a good way to journal those experiences.

Some favorite posts throughout the years:

20 comments:

Dan said...

Happy blogiversary.

I have the feeling that my days of blogging are numbered, but everytime I come close to quitting something turns up to stop me. We'll see.

Glad you are still going though, I like seeing a bit of creativity in my feed reader once in a blue moon.

Awesome Mom said...

I think Twitter and Facebook are rather stifling to me since I like to ramble on and go off on tangents. That is one of the main reasons I keep my blog around because it is the only thing that can handle all my hot air.

Alex @domesticatedmuse said...

You are damn funny and one fine blogster. Don't give it up yet. People will always want to read good writing. Don't let the Tweeters get you down.

Letters to your son is an awesome idea as well. The second kids totally get short-changed in the "making memories" dept. Just ask my little brother - we have 3 boxes of slides of me as a naked baby on the sand dunes and maybe a Polaroid of him...

painted maypole said...

happy 5 years. my 3rd year anniversary came and went without me even realizing it... that's how little I blog these days

suburbandaddy said...

Congrats on making it 5 years! I started blogging about 3 years ago mainly as a way to share with family members, before Facebook was everywhere. Now I keep it up because one day it will be a journal for my kids to read and see their childhood firsthand, as told by me as it was happening, much better than some photo albums and forgotten stories ever could. I also keep it up because it's become a fun hobby and even makes me a few bucks doing it. Here's to another 5 years.

Kevin McKeever said...

Keep the faith, fellow dad. Happy anniversary.

Kevin McKeever said...

Keep the faith, fellow dad. Happy anniversary.

Kevin McKeever said...

Keep the faith, fellow dad. Happy anniversary.

Kevin McKeever said...

Keep the faith, fellow dad. Happy anniversary.

for a different kind of girl said...

Five blog years must be like 20 human years, right? I'm approaching four years, and I never thought I'd still be doing it. Sadly, I'm not doing it as often as I used to, thanks to Twitter and Facebook. It's strange to think I can actually contain my rambling to 140 characters!

Kudos for hitting five years!

Crazy Computer Dad said...

:-) Happenings the past six months have really slowed my blog down. However, I turned the 2009 entries into a book through blurb and I am now looking at doing that with the rest of them, and each year going forward. Our children love going through that book. I can't really keep up with facebook or twitter. I look occasionally, and sometimes post, but my blog is where I can really relay stories and random thoughts. Things sort of changed on the blog too when I realized it wasn't as anonymous as it once was.

WILLIAM said...

Congrats in the five years. It is a long time and It is nice to see people sticking with it.

Beck said...

There you go. I fall off the earth for a few months, check back in and YOU HAVE A WHOLE NEW PERSON. Congratulations!

And congratulations on the five years of blogging! I know what you mean about wondering about blogging purpose after this long, too.

Amrita said...

Although I am no a parent I 've been following your blog for more than 2 years and have thouroughly enjoyed. Your humour and sensivity and writing skills appeal to me.
And I am looking forward to lots o f good reading here.

Darren said...

Happy blogiversary! It's my fifth this month too.

And a bigger congratulations on your new son. I don't think I've commented in months!

Selina Kingston said...

Wow! Five years. That's seriously impressive. Congratulations! Glad you're not going to give it up any time soon

Keith Wilcox said...

It's true. I went on a mad dash recently getting as many facebook fans as I could. You're right, some day soon it will be usurped by something else. Blogging isn't what it used to be, but it's still good for those of us who enjoy communicating in more than once sentence (usually a fragmented sentence).

Scott said...

"I’ve considered moving this blog to those formats but overwhelming still prefer my anonymous presence on those things instead."

I did the same calculus about two weeks ago when I started my own blog. At this point, Facebook is just self-promotion. Like a personal billboard about how great your life is.

If you want the foul rag and bone shop of the heart, blogs are your ticket.

Elizabeth said...

I like to ramble on and go off on tangents. That is one of the main reasons I keep my blog around because it is the only thing that can handle all my hot air.

DGB said...

Happy blog-a-versary!!!