Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Reasons Why Blogging Makes Me a Better Mom

For a while, I started to feel guilty about blogging.  After all, it takes a lot of time and energy to write posts, to comment on friends' blogs, to make new friends, and to keep everything new and interesting.    When I first started, I felt like blogging was robbing my time away from my little boy, and I became frustrated with myself when I found that I was trying to sneak in comments while my little boy was finishing lunch, watching TV, or playing with Daddy, etc.

Now, six months later, I have a different view about blogging.  For one, I'm no longer obsessed with wanting to write daily posts, and two, it's no longer important for me to try and get a zillion followers.   Now that I've finally let go of this extra pressure, I feel more comfortable about blogging as a hobby, and even more, I'm starting to realize the tremendous benefits that come from it...

Here are the top ten reasons why blogging makes me into a better mom...

10.   I'm keeping a weekly journal of all my little boy's milestones.  (Yes, scrapbooking is great too, but I do have to admit that there is something very cool about posting pictures and writing about my little boy's life as it unfolds.  There will be so many stories and pictures to share with him when he gets older.)

9.  It reminds me to bring my camera.  (Now that I'm hooked on blogging, I see every day as an opportunity to get great pictures.  In the past, I used to miss out on "capturing the moment" because I only brought my camera during special outings.  Now I see every day as a special outing.)

8.  I receive great comments from other moms (a.k.a. my wonderful bloggy friends).  (Every time I post something about my little boy, I get the positive reinforcement that I need to feel like I'm doing a good job.  My sweet friends never hesitate to compliment me on the Halloween costume I chose for Lil' Lewie or the effort I place into trying him to get him involved in my activities, like gardening.  A few nice words from other moms go a long way.)

7.  I receive great advice.  (Over the past few months, I've received some very thoughtful advice from other mommy bloggers.   One such difficult time for me was bringing my little guy to daycare for the very first time.  I was so overwhelmed, and yet, I received an outpour of support and advice from other moms who had to do the exact same thing with their kids.  Their advice and constant reassurance that "Lil' Lewie will adjust" and "things will get easier," provided me with the hopeful optimism I needed to assure myself that I was doing the best thing for him and my family.)

6.  I learn that it's okay to be a "perfectly imperfect" parent.  (I love the sincerity of my bloggy friends.  They are real, authentic, and down-to-earth.  Instead of pretending they are perfect, they admit their struggles.  They admit when their house hasn't been cleaned, when meals haven't been prepared, or when laundry hasn't been washed.  They admit to using the TV as a babysitter because they're so terribly exhausted.  I've learned from the best that being a parent isn't an exact science; instead, it is a work in progress, always needing revision.)

5.  I learn about cool activities for my little guy.  (I'm not the most creative of moms in the world, so at times--okay, most of the time--I need some inspiration from other mommy bloggers.  I've learned about so many great projects, games, and activities to do with my little guy and can't wait to get started on the list I've collected.)

4.  I learn about great products that I can buy or win for my little one.  (I don't have a lot of time to enter contests or giveaways, but at times, there will be a book or type of product that will catch my eye.  I especially feel enlightened to learn about all the green products that are now available for infants, toddlers, and children.)

3.  I learn about incredible places to see and visit.  (It's still amazing to me that we can make friends and communicate with other moms from all over the country and world.  It's a joy to read about other family vacations or day trips; it's even more fun to see the pictures.  My own travel list is now growing, exponentially!) 

2.  I'm receiving a wealth of knowledge.  (It's been said by some critics that bloggers are amateurs and that their writing content has no real value. I beg to differ.  Through my blogging experience, I've learned all about cloth diapering, using baby sign language, making incredible crafts, cooking healthy and delicious meals, and even about home schooling.  Bloggers, especially mommy bloggers, have a wealth of knowledge to share and this knowledge doesn't just come from book smarts; this knowledge comes from real, live experience.)

1.  I learn how to save money.  (Yes, today we can all benefit from learning how to save money.  There are some very sharp and practical blogs dedicated to helping families stay on a budget, and they offer some great inside tips about where to get valuable coupons and discounts on all our favorite foods, diapers, formula, and expensive household items.)

Bonus:  Finally, blogging provides a daily dose of humor in my life.  (At times, I like to blog about funny moments, and at other times, I'm reading about other moms' hilarious moments.  In a world where it's easy to take everything so seriously, it's nice to be reminded that sometimes we just need to stop, take a deep breath, and laugh our ass off.)