I don't know what I am- a craft blogger- a mommy blogger- a lifestyle blogger...
I really don't know.
But I blog about my children.
Lately, not so much.
But my blog is most definitely about my children.
About my family.
When I first started writing, Sedric was "Hubby", Taylor was "The Girl", and Warner was "The Boy".
A reader wrote me and said that she had a hard time reading my posts.
Something about not taking me seriously when I say that I love "Hubby".
Something about her wanting to vomit even more so than if I were just talking about him using his name.
So I gave her rude advice some thought.
And decided to stop blogging in fear.
The following week, I wrote a post introducing my readers to my real family.
I also made the decision to blog under a pseudo last name.
While I don't blog to make a name for myself like most bloggers do, I knew that I would need my last name to be out there to keep up with my peers.
To work with companies.
To contact sponsors.
Having a daughter makes me aware of what I put out there.
Had I started blogging when she was much younger, I am sure I would have done what other people do-
Announce her full name in a birth announcement or birthday invitation.
Post her name often and constantly blog my last name; making it easy for anyone to know her full name.
Today, when I asked her about her day at school, she said that it was iPad day- a day when they get iPad usage in class.
Today, her friends decided to look themselves up on Google.
Being in third grade, most people thought it was funny to type their names into a search engine and see any kind of results.
My daughter however, knowing that her mother is a blogger, immediately turned red and suggested another thing to look up online.
She told me her eyes got watery and that she was so nervous that her friends would see her in a diaper, or read something embarrassing.
Of course, as she's talking, I'm thinking of the much more personal things I have written about.
She told me that one of her friends typed her name before she could get them to search for something else.
And then she thanked me.
She didn't explain what was found online.
She didn't continue her story telling me how she felt.
She simply thanked me.
"Oh my God, Mom. Thank you so much for not blogging my name. Or whatever you did. Your blog didn't pop up and I looked all nervous for no reason. My friends don't even know about your blog! Can you believe that?! Nothing popped up! Seriously, Mom, thank you!"
I knew that one day, someone would look her up.
I had no idea that that someday would be so soon.
Or in a classroom setting.
Or that the person searching for her would be her best friend surrounded by her peers.
I had no idea that any of that would happen, obviously.
But I anticipated the day of the search.
And I did everything I could to ensure that her name is free from my site.
Sure, I'm sure there are things that have slipped over the years- a photo of a school award somewhere- a comment from a family member that mentions our last name- something.
I'm sure of it.
But it isn't something that her friends came across.
At least not today.
If you write about your children, you have every right.
As a parent, you are ultimately responsible for their online presence.
Or lack thereof.
You have the ability to stop right now.
To stop using their name.
Or to stop using yours.
You don't have to.
But there will be a time when your child looks up their name.
In the very least, please make sure that they will be happy with what they find.
Just some advice from a mama who got the ultimate validation today.
Happy day to you, sweet friend.