Please don’t follow me. :: Confessions of a less-than-credible blogger
I walked out the door this afternoon to the cries of my son, who is admittedly attached at my hip right now. I’m his favorite, and I’ll take it for as long as I can get it – I know this phase won’t last for long.
But it is difficult to leave him. He recovers quickly, but the guilt I feel when I walk out that door and leave him is intense.
Especially when I’m leaving him for work.
I left this afternoon to head to my favorite coffee shop and get some work done. My plan for this summer was to get a little ahead for the fall while I had some extra time, since Jon is home for a few weeks.
I haven’t, though. Jon hasn’t actually been home very much, as he’s had work to do over the summer as well, and he’s also helping his parents, who are preparing to make a big move soon.
Ah, well. It was a good plan, right?
So, it’s mostly just been me and the kids. Which is normal, but doesn’t leave a lot of time for writing. Or emailing. Or anything bloggy, really.
And that makes for a very full inbox.
So, despite the aches of leaving my boy, I sat down at the coffee shop to start making my way through the emails I needed to return… and I found a few that stung. These messages came from people who wanted to address my failures, my shortcomings, and all the reasons I’m not doing this whole blogging thing the way I’m supposed to be doing it.
Before you think I’m about to make this into a “please don’t send me mean emails” rant, let me assure you – I am not. Because the writers of these emails are correct. I’m not doing this whole blog thing the way I’m “supposed to”.
I started feeling badly about that yesterday, until I remembered that there’s a reason for my madness.
I’m sure that if a blogging coach came along, they’d laugh at my “paycheck” and tell me all the ways I could be making more money or growing my numbers more quickly. They’d have the usual advice for how to grow a mediocre business into a thriving one, and they’d have a schedule for me to follow.
There’s nothing wrong with their advice – I’m sure it would work really well for a whole lot of people – but I simply don’t follow it. I do things differently. In fact, I do things differently for a reason.
So, if you’ll allow me, I’d like to explain why I do things the way I do, even if it’s against what I “should” be doing.
Still with me? Here we go.
What the experts say: “You must be an expert!”
What I say: I am no expert.
Every single blog coach will tell you that in order to have a successful blog, you need to be an expert at something. You don’t have to be very far ahead of your readers, but you need to be at least a few steps ahead of them.
Well, I have tried that. I’ve tried to write as an “expert” on organizing, on planning, or on faith as a mom.
But friends, that always falls flat for me. I never publish those posts, because guess what? I am not an expert. Not by any stretch of your imagination.
I wish I was, but I’m not. I am a 33-year-old mom of two small children, and do you know what I am an expert at?
Absolutely nothing.
I don’t fully know how to raise my kids right, because I’m still raising them. Right now they are 6 and 3 and drive me crazy on a regular basis. There are many days where I have to ask their forgiveness because I’ve lost my temper, lost my car keys, or just simply lost my mind.
I don’t fully know how to serve my husband well, because I have only been married for 8 years and, quite honestly, our marriage has been hard since the beginning. While I love my husband, our marriage (like yours, I’m guessing) takes hard work, and I mess up daily. Nothing brings me to my knees more often than my marriage.
I don’t fully know how to do the things that matter most every day. I get distracted and lazy and exhausted. I create tools to help with this because I am so impossibly bad at it and I’d like to be better.
I never want to pretend that I’m an expert. I don’t ever want you to think that, or that I think I’m “ahead” of you in some way.
I’m not. I am in the very same boat that you’re in. I am figuring this out as I go. And along the way, I just want to talk about what I’m learning with you. I want to know what you think, too, and what you’ve been learning.
If you’re looking for someone who knows what she’s doing, I’m sorry – I’m not her. If you’re looking for a friend to chat with at Chick Fil A while our kids bang on the windows inside the playplace, I’m your girl.
I am no expert. But I can rock a mean sweet tea & waffle fries while waving to my kids through a plane of glass.
What the experts say: “To build an income, you must run your blog like a business.”
What I say: I am no businesswoman.
Does this blog bring in an income? Yes it does. A small one that I am humbled by and very grateful for. Our family lives in an extremely expensive area, due to my husband’s job, and being a full-time stay-at-home-mom is not possible for me. So, instead of finding a job outside of the home, I focus my “work” energy here on the blog. It allows me to stay home with my kids and pay for things like counseling, college loan repayment, and the occasional pint of ice cream. Plus, all that it costs to run the blog in the first place.
I am so grateful. I want you to know that. And I want to serve you well, as my readers & customers. I try my very best to respond to emails and get you your products without a hitch. If you have trouble, I do my very best to make it right.
But I am not a businesswoman first. I can’t be.
I am a wife and a mom first.
I struggle with this, if I’m honest. I’m a creative person, and I love writing and coming up with new products for you. I have new ideas on a daily basis, and I’d love to have the freedom to run with each and every one of them. If I had my way, I’d spend hours a day on the blog, creating content and products and talking with each of you. I really love what I do.
But I have to keep that in check, because there’s only so much of me to give every day. That means that my family has to come first, even when I’d rather put myself & my dreams first. So, when I sense a need in my family, I pull back from the blog and make sure my focus at home is a solid one. One of the messages I got this month laid into me a bit because I haven’t yet found a sustainable blogging schedule, and she suggested that pulling back from the blog really hurt my credibility as a businesswoman.
She was right, and I think her comment stung so much because of that. Inconsistent writing doesn’t do a whole lot for my credibility. I’d love to be the blogger who can maintain a consistent writing schedule and also still meet the needs of my family.
But I can’t serve everyone, and, again, I’m no expert. I am still figuring out how to both serve you all and serve my family well. And while this work is important and (I hope) meaningful, it is not my primary responsibility. I know that my God-given responsibility is primarily to my husband and my children.
I am no businesswoman. But I am grateful for the business God’s granted me here, and I pray that I’m able to steward it well.
What the experts say: “Give people a reason to follow you, and grow your numbers quickly!”
What I say: I don’t want you to follow me.
I received an email today that accused me of only caring about follows and likes on Facebook, instead of the people. I actually laughed out loud when I read that, because in the blogging world, my “numbers” are very, very small. I’m totally okay with this, because in reality, follows and likes are not all that important to me.
In fact, if I’m being completely honest, I don’t want you to “follow” me at all.
I’ll circle back to #1 to talk about this – friends, I am no expert. I am not worth following. My thoughts and opinions are just that – thoughts and opinions.
I hope I write words that encourage you, and create resources that help you, but when it comes down to it – nothing I do is worth “following”.
The only person worth following, ever, is Jesus Christ. Truly. And my genuine hope for you is that you’ll find Him, and not me, through this blog, our emails to you, and our products.
If you need to get off Facebook to follow Him, do it. If you need to say “see you later!” to your friends on Instagram, do it. If you need to unsubscribe from my blog or quit reading blogs altogether so that you have time to read His Word instead, for heaven’s sake, DO IT.
An intentional life following HIM is what I want for you. Period. It’s what I want for myself, too. I do not care about increasing my number of “followers”. I care about serving you, who are already here, well, and pointing you to Him.
I do not want you to follow me. I want you to follow Him.
What the experts say: “Make a plan, follow through with the plan, and sacrifice everything else to accomplish the plan.”
What I say: No, thank you. I’ll take some grace instead, please.
We talk a lot about planning and organizing here, but I want to make sure you to know one thing: Plans are our tools, not our law.
Friends, I love a good plan as much as the next type-A mom, but the truth about life is that our plans don’t always work out. And that’s okay.
Because grace trumps a good plan every. single. time.
There are many blogs out there who have a perfect plan all ready for you. They champion a certain way of doing things – whether it’s the right way to clean your home or the best method of schooling your children or a perfect process for getting back in shape after your baby is born. Their communities have completely bought into that way of doing things, and it fits them.
That’s great. But that’s not what I want for us.
What I want for this space is for a community of broken women to come together and say, “The plan didn’t work, and here’s what I’ve got left. How do I steward this unexpected life well?”
I want to introduce grace to moms who think they have to be perfect and have it all together. I want us all to know that there’s not just one way to be a good mom – there are many ways, and we need to figure out what works for us and our families. (And that might be different from our neighbors.) I want to be a safe place for all of us who are simply trying to do our very best with what we’ve got.
I want to remind you that Jesus covers our (many) imperfections. I want Jesus to be the one we are following, not a certain way to do our laundry or plan our meals. I want to link arms with you and encourage you and pray for you and I think that’s what we’re doing here.
I hope that’s what we’re doing here.
So. What should you expect from me?
I am not an expert. I am not a businesswoman. And I don’t ever want you to “follow” me. I know that goes against the grain of every expert’s advice, but there you have it. That’s where I am. And I hope that’s alright with you.
Because, you see, I have been in the place where I’ve tried to take all the advice, tried to live up to everyone else’s expectations for what I’m supposed to be doing with my life. And that place? It’s called Exhaustion.
I have no desire to live there. And I hope you don’t either.
So no, I’m probably not doing this whole blogging thing the way I’m supposed to. Sometimes emails take me longer to reply to, and sometimes I have to put work completely aside to make space for the needs of my family. Sometimes I have to apologize to people I’ve let down, and sometimes it’s all I can do to send up a prayer in lieu of actually responding to someone in the moment.
I’m learning to be okay with this. Because I know that without a doubt, the Lord has called me to serve my family first, to share the gospel with them and care for their needs as their wife and mother.
Everything else I’m able to do here has to come out of the overflow. It has to be secondary, or I wouldn’t be living out the message I believe in. God & family first. That’s what matters most.
So friend, if you’re on board with that, I hope you will stick around and be a vital part of our community. I hope we are, together, growing to know Christ more, and building friendships that are based on grace and understanding and a “yep, me too!” mindset.
And if you are struggling with the expectations of others, I want to tell you just one thing – seek the Lord and HIS expectations for you. I think you’ll find that they are more about resting in Him, rather than working to please the person next door.
And now? I’m putting my work away and heading out to have a little fun with my family. Jon’s home for a rare evening, and we’re going to surprise the kids with a trip to Disneyland.
Is that what I “should” be doing?
I think it is.
Kayse Pratt serves Christian women as a writer + designer, creating home + life management resources that help those women plan their days around what matters most. She’s created the most unique planner on the market, helped over 400 women create custom home management plans, and works with hundreds of women each month inside her membership, teaching them how to plan their days around what matters most. When she’s not designing printables or writing essays, you’ll find Kayse homeschooling her kids, reading a cheesy novel with a giant cup of tea in hand, or watching an old show from the 90’s with her husband, who is her very best friend.
I can’t remember which blog I was on that linked me to you because of your planner. I was looking through some blog posts to see if I’d want to subscribe. Well, this post was so refreshing. Sometimes we follow people who seem to have it all together and we wonder why we can’t be like them. Perfect family, clean house, wonderful home-cooked meals each night. Seemingly calm life. All good things. But we often forget that sometimes it’s all a mirage. The blogger is putting the blog ahead of her family and they end up resenting the blogging she’s doing.
So I applaud you for putting your family and God as your priorities. Count me as a new reader! Thanks for being real. We’re all a mess without God’s grace!
Kayse, you are such a blessing to me! I thank God for you and I’m sorry that I haven’t communicated that with you. I look forward to your posts, because you are REAL and you point me back to Jesus. Thank you for being who you are, which helps me to be who I am…who God created me to be. Thankful for you!
Thank you for your honesty. I follow your blog, pinterest and instagram because I like what you say. There have been times when scrolling by one of your post has encouraged me to keep stumbling along my way. I don’t like the blogs that show everything is bright white, spotless clean and perfect. My home will never be that – we live there with a dog! So bright white, spotless clean and perfect may happen for a split second. Then it’s back to reality full dirty laundry baskets, stack of dishes needing to be scrubbed and dog hair and dust battling it out in mid flight. But that’s okay because that is my home is full of laughter, fed children and a happy husband. What more could a girl ask for? Sounds like you could use a little encouragement now. So chin up girly and keep doing what your doing. God and family is always first! Us die hard followers will be here when you get back.
Great Post! Sounds like you have your priority’s in the right order!
Oh my! My first reaction to reading this post was “If others have the time to email you and tell you what you should be doing with YOUR blog than they need to find some hobbies or something better to fill their time. Perhaps go volunteer or help someone in need. Not email you from behind a screen and say those things”. I know you took their criticism constructively and this post is exactly why I keep coming back to read your blog! You handled that with grace and maturity. 🙂 So I just want to say that I think what you blog about is far more encouraging than other blogs. I do “follow” you on Instagram and Facebook because you are so encouraging and positive. I like to see your tidbits of family life and on days where I am stressed and overwhelmed those tidbits bring a smile to my face. Keep doing what you do and always remember that serving the Lord is far more rewarding than keeping a blog schedule!
You are being you and that teaches me a lot! Your honesty and love for the Lord and your family shows your priorities. Thank you so much for sharing your heart. I’ll keep reading and empathizing with you. My precious children are now 40 and 43. I still need encouragement as “life happens ” and every stage of our lives brings challenges and joy. God bless you!
Kayse, a great response to your critics! Even though it’s so common I still find it astonishing that some people think a good way to spend their time is to write and send emails criticizing others when they could be focusing on what they could do better for themselves or for others. I think you’re great and I love your emails, whenever you send them.
You know what is astonishing for me ? People writing elails to you, Kayse, to tell you what you should do.
Do these people have so much time to spend, to give advice to others on how they should run their blog? Please, get them to me, I have tons of laundry to iron and no time for it!
Please keep on give us these kind encouragement that you give, when you want and as you want, like a friend.
And let it be.
And this is why I keep coming back.
Wow, people can be so freaking mean. Keep striving to be your authentic-self Kayse. It’s what sets you apart from the myriad of bloggers out there!!!! And if you choose to blog when it works for your family, that’s your business!! I mean, isn’t that why people choose to work from home? Your words and planner are very encouraging and keep life real!!!! Love you!!!
Kayse, I really enjoy getting e-mails from you WHENEVER they come!! Everyday, every week or once a month. You can’t worry about what people say. This is your life and you have to do what makes you happy —end of speech! I am a mother of three; 23, 21 and 17. Hold on tight to these years right now!! SOON—you will blink—-and your children will be those ages. Wait until you have to talk to your children about sex and drugs and let them drive off in a car and NOT know where they are going!! Talk about horrifying! ha ha. Anyway, I have been married for 22 years and together with my husband for 27. It’s NEVER easy. It’s work everyday to live with someone else. (then add your grown children—uuuuugh!) Just being able to make it through a day and have everyone in by 11 pm and safe before you shut your eyes is a miracle. I just recently lost two of my three best friends after more than 10 years and I don’t really even know why. Not having your girlfriends to lean on or vent to and have them understand you is so hard for me. But, life is what it is. So many things to think about, NOTHING to worry about. So, just think——what makes you happy——then, DO IT. Glad you are fitting in time for this—-because I love it!! Thank you for whatever dedication you can fit in.
Kayse, I love this! I have followed you for the encouragement to put God/family first and to laugh and cry as you describe my life. One thing I have appreciated is when you’ve given a heads-up when you’re slowing down or taking a break; it tells me you’re not quitting! Thank you for your encouragement and all the resources you have been able to offer.
Great reminder of keeping priorities straight. I too have felt the overwhelm of trying to run a successful business, blog, and social media. It does lead to exhaustion if you do not pull back and take care of self and family.
Yoh are amazing and real and truthful. This is why I continue to open every single email I get from you. You are such an encouragement to this weary mama who is always in need of some grace. I fail daily in my relationship with my children and my husband. Thank you for being the blogger that you are!
I love this post, Kaysee! A lot of this post resonates with me, too. I would love to earn an income through my blog – a paycheck through my creative outlet, but I can’t make it my #1 priority either, so it just. doesn’t. happen. I have limited the blogging “experts” I follow for this reason. I am not going to blog like everybody else – or anybody else for that matter. I won’t sell out just to make money, either. Your blog says in writing what my heart and mind have been telling me all along. I love this. Let them criticize cuz I can see that you love Jesus and you love your family and it’s the main reason I continue to read your posts while unsubscribing from others!
Thank you for writing this. It was exactly what I needed to read today and I feel like God placed it in my inbox personally for me. I am not a blogger. I am simply a working woman trying to be the best wife and mom that I can be and honestly,I often feel that I am failing miserably at all of it. Your raw honesty really resonated with me and I just wanted to let you know that I sincerely appreciate you.
And this is why you are the only blog I consistently read and have read for two years. This, this, a thousand times this. The world tells us that we need a big following, an expert mentality and to produce, produce, produce. But that isn’t at all how Jesus operated. He mentored small. Retreated often. And always sought after the one. And that changed the entire world. Keep putting your relationship with Him first, then your marriage and then your family. You’ve got it right. The right audience will sift out and support that because your priorities are in line with their own priorities. It may look different than what the world says should be “important” but you’ve truly got it right. I actually love that you take blogging breaks. While it serves your family, it also in turn serves us as readers because we get the best version of you. Not some stressed out, content producing for the sake of producing kind of blog post. I’m sorry you had to deal with that nastiness. Know that your work has touched so many lives and ultimately pointed so many hearts back to Him and to their families.
I had to laugh when I read some of these- i honestly had no idea you don’t blog on a consistent schedule, because I too am being a wife and mom first… not a blog-reader. I am happy to get an email of gospel-centered sunshine whenever the Lord prompts you to send it! And if it’s not there, that’s fine too. (Maybe someone should send me tips on how to be a better “blog follower” ?) Thanks for sharing!
Well said, as a full time mom and working part time because of that choice, I struggle with the balance. Love reading your blog and your posts. I think there will always be a worldly vs Christ view of how we should do things. But if we are walking in his will, things will work out not matter how much time or ” expert” we are. Thank you for sharing.
The main reason I do read your blog is because you aren’t perfect, and don’t try to pretend to be so, because let’s face it no-one actually is! Why would I want to keep reading about someone who pretends that they have everything sorted, it would just make me feel I was failing! Keep it real and keep your own priorities!
I’m not a mum yet, but I hope to be blessed with children one day – either biological or through an adoption or both, we’ll see where the Lord leads us on that.
So why do I follow your blog – because I want to have the community and examples of you and the women who comment on your posts.
Thank you for what you do. May you be blessed in discerning which advice to take and which comments to just brush over you and prompt you to pray for them instead.
Please continue blogging! 🙂
I love your heart. It’s why I read your blog – I can relate to you and your life as a mom. Keep pressing on and take a break whenever you need one.
I don’t remember how I came across your site. I’m not on Facebook or twitter or really any social media. I had a rough 10 year marriage and two beautiful children (6 and 3). This post is a beautifully written summary of my feelings in life in general. We are moms, we are fallible, and we are brought to where we are by grace and love alone. Thank you
I don’t blog but I feel what you are saying. I am a mom of 9 and I am not an expert either. Still learning step by step by the grace of God. I think having your priorities right will pay off where it matters most. You are a blessing.
Hi Kayse,
I really appreciated this article! I have been blogging for two and a half years now and my blog is not monetised at all. Sometimes I think, “Am I wasting an opportunity?” and wonder whether I should monetise it and post on a schedule, etc, etc. But then I think that I would just get caught up in all the “shoulds” and lose my passion for writing.
So I keep it like it is – just a hobby blog and a place to get my thoughts out.
P.S. I’ve been using the Organised Life Planner this year, and I really love it! I’ve used lots of planners, but this is the first one that really works for me. Actually, I tried bullet journalling last year and it worked pretty well, but I need a little bit more structure. So your planner is just perfect for that!
I will tell you something funny. You wrote, “She was right, and I think her comment stung so much because of that. Inconsistent writing doesn’t do a whole lot for my credibility.”
I like you for being inconsistent because I really cannot keep up with blogs that keep churning out stuff all the time! Lol!
I look forward to your emails and read them. Blessings on you and your family as you seek to bless them and us with your blogging and sharing.
I ditto your words! Thanks for sharing! Sorry for the pressures and voices you feel to be ‘more’ God has a different path for each of us. And only His Spirit and His Word can show us that perfect balance. ((And our husbands and children can tell if we are out of balence most the time too ? )) According to some us mommy bloggers may never be doing enough- and it’s ok! They can think want they want ? Good for you for being who God wants you to be! ??
I can really relate to this post! I’ve only been blogging for almost two years and I struggle with feeling like I haven’t done enough. I pray that I’ll always view my blog more as a ministry than a business. Thanks for the reminder that sometimes sharing our story is ENOUGH. That’s how God touches others through our lives and that’s the MOST important thing.
Love, love, love this, Kayse!!!!
That was her opinion. I love your blog because of all things you mentioned. She is one person who, obviously cares more about the bottom line than developing any sort of “friendship” with her readers. I would guess that the women who come here continually do so for the same reason I do … because we’re coming to visit a friend. Keep doing what you do the way you do it. You are honest and don’t try to be a know it all. I find that refreshing.
I too have unsubscribed from a lot of blogs because I am just looking to follow Jesus and hang out with real people. There’s plenty of plastic fakery all around me where I live and I’ve opted out of most of it, though sometimes it’s a struggle to avoid. Thank you for doing what you do, when you have time to do it. Here’s to real life! Also, I love your planner. I’m totally not using it perfectly or consistently yet, and that’s ok! I got the full sized pre printed one so I can fill in the dates myself. Because I’m not perfect either. 🙂
This is my absolute favorite blog post of yours!!! Yes, yes, yes to all of it!!!!
You go girl!!
Amen – Go girl! you are standing in the right place for the right reasons. I hope you can continue to stick to the standards you’ve set out to follow. If that means you become somewhat unseen for a while, we can pray that all is well, and you are just sorting things out! I am no longer a parent of small kids, in fact I am a great grandma, but I enjoy your ideas and empathize with your problems. I was there was and remember well the child I carried on my left hip, till I thought my back would break. But I do not regret it at all. Look up and “do the next thing”!
Yes yes yes!!! I can imagine the temptation to keep up with the blogging Joneses, but I will chime in with the others here and say BE YOU! SERVE YOUR FAMILY FIRST!!! Would higher numbers or income and an elevated ego be worth the distance from your husband or losing precious time with your babies?! I was immediately upset with the “shoulds” as someone else here called it, but I’m sure their business advice has its place. But God’s Word and Spirit leading you and the peace that comes from obedience is priority. Keep doing you!
Yes, yes, yes, and yes! I’m a teeny-tiny blogger myself, and this resonated so much. Our online writing can be a wonderful too used by God to encourage other believers and to share the Gospel with the unsaved, but our families are our most immediate ministry and we must put them before everything else. Thank you for saying this over and over! And thank you also for the reminder that we can minister to others even when we’re not experts, when we don’t have everything all planned to a “t,” and when we don’t have large followings.
Thank you for this lovely article. It resonates well with me. I am grateful to hear what you shared. I am an older waiting to “renew my strength” Mom and Grandmother. As a young Mom, I used to be so full of ideas and inspiration and energy…Time passes and life has happened, and by the grace of God we are pressing on. The technology age has progressed faster than I have. There was a time I would make my own calendar tools and such, but as upgrades, new systems, pdf files, and social media has become prevalent, and my old word docs obsolete, while living through a long season of the storms of life, losing one family member after another…Well…It got away from me a bit. Focus and relearning new methods for the umpteenth time doesn’t come as easily in times of grieving, and right now is overwhelming. I did purchase your calendar pages and am getting acquainted with them, slowly. It has been hard to focus and regain that groove. This week we lost yet another family member. My handicapped brother just passed away this week at age 52. I am many times just relying on God’s promise that the “waters will not wash over me”. Learning to let the Lord guide day by day. From a fellow Pilgrim, in Christ 🙂 we press on. I “should be” teaching younger women, but that isn’t the way the Lord permitted things to happen. God bless you!
I’m an older mom. and you are on-line with your points. When I was young too many children was “not the thing” and I was frustrated, embarassed by my numbers.. Don’t let other dictate how you live. Neither react to what they say. Keep seeking the Lord and pushing into Him. Pray for wisdom and try, I know littles are hard, to joy in the moments….. Go girl!!!! L
Beautiful article Kayse!! All of the reasons you stated is why I subscribe to your blog. 🙂 For the first few years of my marriage, I put ministry (and just flat out busyness) ahead of my husband and children and I saw the devastating effects. The Lord used many wise women to lead me to a correct, Biblical understanding that we are first and foremost to serve the Lord by serving our families, and after that is in place comes outside ministry. We so often think that what we do in our homes is insignificant. Thank you for being a voice of wisdom and encouragement to put our families first! Keep at the work the Lord has called you too and we’ll be here cheering you on!
PS I’m also 33 – just thought that was a fun tidbit of info you shared 🙂
Hi Kayse!
Yep, me too!!
I don’t mean to sound like a L’Oreal ad, but you ARE worth it! – Listening to, that is!
I’m a relatively new blogger and I’m neck deep in courses, advice and learning that, yeah, my mind feels like it will cave in pretty soon!
But similarly to you, I write about intentional living which has little to do with what other people expect and want from us and everything to do with what we should be doing – according to God – who created us and gave us (or didn’t give us) certain talents and abilities!
When we know our purpose, then we can live without the guilt of letting others down because we can’t be all things to all people. And we weren’t designed to do everything!
You are such a down to earth and humble blogger and I’m a fan because you have a lot to teach me! And I’m sure I’m not the only one!
Goodness, I really dislike it when people put all their ‘shoulds’ on someone else. The way you live your life, the choices you make in your business, those are between you, your family and God. I admire that you have determined your priorities and you live them. God bless you and your family, and thank you for giving your readers your very unique and beautiful perspective. Yes, we’re all broken. Thank you for reminding us that that’s okay.
Amen! Amen! Amen! No apologies necessary. The experts are boring, over worked, and snobs. I don’t like them either. I like you. A mom who is real, and struggling, and willing to share to help us all feel better and play better together! Blessings o you and your family.
Kayse, the reason that I read your blog and follow your Facebook page is for exactly these reasons. I have unfollowed most of the other blogs I have started reading after the homemaking bundle the last two years because their expertise only works for me to a certain point, and then it just becomes condescending. I get exhausted and bored by regular posts, and I very much appreciate your honesty. Especially because you are doing it for your family. In this season of constantly evaluating what is good for my family and what I need to do for other neighbors and what I can let go, your blog and community the way it is is exactly what I need it to be. Thank you.
Just wanted to say bless you for having your priorities straight! I work from home and it can be very easy to get caught up in “the business” of things, even when your original intentions were to serve God first.
I’m blessed to read your words and the transparency you had to have to write them. Blogging as a Christian and as a full time mom looks so different than he world would have it be for you.
So stick with it girl, keep those priorities straight and don’t let those negative comments discourage you or prevent you from doing that.
God bless!
Sarah
This article is very well said. I think more of us probably need to reevaluate our own missions. I know I could use a reevaluation and get my priorities in check again. Thanks for the post, the blog, and the raw honesty!