I’ve said before that I started this blog for two reasons:
1) to make people laugh
and
2) to let moms (and dads) know it’s okay to acknowledge that sometimes you feel like you are doing things all wrong. That being a parent totally sucks sometimes. And that we all, on occasion and to varying degrees, fuck up.
I’ve written some funny stuff.
Like when Number 4 made a special announcement to her preschool class
or when she neglected to wear underwear to school for the first two weeks of first grade
or when my husband fell asleep and almost ordered a porno for the kids to watch
or when Number 2 explained how you can get chlamydia.
The more I wrote, the more I realized that the writing may not be so much for other people, but for me.
It was therapeutic.
With every moment I made myself more vulnerable,
and put something really personal out there,
the lighter I felt.
I was exposed, for sure.
But I also did not have to exert any energy hiding things.
It felt awesome.
And so, I stopped aiming solely to make people laugh.
To focus only on documenting the messes and the tampons and the clogged toilets and whatever the disaster of the day happened to be.
I started venturing into other areas.
I shared my battles with mental illness.
I wrote about the death of my brother.
The fact that my husband and I are in marriage counseling.
I documented my weight loss journey and plastered pictures of my post-baby, overweight body all over the internet.
I talked about Number 3’s struggles with anxiety.
I wrote about being in a seriously fucked up and abusive relationship.
I shared how we filed for bankruptcy and the fact that not too long ago we had a geyser of shit spraying up from our basement floor.
I have put it all out there.
And in return, I’ve been told that I’ve inspired people to get into therapy, or to work out, or to go to marriage counseling, or to organize their house, or to spend more time with their kids.
So, yes, the blog has evolved.
It has changed.
I still aim to find the humor in every situation.
But now my goal isn’t just to make people laugh.
It’s to make people think.
And just like the blog itself,
perhaps encourage people to evolve.
So that may not be why you first came here.
And I get it if it’s not what you are looking for.
If that’s the case, go ahead and “unlike” this page.
I can totally handle it.
But please don’t feel compelled to leave a douchey comment like this one, which was written in response to me pouring my guts out in yesterday’s post:
I have followed you for awhile and you used to be so funny. But your page seems to have changed a lot. I wish you well..But I am unfollowing..
Um…
Really?
I get it.
You don’t owe me an explanation.
If you want to break up with me, I don’t need closure.
But if you’re just not that into me, do me a favor.
Silently disappear.
While you’re at it, take your insensitive and insincere comments and “well wishes”,
and shove them up your ass.
Then maybe, at the very least, your head won’t feel so alone up in there.
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Keep it coming – the good, the bad, the ugly. You speak for a lot of us. Thank you for your honesty and down to earth attitudes. I don’t feel like I am alone anymore in this crazy insanity called motherhood. I had my own challenges, and they were hell, and frankly, I felt like everybody else was the perfect mom, and I was the failure, even though they were things I had absolutely no control over (husband in prison). Yeah, I could write books about the hilarious things 11 kids can do (did I mention I am slightly crazy too?), but I probably won’t. I can relate to your postings. Been there. God bless!
Good for you! Stay strong!
You are amazing susie!!
I live so so far away,yet I wake up to what you have to say.you have rare courage.i have not the strength it takes to be like you.but I so wish that the tiny moments of fleeting courage I get from reading you may have a cumulative effect .and that someday I can rise too.
love.and a really from the heart,thank you!!
In my whopping 5 years of parenting experience I’ve learned that more people than I care to realize, are so very very judgmental. I say fuck ’em. Granted, my eyes were opened to this because I have a son with special needs. I have no idea how I came across your blog but I LOVE IT. I love it because of your honesty. It takes serious balls to be as open and honest as you are. I admire it incredibly. I’m slowly working towards being as open and honest as you are with every post that I write. So, thank you. And screw all those assholes who don’t get it. 🙂
Your blog is phenomenal and I appreciate your writings. I recognize in your writing you were formerly a teacher (so am I), and now a hard-working mom, wife, blogger, entrepreneur and swim coach. Did I leave anything out?!! You have much to teach us all. The public will say anything, as you know. So….get over it!!! And keep writing!!
Best of luck with life’s crises–you’re handling everything marvelously, and a lot better than I could!!! So…keep loving your wonderful family…and keep writing. You’ve got talent. Have a wonderful day, and keep that smile on your face.
Bless you for finding the humor in everyday life! Love your blog, it’s so refreshing. Keep it up girl.
I don’t know… I thought that was pretty funny. Looks like you’ve still got it. 😉
Yes, I came to this site to be entertained, but I also came for encouragement and to not feel so alone. I have been through the tough times when you send your spouse to the store with the change jug to turn it into money for groceries or when you play eeny meeny miny moe with your bills to determine which ones you can pay. Our finances are better, but this was a tough year on my marriage and family. I was coming unglued and finally started letting people know that I didn’t have it together, things aren’t great, I am flawed and, yes, I need help. You have reinforced the fact that you can still be strong while showing weakness….that it’s okay to have dirty dishes in your sink, you are not ‘unbalanced’ for supplementing the serotonin your body doesn’t make enough of or needing someone to make sense of things for you, that you’re not a bad Mom for letting your child go commando because you forgot to pack spare panties and that saying fuck a lot does not make you less of a ‘lady’. Thank you for being human.