In 2006, I sat down at my computer and wrote my first blog post. At the time, I had just finished my first Bachelor of Arts degree and was about to start my first “grown-up” full-time job as an editor for the government. My goal had always been to be a writer, and I was frustrated that I wasn’t writing more. University had gotten in the way of writing, as had my summer jobs. Now I was about to start another job, and I knew I needed to make room for writing somehow. So I started a blog.
Blogging through the Years
My blog became a creative outlet, a place to develop my voice and slowly find an audience. At first, I mostly wrote for family and friends. Over time, I made friends with other bloggers in the “blogosphere.” Blogging was very different back then. There were fewer of us writing, which made it easier to connect with other bloggers and keep up with what they were sharing.
Blogging itself has changed a lot, too. In the early days, we discovered each other’s blogs through blogrolls, comments, and links in other posts. We’d visit each other’s sites regularly to see what was new, leave comments, and have conversations that often continued across several blogs.
Now, much of that interaction has moved to social media, where posts are shared, liked, and commented on in a fast-moving stream. Social media makes it easier to reach new readers, but I sometimes miss the slower, more intentional connections that came from regularly visiting another blogger’s little corner of the internet.
I still remember some of the bloggers I followed in those early days, although few of them are still blogging. Jennifer Fulwiler has since become a bestselling author and comedian, and 5 Minutes for Mom has been around even longer than I have. Many others, though, have moved on to other pursuits.
A lot has changed since I started blogging, and not just my readership. I started with a free Blogspot account, eventually got my own domain name, and later moved to a self-hosted WordPress site. I began blogging anonymously, then changed my blog name and started writing under my own name. I attended blog conferences, joined linkups and Facebook and Twitter parties, wrote for other blogs, experimented with different ways to earn money through advertising, and kept writing.
Looking back, I appreciate what a milestone it is to have stuck with something for twenty years. I haven’t worked outside the home since before my second daughter was born, when I did a brief stint as a Starbucks barista because I’d always thought that would be fun. It was fun, but like every other job I’ve had, I was bored within six months! Blogging and motherhood, on the other hand, have never let me get too comfortable. Both have kept me learning and growing, adapting to new information and changing needs, and finding ways to pivot as the world around me changes.
Blogging as Both a Creative Outlet and a Source of Income
When my first marriage ended, my blog became even more important as a source of income. I was a single mom with five kids who needed me around to help them through a major family transition. At the same time, I needed to provide for them financially more than ever. I was stressed and exhausted, with less energy for creativity, but I also knew that being creative was a form of self-care. Making time for things I enjoyed helped me recharge so I could show up more fully for my kids.
Returning to writing, exercising, and other activities I loved was part of becoming myself again after my marriage ended. For years, I’d tried to fit myself into the box of “wife” I’d created, and I needed to rediscover the other parts of myself, too. My role on the blog gradually shifted from primarily being a writer to being more of an editor. I took on more advertising and began publishing more posts by other writers alongside my own.
With all the ups and downs in my personal life, accepting guest posts also gave me a way to keep creating fresh content without having to draw on my own experiences—or my kids’ lives—for inspiration every time. My early posts were very much in the “weblog” tradition: little snapshots of motherhood that were probably only interesting to me and my mom! As my kids have grown older, I’ve become more intentional about protecting their privacy by sharing less about them online. I’ve always kept their names and faces off my blog, and I’m increasingly mindful of how much of their stories are mine to tell.
Blogging for Connection
My goal with my blog has always been to connect with others. We live in a world where it’s easy to feel isolated, even though technology makes it possible to connect with people around the world. Looking back over my years of blogging through motherhood, marriage, moves, and divorce, I can see many times when I felt isolated and alone.
While I’ve found community and support through moms’ groups, I’ve also found it online, in other moms who share their stories and help me recognize my own struggles. Reading about someone else’s experiences can be a reminder that we’re not alone in what we’re going through.
Blogging has brought me new friendships (like the instant connection I felt with Debbie from Sass & Smalls when we both realized we were mom bloggers!), as well as opportunities to support other moms, raise awareness of various issues, and learn new things. Some of those connections have lasted long beyond a particular blog post, conference, or online conversation.
Blogging into the Future
Running The Koala Mom means wearing a lot of different hats. I’m the graphic designer, creating images to go with each post; the writer of many posts; the editor of guest posts by other writers; the advertising department, bookkeeper, proofreader, and IT support. I’m always looking ahead and creating new content while also looking back through my archives to update older posts or delete them altogether if they’re no longer relevant.
Maintaining a blog involves more than simply publishing new articles. Older posts sometimes need updated information, better images, working links, or a fresh perspective. Some are still useful but need a little attention to make them relevant for today’s readers. Others reflect a different stage of my life or of the internet and no longer fit the direction of my blog. I’ve spent a lot of time going through my archives, using tools like Blog Fixer and Yoast to help identify technical and SEO issues and make older content more useful.
If you’ve landed here through an older link, thanks for reading! Part of maintaining a blog is making sure that the content people discover, whether it’s brand new or many years old, is still helpful and interesting.
I started blogging because I was afraid that if I didn’t make room for writing, I’d lose that part of myself. Twenty years later, I’m still making room for it, even when that looks different than I imagined. My blog has grown and changed alongside me, and I’m grateful for all the connections, opportunities, and friendships it has brought into my life.
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