Although, I will miss the money. If we're being honest.

Maybe you heard, but last week I received notice that my Parents.com blog is kaput at the end of August. (Notified in a form email, from someone I'd never even HEARD from before, but that's a different, semi-bitter story.) I'm okay with it for various reasons, none of which I will go into here until my contract is officially up on the 31st. Getting paid for blogging about my personal life, without any restrictions or guidance from editors, was a pretty awesome deal, for the most part. In a way, it was the easiest job I ever had, but it was also one of the hardest. I'll get into that in more detail in September, because I think it's worth a post or two, especially if anyone out there is looking to land the same sort of gig. If I could do it all over again, there are some things I would have asked for upfront; there are some questions I wish I would have gotten answered before I got started. Maybe it will help someone else out. I'd never known anyone else who held a job like the one I did, so I didn't know what to expect or what not to.

For the last two years, I have tried to keep most of my rambling about parenting and anything related to my kids at the Parents site. Sometimes that left me with barely anything left to post about here, because being a stay-at-home mom doesn't leave a ton of time for interacting with anyone other than my kids and the dog and maybe, on a good day, a really nice person at the grocery store. So if you started reading this site in the last TWO YEARS, which is actually a very long time in Internet Land, you're probably used to reading content about my thighs or my hair or things that irk me on television. However, come September 1, THE KIDS ARE FAIR GAME AGAIN.

I mean, I'm not going to post about them three times a week or anything. And I'll still post about my thighs and my hair and what I watch on TV, but it will be nice to have my whole life documented here once more, including two of the most important parts of it.

Hope you're ready.

Comments

[Megan]

I'm very excited for you, and good luck! I'm looking forward to your September posts, especially, as I'm thinking about trying to land a freelancing gig like that. Would you mind if I emailed a few questions?

[kris]

Can't wait to hear the freelancing dirt. And glad you'll be posting about all parts of your life -- it'll probably feel reeeeeeeeeeely good.

[Carrie]

They are awfully cute little ones- looking forward to hearing all about them!

[TUWABVB]

I can't wait to hear all about your life in one spot! And is it inappropriate that I want to munch on your daughter's upper arm? You children are beautiful!

[Elizabeth]

I was just going to tell you that there aren't NEARLY enough pictures of your kids on here!
And I would love to know all about the freelancing hoo ha when you get a chance.

[Jen]

I had a nice person story for you. We just got home from the airport at 2:30am, put the trash out by the curb, and woke up the next morning to find that raccoons had gotten into it and spread it all over our front lawn. I discovered this on my way to take two sick dogs to the vet and decided I would deal with it when I got home. I got home, put the baby down for a nap, and went outside with a trash bag to find out that someone had cleaned it up for us. I still have no idea who it was but I love them. (It was really gross garbage too, this is Florida and it is hot here.)

[She Likes Purple]

Agreed, I'd love to hear more about the kids, so I'm excited. Although, I hate that my joy is causing you less money. That's never how I like it. Unless the person in question is Spencer Pratt.

[Aunt Becky]

Dude. They got big when I turned around. Holy crap. They're so cute.

[Aimee]

YAY! Bring it on! I love hearing about your little ones!!

[Manda]

YAY (and boo for the no money but I know you already have something else lined up and I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS DANGIT!!). There. I shall now write you a bothersome email. :)

[beyond]

i'm ready. they're too sweet not to write about.

[A'Dell]

Agree with Manda - what's the new gig? Is it glamorous? Does it come with anything sparkly? DO TELL.

I will miss you at Parents but really? The logging in to comment kind of sucked. If they ask you for any end-of-contract feedback, be sure to mention that one.

(Also cannot believe it has been TWO YEARS. GAH!)

[Dr. Maureen]

Dude, where is Asher and who is that enormous boy?

I am looking forward to being able to comment on your posts about kids without having to deal with Parents.com!

[Katherine]

I'm sorry that your contract wasn't renewed, but it's so much easier to comment over here and it will be nice to read all of your posts in one place again!

[daysgoby]

Oh my lord they're sweet! And they look like good blog fodder, too....

[Vanessa]

Ready! Looking forward to reading about your precious little ones - my they're cute!

[vague]

I'm sorry your job ended so unexpectedly! I do look forward to hearing more about your experiences there, though, and of course to reading more about the kiddos over here.

[Danell]

Looking forward to it!

[Parsing Nonsense]

Yeah, I was bummed to hear about Parents letting their blogs go. What a shame, they were really good!

I am excited to get to read more about your kids here, though. So yes, in response to your question. I'm totally ready.

[Trilby]

Over the last year, the only reason I've gone to Parents was to read the blogs there. I'm sad for your loss of income, but happy that most of the goodies will be here. :)

Good luck in your new adventure. I can't wait to hear all about it! And the dirt on Parents of course... :)

[Serena from Italy]

I'm ready too! And happy to read about you and your kids!

[sarah]

looking forward to it.

[Megan]

Wow, I can't believe you won't be on Parents.com anymore. That is where I first found you, thank goodness for this blog!

[spoiledonlychild]

Sorry for your loss of income. But I'm also among those who will be happy to get to read all your witty writings on this site.

I also wanted to comment on your shoes argument with Asher. That story sounded so much like my life with my daughter (almost 4). She is an only child, and she still does stuff like that. Depends on the day whether she is dying to do it herself or screaming that she CAN'T DO IT!!!! So it might just be developmental and not related to "You ruined my life by having another kid!" As for dealing with it, I took a positive discipline course and have found that it really does help to try your best to stay calm (not always possible) and say something like, "I know you can do it. I'm going to be so proud of you when you put your own shoes on." If he still doesn't do it, say something to the effect of, "If you really can't do it, just say, please help me mommy, and I'll help you." And then when you put on the shoes say, "I bet you'll be able to do it next time." It sounds corny, but it really does work. Most of the time, she ends up doing it herself after Step 1.

[Katie]

Totally ready to have your kiddos back on this site! It will be easier to read you all in one place, but I am sorry about the loss of income. Hmmm...what do you have up your sleeve for the next gig?