Why Write a Blog?

Someone in the adoption community wrote that people should not take blogs written by adoptees, prospective or adoptive parents too seriously. The poster believes that the ONLY people who write blogs are those people on extreme ends of the spectrum. They are either too happy or too made to offer any information worth reading.


I started wondering what end of the spectrum I was on. I've been extremely happy, mad, sad,angry and just about every other emotion over the last 10 months. I don't think that I have extreme views (not always popular) but definitely not extreme.

So here are the 10 reasons that I write my blog:

1. I can and it's free.
   
   
2. It's easier to search through what I write on the blog than it is to search through 15 year stack of notebooks that I keep piled on my shelves.
   
   
3. As I searched the web and found useful information too often I couldn't find the source again. I started this as a way to log information that I found useful for the adoption.
   
   
4. People read it! Who knew? There have been almost 30,000 page views on my blog. When I started getting a lot of email saying that people thought it was helpful or they learned something, I felt a real responsibility for the type of information that I put out.
   
   
5. It beats futile debates on adoption forums and scoldings from moderators. It gives me big platform to speak my mind without censoring. I do; however self-edit and have about 100 post in draft that weren't quite fit for worldwide distribution. Uh...you wouldn't want to see those.
   
   
6. It's fun to do! I've met amazing adoptive parents through this blog and we have laugh, yelled, and cried together and then laughed all over again. Thanks to you all and you know who you are.
   
   
7. I've been able to track my progress and see how I've grown. I'm not any taller but I think my head is bigger from all the new knowledge. I've grown a lot.
   
   
8. It allowed me to channel all of my restless energy, celebrate the small victories, and post YouTube videos of soul stirring gospel music. Of course I do have my soul Christmas and DJ hits as well.
   
   
9. I thought I had something worthwhile to say and I didn't need anyone's permission to say it. I am also more than strong enough to shoulder any criticism that it brings. You have to take the good with the bad.
   
   
10. I just wanted to. It's been so much fun.

I think that I write a blog that's informative, thoughtful, and reflective (there might even be a little humor now and then). In doing so, I felt a strong need it to show a respect for the children I wait for, the parents and the community that gave birth to them. I was conscious of never promoting an agency or judging the culture. I've been able to share my story and point of view without revealing the all of the personal and most intimate details of my life.

I love research and I love to write. For those who keep reading, you only encourage me. If you want me to shut up and go away, take a number, get in line. (The blogger types, wearing a big smile).