This blogging lark is really rather amazing. It is fun and fulfilling, scary and all consuming. It gives us an opportunity to communicate; to reach out, to seek comfort and to give support in return. It allows us to be creative and brave and honest. It gives us a voice.
As mumturnedmom turns two today, I can’t help but reflect on the past year.
At the end of my first year in blogging I talked about how much I’d learnt, how many wonderful people I’d met, and how grateful I was to have stumbled upon this amazing parent blogging world.
This is no less true now than it was then. And, as an expat blogger, it has given me so much more; support, connection, inclusion, and confidence.
I started this year with a few goals.
I won’t lie, two of these were purely pat on the back goals, but making it in to the Top 100 with Tots100 and breaking 100,000 page views, well, these were both very happy moments for me; I may have danced. Let’s face it, if we didn’t want people to read and like our writing, we wouldn’t blog. We’re putting ourselves out there and for most us, positive feedback; through rankings, readership and engagement; while not the reason we write, is one of the ways that we measure ourselves.
On a less superficial level, this year was all about writing.
I began the year with an idea, a challenge to myself to write more. To push myself and try new things. That idea was The Prompt, and on 16 January I published my first linky, with a prompt about motherhood and guilt. We are now in Week 48!
The Prompt has exceeded all my expectations. I have a wonderful group of regular linkers who brighten my Fridays every week; you know who you are! And, it is always a joy to welcome new writers. The idea of The Prompt is to focus on writing; whether it’s a few lines, a few paragraphs, an anecdote, an article, poetry, a short story or flash fiction. It has inspired some truly wonderful pieces of writing and I have been beyond thrilled to see people joining in, trying something new and getting creative. I’ve been honoured to host some bloggers first ever pieces of published flash fiction; this is more than I could have hoped for when I launched the linky.
It has also inspired me to write more; I have written articles on gun control and whether women make better parents than men. I have written poetry; Reflection, Age and Opposites Attract being a few of my favourites. And, I have written fiction, for the first time since I was at school! Books and A Letter being the ones I am most proud of.
Through The Prompt I have also come to know a wonderful group of writers and one of my favourite new linkys of the year is What I’m Writing from Maddy at Writing Bubble and Chrissie at Muddled Manuscript. Becoming part of this group has inspired me and given me the confidence to start thinking of myself as a writer and to look forward to 2015 as being the year that I start to really write; a long held, middle of the night, dream for me. (I may *cough* have joined a 100k in 100 days writing challenge… don’t tell my husband, ahem…).
As mumturnedmom turns two this is what I know: I write a blog and I love it.
Writing this blog has given me so much more than a simple record of our lives, it has preserved moments, thoughts, feelings. It has challenged me and taught me and allowed me to have a voice. It has been there on the bad days and the good. It has given me support when things were tough and encouraged me to find the positive in every day; even on the days when that has seemed impossible.
I have made friends. I have been inspired, I have laughed and cried, I have nodded my head in agreement and thought I’m so glad it’s not just me.
Blogging is hard work, it can be frustrating, there are days when you wonder if it’s all worth it. It can feel like an impossible balancing act.
But, I cannot begin to tell you how glad I am that I started this blog. I write, everyday, and that is truly wonderful.
Thank you to everyone who reads and comments, it means the world to me. This has been another amazing year, and I can’t wait to see what next year brings!
![50 Books 2013: Update [4]](https://mumturnedmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/50-Books-20131-1024x512.jpg)
Happy bloggy birthday!
Have to say, yours is one of the best out there. Glad I found you. X
Thank you so much, that’s such a lovely thing to say xx
Happy blog birthday. And well done for reaching those milestones. Your blog is fabulous and I adore The Prompt so much! xxx
Thank you Sian, I’m so glad you love The Prompt, I love having you join in xx
I agree with you on everything ! Well done on the top 100 as well. Ive only got up as far as 300 and only once lol
Merry christmas and i love reading your blog
Thank you so much! I don’t expect to stay in the Top 100, but I’m thrilled to have squeezed in last month :) Merry Christmas to you too x
Happy blogoversary!
YES! I totally agree with you on everything you say about blogging – it is an amazing thing, despite the hard work. I love that it’s a record of family life, but also thoughts, emotions and issues.
Very well done to you for The Prompt! I’ve never joined in, I know. Maybe one day I will! Friday is always a slow blogging day for me, so I should make the effort from time to time (pretty sure I could never do fiction though!). Good luck with that 100k in 100 days. I won’t tell your hubby…
Thank you Sarah x Yes, blogging is wonderful, despite the hard work! Would love to see you join in The Prompt… and fiction is not required :)
Happy blog birthday.
Thank you Kim x
Happy Blogerversary my lovely lady. I’ve said it before but yours was one of the very first mummy blogs that properly hooked me in, and you have never failed me. Fab blog, and you know I adore The Prompt xxx #allaboutyou / #whatimwriting
Oh, thank you Renee xx
Happy blog birthday! I was nodding along with it all there! I do love reading your blog xx
Thank you Jocelyn x
Great post, Sara. It’s been really heartwarming and inspiring to watch your confidence grow and see fiction creeping into your blog posts. You’ve come a long way this year and we are proud of you – you should be too. Keeping up the pace for two years is hard. Running a linky (alone!)is really hard. Putting yourself out there and trying something new is hard and you’ve done it all (on top of your stats achievements).
Looking forward to doing the 100k challenge with you. It’ll be tough but we’re hardcore now, right? Xx
Ah, thank you Chrissie, that means a lot to me xx Hard core, yup…?!? I’m going to get off to a dreadful start on the 100k with Christmas holidays… but I’ll be looking to you to prod me!
Happy blog birthday – your blog is fab! Thanks so much for mentioning #WhatImWriting, we have LOVED having you take part in the linky – I feel I’ve had front row seats to your emerging confidence as a creative writer which has been amazing. And I really love the prompt – I’ve written all sorts of fiction that I wouldn’t have written without you and, as you know, your ‘books’ prompt sent me on a whole new writing trajectory! I’m now writing my third picture book and all because of that little word. Of course, getting said picture books published is a whole other mountain but it’s one that I’m willing to (attempt to) climb! Well done for taking on the 100k challenge too – eeek! Have a very Happy Christmas and New year and thanks for linking to #WhatImWriting xx
Thank you Maddy, it means a lot to me to part of your community of writers. I’m so glad you like The Prompt, it really has been better than I could ever have imagined x
Happy blogging birthday! So glad you have achieved your goals for your blog this year – but even more glad you are doing it because you love writing. I think your post really sums up what this is all about – recording family life, yes, and also – simply – writing. Reading your blog is such a pleasure. Here’s to another great year x
Thank you so much Kiran xx
Happy blogday! It’s incredible how something so small and simple as a blog can change your life – but it does! It’s great to hear it’s helped you with your writing too. Here’s to many more blog birthdays! x
Thank you Emily, I am still surprised by quite how much it has come to mean to me x
Happy blog birthday to you, happy blog birthday to you, happy blog birthday dear Sara, happy blog birthday to you! What a lovely milestone for you and well done for achieving your goals – well deserved. Love reading your blog, definitely one of my favourites and love joining in with the Prompt most weeks too – it’s been great for getting me doing more creative writing as well and thank you for hosting it. Hope next year will be another amazing one for you x
Thank you so much Louise, and I’m so glad you like #ThePrompt, that means so much to me to hear x
Congratulations on the two year blogversary! Your blog is a pleasure to visit every time, and I know you work very hard on it. Good luck for the year ahead, and with your writing!
Thank you very much Tarana x
Congratulations!
Thank you Dean x
Happy blog birthday Sara! I love Mum Turned Mom too, and honestly think you deserve each and every one of your successes! Here’s to year 3! :) xx
Thank you Emma, that’s so lovely of you to say xx
Congratulations! I enjoy your blog and look forward to your third year! :)
Thank you Marie x
Happy blog birthday! I love your blog, your writing is so lovely. I particularly enjoy your poetry and flash fiction. I’m so glad I found your blog and The Prompt in particular. Finding out what the prompt is and deciding whether I’m going to write an opinion piece, poem or short story has become a highlight of my week. I’m so proud of the work that has derived from the prompts, too. Here’s to many more tears of happy blogging! Xxx
Thank you Leigh, I’m so glad that you like The Prompt, I have loved reading your posts. Here’s to next year and lots more prompts :)
Happy Blog birthday huni! I am so glad you achieved your goals xx #SHareWithMe
Thank you Aby x
Well done lovely. Happy 2nd blog birthday. That cake looks fabulous! x #ShareWithMe
Thank you Jo xx
Happy blogiversary. I feel the same (but with lower stats and readers). Especially as an expat, blogging has been such a gift! :) #sharewithme
Thank you, you’re right it is a gift xx
Happy Blog Birthday to you xx
I’m in awe that you’ve created all of this in just two years, it’s an amazing achievement & your stats are clearly very well deserved. For what it’s worth, I think your blog is beautiful, your writing is stylish and varied and you have a great eye for the photographic details. You should be very proud you’ve achieved the milestones you set for youself, and for what it’s worth, I think it’s fab!!
xx xx
Thank you Tracey, that’s such a lovely comment xx
Happy Bloggerversary hun – love your blog so much. Have a fab Christmas with your family xx #sharewithme
Thank you Cathie x You too xx
Happy Bloggerversary Mrs Mom. Hope you have a little party to celebrate xxx #sharewithme
Thank you guys, there was fizzy juice :)
It’s been such a pleasure reading your blog (one of my favourites) and watching it grow. It’s funny because due to blogging I feel like you’re a great friend and shared expat experiences with you until recently – even though we’ve never met! So big happy bloggerversary wishes from me!
Thank you Kriss. I know exactly what you mean, and I do hope I get to meet you in real life sometime xx
I love The Prompt too and you did indeed host my first ever piece of flash fiction which I was quite pleased with! Happy 2nd birthday, congratulations on all you have achieved and here’s to another great year! Xx
Thank you Sam, I was honoured to host your first flash fiction, and such a good piece it was too xx
Happy Blog Birthday! That cakes looks fantastic, by the way :)
I’m so happy to be a new reader to your blog. Congrats on all the wonderful milestones and achievements thus far, and here’s to many more. I also love your Prompt, and hope to contribute to it in the new year.
Thank you x It’s lovely to have you, and it would be wonderful to welcome you to The Prompt in the New Year xx
Happy bloggerversary!
I love finding ways to find inspiration from #theprompt, what a good idea that was :) You’re right about it not being why we write but the numbers can be a pleasant surprise at times :)
Here’s to another great year x
Thank you Lisa x Exactly, they are a nice perk :)
Ah, a delightful summary of your second year of blogging. You’ve achieved so much and you’re right about the way we measure ourselves. It isn’t why we write, but the growing stats and accolades are a testament to our success as bloggers. Here’s to your third year – I’m sure it’s gonna be even more successful.
Thank you Fiona x I think we all need a little outside validation every so often :)
Well you definitely have achieved a lot this year. Well done- and here’s to many more wonderful years blogging x x x x
Thank you Susanne x
Happy blog birthday!!
Thank you Ellen x
Congratulations hunny what an accomplishment to turn 2!!!! Hurray ballooons swaying firecrackers going for you. You were one of my vert first blogs I followed loyally. lol It was so great to meet you this year too and share our opposite expat stories and experiences. Look forward to more of it together in 2015! Thanks for linking up to Share With Me, for all the continual blog support throughout 2014! Happy Holidays! #sharewithme
Thank you Jenny, I’ve loved following your blog too, it’s such a gorgeous read xx
Belated congratulations love!! Sounds like you’ve had a fabulous year with some real highlights (superficial or not, it’s hard to measure success without a few stats ;)
Looking forward to seeing what year 3 bring your way!! #AllAboutYou