One of my munchkins (who shall remain anonymous) told me recently, “I don’t want you to write about me or even say that you have a son.”
Aiya.
My response? “Okay. (Sigh) I won’t anymore from now on.”
So in case you wonder why I won’t be mentioning my firstborn child from now on in my blogs or anywhere on social media, you’ll know why. π
I always knew the day would come when I’d have to respect my kids’ privacy online. I get it, especially since the child I’m talking about is an introvert like me. Even if he weren’t, I’d still understand why he doesn’t want his mom talking about him to the entire world. ‘Cause let’s face it, having a blog means everything you post is accessible to anyone and everyone on the planet.Β I respect his need to keep someΒ things (actually, most things) about himself for himself.
This is specifically the reason why I don’t post pictures of my kids’ faces on this blog, but I do realize now that the stories I writeΒ about themβhowever cute and funny and sweet they may beβare as personal and identifiable as their photos are. And even though these stories often times impactΒ me as their mom, they belong to them. These are their stories to tell.
So, what does this mean for this mama who loves to blog about her munchkins? Well, I’ll still be sharing about my experiences and lessons learned as a mom, just more in general terms. And more importantly, when I do want to write about my munchkins, I’ll ask for permission first.
How do you feel about sharing photos and stories about your kids on social media?Β
Here’s a really creative rendition of Beethoven’sΒ Moonlight SonataΒ by Kurt Hugo Schneider and Amazon Echo that the kids may (or may not) have enjoyed watching. π
I had the same basic chat with one of mine. I was posting a photo of a game were were playing. (No people.) I had long stopped sharing people shots outside of privacy protected settings.
It’s a hard balance. For instance, I love checking out Stephanie Nielson’s blog, NieNie Dialogues. It’s all about being a mom, and she shares her family with us. I love that.
Yet, I don’t want to share mine that openly.
I think you’re doing the right thing, respecting kids wishes.
Thanks, Erica, for your comment. π I also love reading blogs that welcome readers into their whole lives. It amazes me how open they are. I just have to remind myself that everyone’s different, and to be true and faithful to myself and my family.