I've made the difficult decision to discontinue blogging. Over a year ago when I began blogging, I had no idea I would enjoy it this much or write one for this long. Actually, before I jumped head first into the mommy-blogging world I often turned up my nose at it, thinking, "Why would anyone want to spend so much time on the computer? I'd rather spend my time in the real world connecting with my kid and family." Haha, ignorant me.
The truth is, it does take a looot of time and energy, even for a small blog like mine with a small following. I started Be Present Mama because the one small guest post I wrote for the Carnival of Natural Parenting in February of 2010, opened my eyes to the amazing group of moms out there in the blogging world and I wanted to be a part of it. I have felt privileged to be a part of the same community of writers such as Dionna @ Code Name: Mama, Lauren @ Hobo Mama, Starr @ Taking Time, Mandy @ Living Peacefully with Children, Carrie @ The Parenting Passageway and the huge community of mommy authors, editors and volunteers at Natural Parents Network.
I have also felt honored to be followed by friends, family and other fabulous authors over this past year. My hope at the beginning of this journey was that I would inspire many "someones" to try out natural parenting, cook and share a meal with their family, or create art with their kids or connect with them some other way. I think I might have done that with a few posts :)
However, I am following a calling to bring my energies back in from blogging world to my home, to keep connecting with my kids and my husband in the fleeting times that we have together. With my husband working full time and going to school at night, the last year has been very busy and rather short on family time, much less time to spend at the computer!
There is another reason, though.. Before having children, I taught public school art, mainly to elementary students and I looooved my job. I felt like I was born to teach art. Now, I love my "job" as mom, too, more than anything, and I know I was born to be a mom.. However, since becoming a mom, I've also struggled to find what will continually nourish me as an individual. In that call to the Universe, I got a call to come full circle back to teaching art. Only this time I am branching out to teach homeschool art classes and focus my energy on the long road to developing my own creative business involving family arts.
Send a little light and love my way as I imagine what my life will look like taking the risk on a new part of me. And thank you, dear readers, for giving my little blog a chance to inspire!
