Take two? What happened to Take one?
Well, it goes like this….About sixteen months ago, I had a great idea. I was going to write a blog about skiing, specifically about skiing with kids. This is something I know quite a bit about. I wrote and wrote. I made a list of topics. I researched. I was on fire! Then I told a friend, also a writer, that I hoped to launch a skiing blog. She had just finished a class on blogging and she gave me lists of websites, questions to ask, decisions to be made. I became overwhelmed. I didn’t know which hosting service to use. I didn’t know what format to use. I didn’t know when to launch my blog. Advertising or no advertising? Photos, personal information, daily or every other day posts? While I loved the writing, the rest was just too overwhelming. The Brave Ski Mom blog never happened.
Then, sometime last winter, my 13-year-old son said to me “I never really thought you would do the blog.” That hurt. I threw out all my research materials. I threw out my list of topics. I didn’t think much about it until today. Today, after a great run, after dropping off my son and his friends at a mountain bike trailhead, before going to Spanish class, I decided to resurrect my blog — the blog that never was. I decided to act on ‘Take Two.”
Originally, I wrote something about hoping to be the “go-to site on the web for family skiing tips, information and reviews.” I would still love for the Brave Ski Mom to become that site. However, I also realize that my blog’s name has three parts: Brave, Ski and Mom. I can’t separate the mom part from anything else. My children are still young enough that the mom hat is one I cannot lay aside for very long. Skiing is my passion. After my family, my life is about my skiing. Often my life is seen through the lens of skiing and our experiences in the mountains. That isn’t going to change. What is new to me however, is the recognition that I must truly be brave. While I have a cute little anecdote that explains how I came up with the name, the Brave Ski Mom, I haven’t been brave. I may say that I got waylaid and sidetracked by the techno-details of launching a blog, but truly, I wasn’t brave enough to actually type and publish. I was worried about audience acceptance before I even had an audience. I may never have an audience, but I am going for it. Take Two will be a print.
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JamesB says
Great new blog – looking forward to reading about you and your family skiing. I hope the snow flies early and often this coming winter!
Beth says
You captured my fears with blogging so well! I actually set up the site and then let it sit for 18 months. Finally, our move to Germany this week prompted action. My daughter was also a pretty strong catalyst. She’s taken to the blogging challenge easier than I have, but together I think we’ll be able to share about our ‘international experience’. If you are interested in our team effort, check out: marisinternationalexperience.blogspot.com
Thanks for being brave. I totally get it! Beth
braveskimom says
Talk about brave — moving to Germany and blogging all in one week! I look forward to reading Maris blog! Thanks for the kind words.
Cara says
Nice! You summed up blogophobia perfectly. I don’t know if blogophobia is really a term, but I think we (women, moms) get caught up in the perfect execution of things that we miss the spontaneity that makes life delicious! I can’t even narrow a blog topic down yet, so I reserved 8- yes 8 – different blog names because I got so hung up on the ideas of branding & marketing, etc. I get completely overwhelmed. I read tons of blogs, am inspired by dozens more, hope to make a small business out of it someday, but realize that in researching, launching – all the things except writing – I’m missing the entire point! Oh, my writing is rusty!
So cheers to you and your new adventure! I think the topic is fresh and creative and suited to you! Plus, I cannot wait to learn more about it – anxious to get our little ones up hopefully next year!
Jean says
I am proud to be the mom of a “brave ski mom”
MaryM says
Go Kristen! I am not a ski mom and your posts speak to more than those who claim that title. As a mother, I look forward to reading more.