Blog Friend Feature: Life Without Pink

You are getting this week's Blog Friend Feature a day early this week because I wanted to feature someone, but I also knew it would probably be hard tomorrow, with the holidays. I do realize it's Thursday. Even if that's about all I have a handle on these days.


I think I found this week's Blog Friend Feature last year when I was about to go to Bloggy Boot Camp in Baltimore. I tried to visit some of the blogs of the girls who were going so that I could "know" more of them before I went there.  I knew that I would love Tina's blog, Life Without Pink because she is a fellow mom of boys.


We ended up at the same table for one of the sessions and I remember telling her in an enthusiastic and dorky way, "Oh! I read your blog!" Her post today is a reminder that anyone, not just other bloggers, can be reading our blogs.

I am really excited to be featured as Shell’s BFF of the week! I need to get something off my chest and I think this may be the best place to do that – so thank you Shell for the opportunity.


One of the things I admire most about Shell {among the many} is her ability to remain anonymous. I know I have family and friends that read my blog and I like the fact that they can get to know me on a more personal level. On occasion I have had people I know talk to me about a particular post I wrote and tell me how much they enjoy reading what I write. It means a lot especially when coming from your friends and family.


Just the other week, I was at my town’s holiday festival and ran into a guy I went to high school with. I haven’t seen him in ten years and one of the first things he says to me was, “So I follow your blog, Life Without Pink…pretty interesting articles.” WHAT, he reads my blog? I’m sure I turned a shade of red, I was completely shocked. This is proof that you never know who is reading what you write.


I try to be open without getting too personal or sharing too much information about the people I know. I respect them and know that what I put on the Internet is there FOREVER.


However, recently I think I crossed the line.


Let me first tell you the back story. In high school there were six of us that were extremely close and we did everything together. I was the first to have a baby and it was such an exciting time for all of us. Shortly after my son was born, they stopped coming around and they honestly never took the time to get to know my son. We have drifted apart and I only see them from time to time.


Awhile ago I wrote a post about friendship that sat in my pending file for quite some time. After much consideration, I decided to hit “publish”. A few weeks later it was Thanksgiving and I never heard from my high school friends who alway text me on holidays. I then find out that one of the girls made an announcement to everyone that she was pregnant. But never shared the news with me. Ouch! I have tried on several occasions to reach out to her but she still has not responded to me.


I haven’t heard from the other girls as well. I found out one of them moved, only by receiving a holiday card in the mail. While I don’t feel what I wrote was that bad, it obviously had an affect on them. I really had no idea they even read my blog.


Do I regret publishing that post? Yes at times. Do I think it might of caused me my friendships? Yes possibly. Even though they were really never there for me through the years, it upsets me that they completely shut me off and that I hurt them.


I always try to be honest and authentic and believe that is why my readers connect with me. But I learned a huge lesson. Go with your gut. If you feel that a post may cross the line or you are not 100% sure about it, don’t publish it. While at times I regret publishing my article, it has also allowed me to show my two other wonderful girlfriends how much they mean to me and has deepened my relationship with them.


I never intended to hurt anyone, and it saddens me to think that I may have.


Just remember when writing posts, you really never know who is reading your blog.

Please leave Tina some comment love here and then go follow her blog if you don't already!