The Christmas Card Effect

As you can see, I've started a blog. In fact I claimed this domain in the blogosphere over a year ago. Have I written anything worth reading yet? No. Did I claim this space merely because I thought it was a clever name? Maybe. Have I thought about writing? Yes. Did I have time? Even with two children sitting on my lap I'm able to type so, yes. Then what is it that keeps me from writing profound, inspiring or even pointless posts? The Christmas Card Effect.

Every Christmas the postal service and the homes of friends and relatives are bombarded with letters of greeting, joyful wishes and the highlights of the previous year. Growing up, I looked forward to hearing from friends we hadn't seen in years, getting to know the relatives I never saw and Christmas letter stalking the children of my dad's mission companions. In my teens years I found out that not everyone feels that way. Many people apparently feel that Christmas letters are insincere, poorly written, an opportunity to brag about their latest vacation, outstanding children, etc and/or just plain boring. Yet they read them anyway; thus the Christmas Card Effect: an unfounded obligation to read and, therefore, compare or criticize to the minutest detail the word and activities of others, without finding enjoyment in it. This effect can now be seen occasionally throughout the year within the blogging community, but all the time in the blog stalking community.

This can make writing a blog a rather intimidating task to start for a people-pleaser like me. With all the people out there in the world you can't please them all. Either you're just a little too Pollyanna or your a complete Debbi Downer. Your grammar and punctuation must be immaculate to pass the notice of your editor and grammar snob friends. This prejudice may all be in my head, but it's enough to even keep me from commenting on or even following other people's blogs. It doesn't seem fair, however, to spend as much time reading about others as I do and not contribute something to this world-wide conversation.

So, today I break my silence and take a stand against the spread of the Christmas Card Effect. I will write a blog and won't let what I think others say or don't say about it frighten me. To all those perpetual humbugs out there, if you don't enjoy it, don't read it. As for me, at least now I can publicly follow other people's blogs.

I Know I Do Something

I would like to think of myself as a do-er. Someone who makes things happen and does interesting things. Unfortunately, as a new mother of two very wonderful girls I find myself trapped into thinking that I can't and don't get anything done. As I examined my life more closely I found that I do accomplish a few things.  There are days though that I make a delicious dinner or something pretty for the house, other days I even get to read a good book or watch a good movie. Some days we just survive and learn that hairspray and rubbing alcohol takes fingernail polish out of the rug. This is a blog to prove to myself that I am not merely stagnating, but growing as a mother and an individual. And if that isn't truly the case, and pond scum really is starting to grow around me, perhaps I will find myself accountable, if only to myself in written form.