My blog is three years old today

Three years ago today I started this blog.

This is what I was writing about three years ago. Looking back, man I am proud of those posts. Those anecdotes were piling up inside my head and are the reason why I started a blog. I am so glad that I've had a place to write everything down because, even now, just three short years later, there is so much I've forgotten.

The thing I remember most about that time was how proud I was to be a mother. Not that I'm not now, but back then I had a beautiful and brilliant toddler and another beautiful and brilliant child on the way. Life seemed easy, and maybe it was the hormones, but love seemed to be spilling out of me from every pore. I couldn't love/hug/kiss Bunny enough. I couldn't stop photographing her every move. Her beautiful blue-green eyes. Her quick smile. I would look at her and tear up, so happy that such a splendid child was mine.

Over the past three years, my blogging has changed. The things I write about now run the gamut from pop culture to politics and may not focus so much on parenting anymore. It's the way I want it to be. I purposely don't share the kinds of stories I used to write because I realized that I wanted to save them for my own children to read first. I don't post pictures as much because my kids are older and I want to protect their privacy. Also, the climate of personal blogging has changed over the past three years, and as a result, I'm not interested in sharing every detail about my life and my children's lives anymore. (Not that I ever did before, but you know.) I've learned that those details are too precious to share. They are for me only.

For about six months (and intensively since the start of the new year) I've been thinking about how much this blog has evolved and whether I should keep it going in this format. I've become more interested in other things like food blogging, working on my cookbook idea, and thinking about doing a project (not a blog) that addresses cultural identity issues. I'm certainly busier with work (doing what I love most in the world), and now that Bunny and Wallie are older, they require a different kind of attention.  I've never felt like one of those bloggers that had to post daily or on a schedule. As it happens, most of the time it just turns out that way because I need a place to park and process my thoughts, but I could slow it down here... and probably will.

I've learned a lot over the past three years. For example:

• Blog your passion whatever it is.
• Mom bloggers are a powerful force. We are the influential "alpha moms"* that advertisers now covet. But let's not use that power to sell more vacuum cleaners, cereal, and face cream. We need to use our power wisely. Think of what we could accomplish if we did.
• Related to the above: Don't do other people's marketing for free and don't ever sell yourself short.
• I know more than I ever wanted to know about HTML.
• I don't ever want to write a book.* I love the immediacy of this medium. I am a blogger with no other aspirations except to blog. It's enough for me.
• My back is messed up and I may have carpal tunnel syndrome.

To all of you reading I'd just like to say, thanks for reading. Thanks for your beautiful emails over the years. I've received some amazing, "restore-your-faith-in-humanity-type" emails from people I've never met during these three years.

Thanks for your thoughtful and often hilarious comments that let me know I'm not alone (...in my hatred of the Beatles, yellow mustard, and pizza.). By the way, I do try to email you back if you comment, but I have probably missed a few of you over the years. For that, I apologize.

I haven't quite decided how CityMama will morph into the next thing. I'm thinking I'll wake up one morning and know what the right thing to do is. I make a lot of decisions that way. Until that moment, I hope you will keep stopping by.

Thanks for reading CityMama,

Stefania

*PS "Alpha" doesn't mean "superior."

*But I love anthologies. :-)

Comments

[Susan]

Thanks for having your blog(s). I so enjoy reading what you have to say and appreciate your topics are not just about parenting. There's more to life and my world other than raising my daughter. Whatever CityMama morphs into, I'll continue to check on you daily.

[Velma]

This blog is one of the first blogs I ever read, and one of the few that I have kept up with religiously. You've proven that whatever you have to say, in whatever frequency or format, I'll be interested.

[Superha]

Congratulations on hitting the three year mark! I think I am where you were about three years ago. I think at some point I will move away from blogging about my girl and stop posting tons of photos of her (yup, privacy), but until I feel the need to pull back or stop, I'm going to blog my passion - my family. Thanks for your insightful posts!

[judy]

Happy Birthday (or anniversary!)
I love your blog!

[Nancy]

Happy Blogiversary to one of my very first blog reads. I'll definitely keep reading your writing in some or another form no matter what direction your blogging activities take.

[Liz]

Congrats to one of my top five reads!! (please keep going.....)

[Grrrlfriend Jess]

Happy Blogday! I think that one of the best parts of a morphing mama blog (or blog by a mama) is that it shows how ever-evolving being a mother, a woman, a writer is. You've definitely captured that here. And while I miss the pics of your gorgeous, hilarious, brilliant kiddos, I am always anxious to see what you have to say.

Death to yellow mustard!

[KG]

Happy Blogiversary! I'm very happy I found your blog when I first discovered blogging.

Here's to many more years and posts, wherever your passions lead you.

[Lorraine]

You are one of my 2 favourite blogs (and I real A LOT) and I really do understand about your children and keeping their privacy, well, private... but can you please sneak in a Bunny and Wallie story at least once a week (or once every couple of weeks)? I miss them so much!!! I have two daughters the same age and I've loved commiserating with you :-)
Thanks!
Lorraine in Vancouver

[Colleen]

Stefania,

Congratulations on three years! What an amazing compilation of thoughts and stories (and awesome pop culture coverage) you've amassed during that time in addition to the countless number of people and other bloggers you've inspired.

I can't wait to see what you write next and hope you'll be blogging for years to come.

[honglien123]

Congrats on hitting the three year mark! I only discovered blogging less than a year ago but yours is one of my favorites primarily because it's not all about parenting. I like that your blog shows that being a parent isn't the end of being you.

Happy Blogiversary Stefania!

[Ivy]

Happy blogiversary to one of my very fave bloggers!

[danish]

Congrats on this milestone! I have never posted a comment, but I have read every single one of your entries. I also reading your other blogs and posts on strollerderby. We are on the same wavelength, totally. I LOVE your sense of humor and the way you write.

I would love to hear more about Bunny and Wallie's adventures, but I understand you wanting to keep it private.

And, the first time I saw your name, I knew it was pronounced Ste-fah-neeah. Yay, me!

[BadKitty]

Congratulations! You're an inspiration in so many ways. Cheers to many more years!

[daddy in a strange land]

Happy blogaversary! You're one of the first bloggers I read to make me feel part of something (a community?)--"hey, cool! a hapa/former educator/parentblogger writing about kids/race/food/pop culture/social justice--and she's funny! I wanna do that!" Thank you. :)

[Jill Asher]

Congrats on your THREE YEAR Blogaversary!

Can I send you a Sanjaya love gram?

:)
Jill

[kim]

Congrats on the big milestone - three years is a long time! Ever since I first came across your site (and KM) last year, it's been an inspiration, pick-me-up and place for great pop culture references and lots of laughter. Good luck on deciding what to do with the site - I'll be checking in frequently and praying for the occasional Wallie or Bunny pic!

[Jenny]

Congratulations! You're out of the terrible twos!

[Beth B.]

Congrats on your milestone, your blog is simply awesome.

[christine]

Congratulations on the first 3 years - I'm looking forward to 3 more of bloggy goodness! (and family food recipes)

[Glennia]

You continue to inspire and amaze...Thanks for shining your beautiful light on the world through your words. I'm so glad to know you.

[Mardougrrl]

Happy Blogversary! While I do miss the pics of Wallie and Bunny, I totally understand (I've never posted a pic of my daughter online for many of the same reasons). I've always really enjoyed your blog and hope I get to read you for many more years!

[Lisa Stone]

Thank you for reading? Thank you for writing! Stefania, I came to you to read your sense of humor. I stayed to applaud your convictions and your heart.

So here's to the next three years...

[patti]

Happy blogday to you!

[Dayjamas]

Congrats on three years! I discovered your blog while trying to decide whether to move back to the bay area, and found someone I could relate to on so many levels. I love Family Food, and want to thank you for inspiring me to plan weekly meals (a life saver!) Looking forward to reading more.