Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Blogs, Lies and Real Life

How's that for a title?

I've been reading blogs for a while.  Started when the older 2 boys were real little.  That is where I learned early homeschooling, household scheduling....that is where I got encouragement.  Some blogs I have followed for close to 10 years now. 

Unfortunately, it has been brought to my attention that one of the blogs I have followed forever, one that led me to higher housekeeping goals, encouraged me to cloth diaper.....frequently stressed me out because I didn't feel that I could "measure up" to this person.......she was living a lie. 

I find it interesting that someone would make themselves an authority on homeschooling and housekeeping.  I guess I get the desire to BE better than you are.  She made this perfect life look easy though.  I often felt bad because I couldn't get my kids to do the chores hers did and my husband wouldn't eat the nutritious foods that her's did (even though she claimed if I kept putting it on the table he would eventually learn to love it).

In learning that she was "padding" her life a little I am learning to let go of a little guilt.  I've been striving all these years to be just like her......but now I see that I can only be just like me.  That's all God wants us to be.  I'm naive.  Although I always try to be truthful (and if anything make myself look worse than the truth), I understand now that people lie on the internet - even about the mundane, like school schedules and housework. 

I've got to rework my sidebar.  Her link is still over there, although she has taken her blog down after her "cover" was blown.  I will be reworking my blog links.  I need to add some new ones anyway.

Please remember that you, God and your dh are responsible for the workings of your house and homeschool.  You don't need to be like me, and I don't need to be like you.  I think we will all be happier if we quit beating ourselves up anyway. 

5 comments:

Kim said...

Be yourself...everyone else is taken. :-) I just love that quote!

Heidi said...

That's a shame. I don't know the situation you are referring to here, but I've often wondered about the authenticity of various bloggers. I'm reminded of the verse in Scripture that says "be sure your sins will find you out".

Luke Holzmann said...

May God continue to shower us with the grace we need to become the people He wants us to be. May we take encouragement from those around us and drop the guilt that drags us down.

~Luke

the Queen :) said...

I am with you that I always try to be honest and not make myself look better than I really am. When people look too perfect, I find it hard to believe and discouraging. I LOVE REAL people who are willing to share struggles and rejoice in successes...

And I learn more from REAL people than I do from "perfect" ones.

OH and my husband turns his nose up at some healthy food too but not as much as my children! LOL!

Victoria Stankus said...

Good thoughts! So many of us moms (me included) get easily discouraged when we feel like we are lacking in areas where we should be doing good. Its one of Satan's ways to make us doubt ourselves and lead us into depression. Just be who you are, Carie, and be proud of it! You are a great person inside and out!