Thursday, May 19, 2011

- i'm back -

I took my blog down for a couple days to do some soul searching, and to make some tough decisions...specifically regarding my blog. It seemed a little early to already be reconsidering my blog (it's only been up for one month!), but this week, two people we know have had some blog scares. One friend had her entire blog stolen and copied. Someone was using a copy of her blog to make money off of sponsors. The other family had an even scarier situation. They actually had a stranger try to pick up their daughter from her preschool...he learned the daughter's name, the parents' names, and what school she went to all from their blog. Luckily, the preschool had security steps in place and did not let the girl go with the stranger...how scary is that??

Both of these stories (told to us on the same day) freaked me and Matt out, and I decided to take my blog down until we could sort these scares out in our heads.

Here is what it came down to...I love blogging! I have wanted to start a blog for quite awhile now, and I was so happy when I finally took the time to do it! After only a month, I have met some amazing fellow bloggers who have already said the nicest things about my posts. I didn't want to stop blogging. I also didn't want to make my blog private. As much as I blog for my family and friends, I also blog for the other mommy bloggers out there that I have just met, or that I have yet to meet!  I also didn't want to take all of my pictures down, or stop posting anymore pictures of my family. I am fairly new to photography, but I have found that it is something that I absolutely love so much. I am obsessed with everything that has to do with photography, and I yearn to learn more and become better. I want to share the photos I take on my blog. That was a big reason I started blogging.

So, knowing those two things, I had to decide if I wanted to continuing blogging, (knowing that I would not be okay making my blog private, and I would not be okay not posting pictures of my daughter and the rest of my family). Matt supported me and encouraged me to continue. I just couldn't get the thought out of my head...what if my blog led to something scary happening to my family, either on the internet, or in our town? I made the decision that it wasn't worth it, and told Matt  I was done. Then, the next day I talked to my sister, who told me I couldn't live in fear. She told me that as long as I was blogging carefully, there should be no reason I need to stop. Not long after that, one of those friends that had the blog scare talked to me about her situation. She had made the decision not to stop blogging, even after her blog was copied and used for someone else's profit. She told me that if this was something I enjoyed, that I needed to continue. She commented to me how much she was enjoying my blog and encouraged me not to stop.

And so, I'm back!  I will be extra careful never to refer to our last name, and I will also not  be revealing details of where we live or work in any of my posts. That is just information that internet creeps do not need to know!

My photos will also all be watermarked from now on. A little sense of security knowing if someone else does try to use them on their own blogs, websites, etc, my watermark will give credit where credit is due and stop people from claiming they are their own images. And likewise, if I borrow or use images from the web in my posts, I will be sure to credit the images properly, so the correct people are getting credit.

But all in all, after a couple of days of soul searching, I realized I enjoy blogging...a lot. And I don't want to stop. I will be very careful when I blog, to protect my loved ones, but I will not stop blogging...It's a decision that came from the heart...

(Image credit chronophasia)

Have any of you fellow mommy bloggers shared these same concerns when blogging? What have you done to protect your family while still maintaining a personal blog that other people can connect with? I would love to hear other suggestions and tips!

18 comments:

Jeannie Joie said...

terrifying to have someone try to pick up your kid! I keep mine pretty vague- no real names, not a whole lot of real information at all. The only people who know who we are are my facebook friends. Be smart, don't give people information they don't need.

Amy said...

I'm new to blogging too. Reading about the person trying to pick up someone's child at daycare has really freaked me out! I will definately reevaluate what I put in my blog from now on. Wow...that is just too scary! Glad you decided to keep your blog up though!

Unknown said...

I'm newish to blogging, too, and I have had moments where I thought about this, too. I've wondered if I shouldn't take down photos of kids, etc.
In the end, I thought to keep going with it. I love it and don't want to edit myself. I mean... there are evil people everywhere and the truth is people try to harm others or their children blogs or no blogs. Scary!

Gena @ Life With Captain Fussybuckets said...

holy cow, that's so scary!!! It gives us bloggers something to think about, but I think we just need to be careful. I'm glad you didn't give up your blog!

Beauty and The Green said...

Wow, I can only imagine the horror of someone trying to abduct your child. Really scary stuff. I will definitely be more careful about what I say. Ams os happy that you came back, your blog is a breath of fresh air.

Samantha said...

Thanks for stopping by Nifty Mom! I am following you :)

Crunchy Diva said...

wow that IS scary. i always ALWAYS wonder about putting up pictures of our kids, and all the private info of our kids on our blogs. like you i want to get to know people, but on the other hand it is scary to have my son's picture on the web. i'm like you & i don't put pics of my son on my blog well not where you can see his entire image that is, & it is kind of sad that we have to do it, but we have to be careful for our kids.

follwing from FNF

Katie said...

SCARY!!!! Wow! I'm new to the blogger world too, and hearing these stories gives me the chills, especially sine we have a little one to worry about as well.

BTW Im following you back and love your blog! Glad you decided to come back and bless us with your thoughts :)

And I would love to guest post for you! Its an honor to have been asked. You can email me at k_dufour@Hotmail.com

www.punkinheadsanddoodaloos.blogspot.com

Christa Cox said...

hey stopping by from the "follow the leader" blog hop doing a little self promotion cuz we're cool like that :). Be sure to come check us out! www.christanncox.blogspot.com WE FOLLOW BACK! have a great weekend!

Senaah said...

hi! i'm a new follower from blog hop, http://thealexfund.blogspot.com :)

-Senaah Moon fb/twitter

Colleen @ Mommy Panda said...

I don't use my sons name, and I don't post pictures where you can see 100% of his face. I originally did it to protect him in the future, but your friends' stories give me another one!

MissMOE said...

wOW! How scary, but I do think you can't live in fear. I don't use names on my blog and I pretty much keep my internet idenity seperate from my real life one. The only place they merge is on facebook, and I only have people I know as friends so I feel pretty safe about how I'm doing it.

Also wanted to let you know I'm a new follower from the blog hop.

everyday products and more said...

yes that is sad into day's age you can trust no one i also dont post full pics of me or my family you never no who's looking at them i saw another blogger that checked her sites linking in the URL's and she saw that a kiddie porn sit was linking in on her page now that's scary i don't use our names either it's bad enough i get emails telling i won the Nigerian lottery on a daily basis glad to see your back newest follower from the hop look forward to reading your blog
http://everydayproductsandmore.blogspot.com/

Marlee said...

Hey! I definitely don't use my real name while blogging if that helps, but I certainly do use mine as a personal journal of sorts. Blogging is just so therapeutic to me, ya know?

Found you at the Making New Friends Blog Hop, and am glad I did! Am a happy new follower, great post!

www.marleeindebt.blogspot.com

Diana said...

that is a crazy scary situation!!! It's hard to make that kind of decision, I love blogging, It's something I've done for a long time and can't really see my life without it, I don't put up so much private information, specifically the town I live or the area I live in. Don't stop what you love for the fear of it, the good out weighs the bad. I'm a new follower btw :)

http://deeluxuries.blogspot.com/

lindy said...

I'm so happy you've decided to continue blogging! In my opinion your sister is right, we can't live in fear. Most bloggers in the blogging community are phenomenal, terrific people who share so much of themselves, inspiring us, that we want to share back. But we also can't completely open ourselves up to the underbelly of society either. When I decided to join the blogging world last month, my husband and I both had concerns. Namely, safeguarding me and my family from the dangers this could create for us. I understand what you mean when you say it made you sad having to remove your husband's and children's names-I have to do the same thing. When I would love nothing more than to show off my family, and to put my name to my work, I don't have that luxury. We can't be too careful. There are no identifying pictures and no real names on my blog. But regardless of this, every word I pour out on there is very personal and real. Thanks for sharing your story.
Hope to read more from you in the future! I'm a new follower from the Finding New Friends blog hop! Would love it if you'd swing by my blog when you get a chance! :)

BrendaC said...

Wow what a scary story, but I totally agree with your sister, sadly in todays world we have to be careful in everything that we do not just blogging, but we can't let knowing that stop us from doing what we love.I am your newest GFC follower from the hop, would love it if you dropped by my blog at WV Stitcher . Have a fantastic weekend!

Danielle said...

So scary!! I try to be careful with the information I share, but I don't think I would want to stop blogging entirely.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am following back! :)

-Danielle

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