Our children are growing up in a blogging world. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
They are very aware of the fact that both mummy and daddy have blogs and from the blogs they on occasion have new toys for no real reason, so in the minds of five year old twins it has to be a win-win situation.
Hey, it’s June 10th nothing special in our household about that date, except the fact that the girls just got toys related to the latest film or something similar. or mummy or daddy need to review them.
Throughout this summer we have been on a number of day trips which have been sponsored by either my wife’s blog or my own, and we have a few more to go to before the year ends. Another example of win-win for the twins.
Now our twin girls are five years old, they really are so aware of the benefits of blogging. They have day trips, toys and numerous other things from our blogs and what do they have to do? Just stand there, be photographed and look cute! Easy work.
The girls also know that mummy and daddy get paid money to write posts and they see this as how we earn our livings. If only that was true. Unfortunately although I earn well from my blog, I still need my day job to pay the bills.
So I was wondering to myself if, in 2012 when the girls were born they were born for the blog?
Along with my three older children they are all an endless source of blog posts. So do we have children for a blog?
Haha! It sounds outrageous I know, but I would never have been able to write 1200 posts without having five children. I would have run out of ideas a very long time ago.
The big question I have seen asked so many times is are we using our children to make our blogs successful? The truth is to some extent we are, to me the big question is are we harming them? I don’t think we are, how could we be harming them. It’s not possible, certainly not in our case anyways.
The twins benefit by going on day trips, theatre, zoos, they have toys, and we earn money that luckily enough for us buys us some luxuries for them that we couldn’t normally afford. In my mind that couldn’t possibly be harming them and it most certainly is not exploiting them because they are the beneficiaries of all our hard work, and believe me it is hard work. Just about every night I am doing something on my blog and so is my wife.
Our blogs also benefit my older children with the cost of university, and generally helping them out whenever we can.
The question is, have my children been born for the blog? Well in a strange way yes, because it’s the 21st century and this is the world we live in now and I for one love it.
If the girls started blogging/vlogging when they become teenagers, I know both my wife and I will be 110% behind them. How could we be anything but because it would certainly make us very two faced when we have spent so much time blogging.
So maybe the time has come to have another baby born for the blog, I could set deals with all sorts of brands the potential is endless. But I am of course only joking haha! But I have read online people actually thinking of doing this. How crazy is that!
I would love to know your thoughts. Have your children been born inadvertently for your blog?
26 Comments
Eric
August 25, 2017 at 12:10 am
I have a 3 year old and I am excited about the opportunities he might have. I will definitely share some of the things I learned!
Dad
August 25, 2017 at 4:26 am
No doubt about the hard work mate, I’m glad the girls get to enjoy some of the pay-off! #ThatFridayLinky
Heather Keet
August 25, 2017 at 5:12 am
It’s funny to think people would want to have kids for a blog – you certainly spend more raising the child than the blog pays! I also don’t think it hurts kids to be in the blog, it is the world now and as long as you’re not posting hurtful things than I see no harm in it. #ThatFridayLinky
Lucy
August 25, 2017 at 5:52 am
I was blogging before the kids came along .. about beauty. Then I switched to combining the two but motherhood is my main focus right now so that’s what I blog about 🙂 #thatfridaylinky
Stephanie
August 25, 2017 at 6:45 am
I debated how much I wanted to share and show photos and things like that as well. I came to the conclusion that documentation about this time in our lives is so important and interesting to look back on that it’s worth it. #ThatFridayLinky
Fran Back With A Bump
August 25, 2017 at 7:56 am
My blog definitely would be very dull and probably non existent without my kids. Although they benefit from the blog I make sure I don’t taken on reviews that won’t interest them a dig the eldest decides she doesn’t want to one included as she gets older then I will of course respect that. #thatfridaylinky
Kiri
August 25, 2017 at 8:10 am
I suppose all parenting and family bloggers can only blog because of their children. Mine are only 3 and 6 and like the toys and day trips but I do wonder how they will feel when they are teenagers! I try to avoid writing anything that would really embarrass them when they are older, and I hope that what I do write about them they will have the sense of humour to laugh about! #thatfridaylinky
Mackenzie Glanville
August 25, 2017 at 8:10 am
I only discovered blogs existed 3 years ago (well slightly less than 3 years) my youngest was in kindergarten at the time and another mum had a blog, hers is a adult book review blog though. I couldn’t believe I had no idea their were parenting blogs out there! I wish I had have known when mine were babies. My blog does include some posts about parenting, but mostly my posts have nothing to do with my kids. I do share lots of them on insta though as of course they are the biggest part of my life. I don’t think you’re harming your kids and they are clearly loved and adored! #ThatFridayLinky
Vicky
August 25, 2017 at 8:41 am
I think my blog was born because of my son rather than the other way around! It was not until I had him that I decided to start one, to help support and to find support from other parents going through the same thing. Having said that – even at one year old he is a comic genius and also the source of endless material. So although my blog was born for him, I have him to thank for its success! Now if we have a second one, that might be a different story…. #That FridayLinky
Maria | passion fruit, paws and peonies
August 25, 2017 at 10:43 am
I’m interested in this because when my grandchildren come along I’d love to have a segment in my blog about being a grandparent. I think it’s about being aware of the benefits and pitfalls and then communicating them openly. Thanks for writing this very interesting article x #ThatFridayLinky
Daddy Poppins
August 25, 2017 at 10:53 am
I wouldn’t say mine are ‘born for the blog’ but they provide me with endless content.
Laura Turner
August 25, 2017 at 11:00 am
I blog about my boy for other parents like me. When he was born at 28 + 6 and was in the nicu for 3 months I felt like the mum blogs I read weren’t meant for me, I couldn’t relate. So I started one I would’ve wanted to read at that time all about preemie parenting! I have tried blogging before but always ran out if things to talk about. Kids do provide actual blogging gold I find!
Kamsin
August 25, 2017 at 11:36 am
Interesting question. I blog less about my 3 year old than when I started a couple years ago. And I’m not in a position to get sponsored posts being outside of the U.K. So he doesn’t benefit from it at all!
So I guess my blog is mostly for me. My Instagram on the other hand may not be where it is today without my photogenic little munchkin! Lol.
#ThatFridayLinky
kristin mccarthy
August 25, 2017 at 12:45 pm
I would not be surprised a bit if my oldest got into blogging or writing in some respect.
#thatfridaylinky
Mrs Mummy Harris
August 25, 2017 at 2:56 pm
I would never have a child just for a career, just like I would never have a child for any other reason other than for love and to grow my family for the better #thatfridaylinky
Sarah – Mud, Cakes and Wine
August 25, 2017 at 4:15 pm
heehee mine is slightly different I blog about my garden and food but its mainly for something just for me. Though I do use the blog social side to bring to the public attention type 1 diabetes or ASD as its a huge part of my life. But the blog is about the topics that relax me from all those stresses #thatfridaylinky
Mama Grace
August 25, 2017 at 4:57 pm
I guess she’s my stimulus but I wouldn’t have another baby as a blogging opportunity! #ThatFridayLinky
Jo – Pickle & Poppet
August 25, 2017 at 9:07 pm
I started blogging whilst on my second mat leave as a way to keep my mind working and as an output so very new to this. Reuben has had a few things given to him for me to review and I never thought it would happen. Now I enjoy it as it means that the kids get a few things that we might not have otherwise been able to treat them to.
To have another baby for the blog, that seems crazy! #ThatFridayLinky
Sadie | Be Your Own Example
August 25, 2017 at 9:54 pm
I didn’t start my blog with the intention of talking about the kids much, but in the short time I’ve been doing it I have found myself doing more kid/family posts. I’m trying to find a balance of writing about them, but not oversharing. I don’t name my kids on my blog, and I try to limit the amount of photos with their faces in them. Particularly my teen, as I’ve talked about him being bullied I don’t want to splash his face across the blog. I doubt anyone who could identify him would ever come across my blog (I don’t use my name and I don’t mention my blog to people I know in the “real world”), it’s more my own personal take on it. And that’s what it boils down to – parents need to make their own choices (hopefully discussing it with the kids as they get older too).
#thatfridaylinky
Musings of a tired mummy…zzz…
August 25, 2017 at 11:47 pm
I can’t imagine what the world of blogging and social media will be like when the kids grow up! I do find myself thinking I wish I’d started my blog earlier to cover my pregnancy etc… #thatfridaylinky
jeremy@thirstydaddy
August 26, 2017 at 4:48 am
In two weeks I’m taking my daughter to the Hasbro toy fair for a few days, all on a media pass. I think as long as we use common sense there is no reason not to take advantage of the endless stories they provide for us. My littlest knows that daddy has a second job that he sometimes does from home that involves her posing for pics sometimes. For now she loves it, but I also write about things not related to parenting. I think that my girls have just helped me to scratch an inch I wasn’t aware that I had for a long time.
Chloe
August 26, 2017 at 9:49 am
Hi, I guess its all down to the individual blogger and they feel and for others not to judge. If it gives you a little extra cash and the girls get to experience new new things as a result then why not #ThatFridayLinky
Helen Gandy
August 27, 2017 at 7:58 pm
Hmmm interesting, I guess so in a way? Like you I have to work, running my blog would no way bring me enough pennies! The perks are of course fab. Thanks for hosting #ThatFridayLinky
Pen
August 27, 2017 at 8:55 pm
Hi Nige,
Thanks for this interesting post. Cygnet has never benefitted from my blog, apart from the fact that I blog to keep myself sane and what child does not benefit from that? I don’t earn anything from my blog and have a full time job to pay the bills.
Interesting post though – good luck to you Nige.
Pen x #ThatFridayLinky
David @ DadvWorld
August 28, 2017 at 5:15 pm
Great read mate.
Obviously my kid wasn’t born FOR the blog as the blog came long after. However the kids are pretty much the driving force behind it.
If we ever did have another I would certainly use it as an advantage on the blog because, well why not?!
However I clearly wouldn’t have a child purely for blogging reasons, that’s absurd!
Whatever my blog turns into will always be for reasons that benefit my family directly. After all that’s a parents job.
Its Adam Again
August 28, 2017 at 9:23 pm
Some really interesting points. I guess like any work, they will understand how much you all put into it to reap the rewards. #ThatFridayLinky