Disclaimer
Families are weird, aren't they?
I was always concerned about blogging about The Husband and The Money (or lack of both...) because I didn't want to be disloyal, and I was aware that you would only be reading my side of things. However, I felt safe in the knowledge that hardly anyone I knew read The Happy Housewife. Oh, how wrong was I?! Now people that don't read it are telling other people who don't read it not to read it because it is too personal, too intimate, too revealing....
Odd. The blogosphere provided a safe arena in which I could anonymously offload, and there is nothing that I have written which I would be ashamed about anyone else reading anyway - it is just that as a family we don't talk about stuff. It isn't done.
So - just for the record. My marriage is very wobbly - but it is far from over. In fact we go from strength to strength. My children are amazing. We have no money. That is it in a nutshell.
If you don't like reading the details of The Happy Housewife's life, you're in the wrong place. And far from being shockingly intimate, I think I have been remarkably restrained. This is the forum I have chosen to work through some of my issues. Gently, thoughtfully and with a sense of humour, I hope. I have chosen to confide in a community of women whom I have never met, but who provide advice, encouragement, love and support, because they are not afraid to talk... and they make no judgements. Life is Hard Work, but it is no different to anyone else's.
I love The Husband very much. Very much. He knows I write here as The Happy Housewife, and no, he doesn't read it often - he respects my need to get Things Off My Chest.
I am sorry if I have offended anyone I know, sorry if I have been Too Open and aired my Dirty Washing in public, but I write. Other people might paint or do drugs or have affairs. I write.
Christmas was exhausting and I ate too much, but I spent it with my family, surrounded by the people I love, and we all enjoyed it. Life goes on.
I don't know when I will write again as the Happy Housewife - and if I do, I don't know what it will be about. Probably the usual boring minutae of life as a mother of 4, doing her thing on a shoestring budget, and dealing with the ups and downs of married life to a man who is wonderful but utterly and totally frustrating to the point of distraction. It is no big deal. It is the same life as millions of other women all over the world. Except maybe I am a little pre-occupied with food - the preparation of it, the cooking of it, the eating of it, the taste of it...
This isn't a novel. It is a record of my thoughts and feelings about my everyday life. There are good days and bad days. Sometimes I am Jolly and sometimes I am not. That's life. You are opening the pages of a personal diary - albeit one liberally sprinkled with Culinary Adventures. Personally, I can't believe it merits any Great Discussion.
Who knows what 2007 will bring?
I was always concerned about blogging about The Husband and The Money (or lack of both...) because I didn't want to be disloyal, and I was aware that you would only be reading my side of things. However, I felt safe in the knowledge that hardly anyone I knew read The Happy Housewife. Oh, how wrong was I?! Now people that don't read it are telling other people who don't read it not to read it because it is too personal, too intimate, too revealing....
Odd. The blogosphere provided a safe arena in which I could anonymously offload, and there is nothing that I have written which I would be ashamed about anyone else reading anyway - it is just that as a family we don't talk about stuff. It isn't done.
So - just for the record. My marriage is very wobbly - but it is far from over. In fact we go from strength to strength. My children are amazing. We have no money. That is it in a nutshell.
If you don't like reading the details of The Happy Housewife's life, you're in the wrong place. And far from being shockingly intimate, I think I have been remarkably restrained. This is the forum I have chosen to work through some of my issues. Gently, thoughtfully and with a sense of humour, I hope. I have chosen to confide in a community of women whom I have never met, but who provide advice, encouragement, love and support, because they are not afraid to talk... and they make no judgements. Life is Hard Work, but it is no different to anyone else's.
I love The Husband very much. Very much. He knows I write here as The Happy Housewife, and no, he doesn't read it often - he respects my need to get Things Off My Chest.
I am sorry if I have offended anyone I know, sorry if I have been Too Open and aired my Dirty Washing in public, but I write. Other people might paint or do drugs or have affairs. I write.
Christmas was exhausting and I ate too much, but I spent it with my family, surrounded by the people I love, and we all enjoyed it. Life goes on.
I don't know when I will write again as the Happy Housewife - and if I do, I don't know what it will be about. Probably the usual boring minutae of life as a mother of 4, doing her thing on a shoestring budget, and dealing with the ups and downs of married life to a man who is wonderful but utterly and totally frustrating to the point of distraction. It is no big deal. It is the same life as millions of other women all over the world. Except maybe I am a little pre-occupied with food - the preparation of it, the cooking of it, the eating of it, the taste of it...
This isn't a novel. It is a record of my thoughts and feelings about my everyday life. There are good days and bad days. Sometimes I am Jolly and sometimes I am not. That's life. You are opening the pages of a personal diary - albeit one liberally sprinkled with Culinary Adventures. Personally, I can't believe it merits any Great Discussion.
Who knows what 2007 will bring?
Labels: blog, blogging, daily-life, family, weblog
posted by The Happy Housewife at 12:05 PM
23 Comments:
I hope yopu don't stop writing I getting htings of fyour chest - I know I need it or i go crazy. I'd havte for you to go crazy too.. besides I really enjoy your work, i promise to comment more and everything!!!
You always write with a careful blend of honesty and delicacy. It is part of what makes you such enjoyable reading.
Everone in my real life knows about my blog except my in-laws. I suppose they may know, but not from me. They are a very polite Southern family who also don't talk about things, and writing in a way acceptable to them would mean, well, not writing.
I have just discovered you and hope for the best in 2007 for you and yours...
I know I will be here to read of your trials and tribulations...
I found out over Christmas that I have a far wider readership amongst my own family than I had reckoned with. This came as something of a surprise.
To give just one example: my grandmother is now online and sending me messages via the blog.
It's funny that the things I am willing to confide to cyberspace are sometimes things that I wouldn't have chosen to discuss with my nearest and dearest.
Himself studiously avoids reading the blog and has expressed fervant wishes not to be mentioned - I excuse myself as I never use his name.
People are funny things - without first-hand readership they probably imagine that you are maligning and the family and turning into a slanderous online Bridget Jones!
I have thought this through and decided that if I try and tailor what I write to my newly discovered readership then this communication will go the same way as all the rest - I am notorious for unreturned phonecalls and unanswered letters emails and texts.
You go girlfriend ! Dont change a thing. I fully understand and support your right and need to express yourself through your writing....besides you have made me laugh on many occasion. You have everything it takes to be a fantastic writer. Keep up the good work. Its like TV...if you dont like the program...change channel !!!!! Hugssss
My whole family has found my blog thanks to a quirky coincidence of a cousin with a lot of interent time...
I see an new and more anonymous blog in my future.
As Pendullum says, I will be here to read...
Keep on sharing! Let those who don't like it move on ... I know, easier said than done.
Chelle
Man...I could have written that same post about 6 months ago. Should've, actually. Don't stop writing. I just found you!
Please don't stop writing! And money. Ugh, money. It's the only thing me and my brokeass husband fight about and we adore each other. It's just so stressful. And the holidays are especially hard on us brokeasses. Keep on keeping on!
I just arrived and am looking forward to future installments of your tale.
You are hereby validated. You ahve the right to say anything you need to anytime you need to with no apologies at all..
you and I are in the same boat...except I don't have the shoestring left...just the holes..
I love your writing, you make me laugh and feel better about my life...don't go away. Please.
I discovered you in late November just before you took off and kept stopping by to see if you'd written more. I can't remember how I got here, maybe through Toddled Dredge?
My family knows about my blog and it has significantly limited what I write about. I often consider shutting the blog down to start a new anonymous one without pictures or revealing nicknames. It is tempting until I realize that even then my posts would be somewhat restrained for the very reasons you included here.
Good luck in 2007.
You must read Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel with your love of cooking and immersion into food as a life focus!
You'll enjoy the results of my blog study. Presenting oneself publicly is something that movie stars and politicians do by nature, not just regular mums. I'm surprised that my husband is my most regular reader... and often the one who gives me criticism that really bothers me!!!
Yes, we have to edit a bit. Sometimes we want to just write in order to play, to sort things out and yes, sometimes, to get some sort of feedback. Motherhood can be a lonely, isolating thing that seems to deplete the self as it nurtures others.
Sometimes other mothers are the most understanding... because we've been in each others' shoes. The low points of a marriage often then make the flip side of the joyous times.
I, too, write edited versions, not the raw although the raw might be more gripping to read, it is less fair to the others who live my tangible life.
The novelty of blogging is probably -- I would think -- a little harder to adjust to as a Brit? With your culture being more reserved?
Americans have a culture of mobility which means more isolation and often separation from old friends and family.
Hang in there. Keep writing. Be inspired by food. Rotten writing doesn't smell like rotten fruit. It doesn't even linger within site, really. Each post is a new day.
I'm glad you're writing again, do keep it up. I haven't stopped by for ages - sorry you've been having such a rough time.
I agree that blogging isn't naturally an English/British medium - I looked for ages to find some interesting English blogging mothers but that fear of publicising dirty laundry, seems to keep everyone quiet. It seems a shame cos it is so great to have comments from other bloggers sympathising and cheering you on - just what you need as a mother stuck at home with small children.
We're also surviving on a shoestring here baked beans on toast are a regularly menu item.
I am obviously very late to this, but I throw in my 2 cents (which isn't much, considering the weak dollar!) to say I hope you will continue to write when you can because I always appreciate your thoughts - food and otherwise.
XXOO
I miss your writings.
an adoring fan.
Hi Happy Housewife. I miss you.
Merry Mama
Such a shame that I just found your blog and I see that your last post was over a month ago. I hope you don't stop writing!!
I stop by from time to time to see if you've left us something witty and delicious. I do hope you'll keep blogging, and that 2007 will bring many good things your way!
Hi, good to have come across your blog through a random search on housewives! Hope to read it regularly.
You really should write some more...forget what everyone thinks about you. You are so very cool and witty. So....come on!!!!Update, I just found you. *hugs*
may be this interests you waiting might be good idea
iam no expert.. but i safely say, perfection and reality is oxymoron. balance out to your expectations then reality would be much more fun then what it is.
best wishes.. from eFriend
Hi-- How's you been? Long time no hear. Drop me a line.
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