BMA Moms Enter the Blogosphere

A new blog is launched every second. That's according to Technorati, a search engine that tracks updates in the blogosphere, or the world of blogs. A blog is an online journal where people post their views on a wide range of subjects, from television shows to world politics.

BMA member Catherine Tronnes started to blog earlier this year and now keeps two blogs. One includes ideas for a book she's writing about kids (she has three) and food. The other is a family blog that she says she started "to facilitate a little more keeping in touch in a 'techie way.'"

We asked Tronnes for some background on her blogging experiences.

Q: Talk a little bit about why you started blogging.

A: Wow. I don't know how it all evolved really. I was so anti-blogging. I felt that there just wasn't anything about my life so
noteworthy that I would take the time. I read blogs from time to time and felt that I might be seen as egotistical or something to jump in and document my life. Well, I kept finding myself typing up long stories about my kids or health updates and events and copying my siblings on my life. It occurred to me if there was a site where they could just go visit if they wanted it would be SO much easier. I realized that a blog is much like a small town newspaper where you find out that Mary Jones' son and his new wife came to visit with their adopted daughter. Now it is about SHARING my LIFE
with OTHERS....not sharing MY life with others.

Q: Have you kept a journal before? What's it like to keep one that's so public, where people can also post comments?

A: I have tried many times to keep a journal. I tried to keep a small notebook to write down all the cute things that kids say. I tried keeping a food diary to narrow down sensitivities. I tried keeping recipes in one place. I tried and I failed. The notebook was always in the other room or the pen didn't work or something! It just seemed that I was meant to only LIVE this life, not document it. But now....even now, as a new blogger, I can look back at the days and weeks and remember what happened and even how it felt. I can take random pictures of any given silly thing we do during a day, and keep them forever at my fingertips. And yes, the world can see it too, if they're looking. I just believe that it's all pretty harmless and that if something I can share can help someone else...or if they can look at my life and maybe even feel better about their own, it's all fine with me. I love the fact that my friends and family can leave their thoughts about my posts! It just helps us all keep in touch...and my friends get to know each other through my blog as well.

Q: Have there been any surprises for you in keeping a blog? Does it encourage you to keep writing when you might not make the time to otherwise?

A: The biggest surprise is the number of "hits" or visitors. I put a counter on my sites, just for fun, and was AMAZED at how many times my blog is viewed. That alone keeps me going. I would be at a loss to find a way to not only communicate with others, but to keep a journal, if it weren't this way. I can find time to sit and type two paragraphs SO much easier than learning to scrapbook, or writing letters, or keeping notebooks full of the information so readily available through my PC.

Q: What advice would you have for someone who wants to start a blog?

A: Just do it. Set it up. Play around. Don't worry what anyone will think of it. Even though blogs are public by nature, you don't have to share. There are ways to password your blog and only allow known visitors. They may seem to be not-for-the-technically-challenged. Not the case. Set-up takes about three minutes for someone with little to no computer skills. After that, it's as time consuming as you want it to be.

Catherine's blogs:
Food blog: http://feedmemomma.blogspot.com/
Family blog: http://tronnes.blogspot.com/

For more information about blogs and to set one up yourself:
Typepad: http://www.sixapart.com/typepad/start
Blogger: www.blogger.com