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It’s complicated

Do your friends or family read or know about your blog?

Some do, some don’t. I try not to broadcast the fact that I have a blog because I really don’t want my family reading it.

When I first started writing here, I didn’t care who saw or read it and actually used to link my posts to Pinterest, where they could be read by pretty much anyone, including my family who use Pinterest, specifically Mom and my older sister.

But the deeper I delved into writing, the less I wanted family reading it. I stopped linking the posts to Pinterest. That was probably more than two years ago.

I can see by my stats how many readers I’ve had in Canada each day so can usually account for who has read my blog.

A few months ago my Canadian readership blew up one particular day so I messaged Mom and my sisters and said, okay who’s reading my blog but both claimed not to have. My sister did say she shared the name of my blog with a friend of hers though. This is a lady I don’t really know, she’s not my friend.

I was kind of annoyed with my sister for doing that and she said oh sorry, I thought you wanted more readers. I said, well yeah, but not people I know. Not that I really know her. Not the general public, but I guess I do want anyone to read it. I told her I prefer to just have the WP community as followers but I suppose that’s not really true either.

I don’t know, it’s complicated I guess.

I think the thing is, I’m afraid of being judged for what I write. With my WP friends, I never fear judgment but with friends/family or my sister’s friends, I definitely do.

My three adult kids know about my blog but they don’t read it.

When Sid & I went up to the lake on Sunday, my brother in law took us on a wild ride lol
Sid, Scott & my niece Taylor

19 responses to “It’s complicated”

  1. Yeah, I’m with you. No need to have too many family members reading your blog. My husband reads mine. I think that’s about it.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. that is so awesome that you BIL has a GEO Tracker!

    my experience has always been – without fail – that when extended family and friends know about your blog, there are different second and third order of effects and consequences. and they are mostly negative. Mike

    Liked by 2 people

  3. I’d never write what I write on my blog if I couldn’t keep it anonymous. Kudos for you for feeling free to do it the way you do. You just have to be prepared to put up with disapproval from some readers, and screw them anyway!!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. I feel so similar in this. And my kids know about the blog but are too busy doing their own things I don’t look at unless they show me!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Totally on board. I often wonder what my friends and family would think if they read it. I’d rather not think about that!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes same!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. My wife reads mine and my brother, who was written a few guest posts. I used to post links to the blog on Facebook, but haven’t in a long while.

    When I got divorced, I blocked all my exes family and made it so any people with a possible connection to my ex couldn’t see what I posted.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. CJ, same😂 I post something that I think is halfway decent…on weekends I will see two or three of the kids and ask what they thought about my latest post , I see them giving each other the side eye and wary looks, lol. Oh well, Van Gogh wasn’t recognized in his lifetime, either.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. 😂

      Like

  8. there are quite a bit of canadian wp folks here too so it’s possible they could add to the views.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. I so understand you, CJ. I just unpinned my FB post yesterday, where my blog domain is there. I barely have readership from the Philippines because I told my sisters not to share my blogs.🤭

    I wanted to keep my blog private from my relatives and friends from the Philippines as much as I could. Though, I have duplications on my FB page.

    I’m okay without readers from the Philippines. 😁

    Liked by 1 person

  10. my family knows. I don’t think they read it…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Would you want them to?

      Liked by 1 person

  11. my husband and daughter know that I sometimes talk about them …anything I write would not be a revelation. my mother always has her own agenda so probably better she doesn’t read. as to my sister and sister in law- I guess they have their own agdndas too. I am honest in my thoughts about them. it’s probably quieter without them reading, but it doesn’t matter to me. I wrote what I feel.compelled to write

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yeah i understand that. When i first mentioned it to my older sister i blurted out a disclaimer lol and said like i don’t want your opinions on what’s been said here, read if you want but don’t talk to me about it later.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. I have a few family members who read my blog, especially when I was translating my wife’s grandfather’s poems and posting them. I really don’t mind if they read my posts, and then judge and critique them. I’m used to that, so there’s really nothing new. They know that I have always been an independent thinker and that I have selective hearing when they speak to me. I think you are a talented writer and storyteller, and they should read your posts and be proud.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s a really good take on it Edward, yessss!! Thanks for sharing that, i needed to hear that!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re so welcome, my friend.

        Liked by 1 person

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