Monday, March 30, 2009

Secret Agent Mommy

You know what they say...be careful what you blog-you never know who is reading.

While I don't have to worry about employers or anything, I have kept my blog largely anonymous. I don't have up pictures of anyone's faces, or use any real names, or give my city/state, or anything like that.

Why all the secrecy? I don't want to be identified.

Mostly because I am petrified that someone I know in real life will read what I write. I am a very private person by nature and the thought of my mother in law or some chick I went to 10th grade with reading my inner thoughts and keeping up with my family kind of gives me the shakes. I don't like to be dissected, or judged-and while the also anonymous blog crowd is generally good at not doing so I'm afraid that those I know in real life might not be so kind.

Also, I really dislike the idea of having to edit myself. How am I supposed to write about the horror I feel when I bump into someone from high school or my frustration with holier-than-thou relatives if I know they're out there watching me? I need to get this stuff off my chest, but if I had planned on telling them these things I would have brought it up last time I saw them.

Even if I gave up some of my anonymity I still wouldn't be sending out emails inviting friends and family to stop by-but I know that it is bound to happen (someday) that one of them would see a picture of one of the family, or Google my name or something, and stumble upon my secret treasure of blog thoughts, so I keep pretty tight lipped on here about my Clark Kent side.

There's only one problem....this is MY blog! It's personal, and sometimes that means sharing personal things. I want to post pictures of the kidlets. They are so adorable. Seriously. You should see them. I want you to see them, and to keep pictures of them up for online posterity. I want to be able to write about things going on in my area. I'd like to stop going by "Person aka Mommy". (That's getting more than a little cumbersome.) I'd like to share things about myself with my blog friends! [Except my age. I don't know if I'll ever tell you about my age...I have my reasons.]

That's why I've been thinking about getting a little less anonymous around here, but the thought still makes me very very nervous. How about some input...do you have an all-anonymous blog (no pictures or names or anything)? A semi-anonymous blog (names changed to protect the guilty)? Or are you an out-in-the-open blogger (first and last name posted, house pinpointed on Google maps)? What do you think are the pros and cons of how you approach your blog? How did you pick your style?

Secret Agent Mommy wants to know.

6 comments:

Jen said...

Hell, I dont even want my husband to know I have a blog..I'm sure he does though!

I have gotten a little "looser" now that I've started my new one. A friend from grade school - HS is now a reader..and it's actually pretty nice to let go a bit.

Unknown said...

I guess I am an out in the open blogger, but I love the I love the idea being anonymous. I never thought about it as no one knowing who you are so everything goes! I may have to start an anonymous one to!

Suzie said...

I pretty well all out there but I censor myself alot but as I write this blogs for my kids to see soemday I would have to do that anyway.

Kiy said...

I am not completely out in the open but the only things missing is our last name and the whole google map thing. When I started my little blog, it was just to keep far away friends and family connected. Now that I've branched out, I am not sure what to do. So, I do nothing and keep on blogging!

I have no answers for you, but really, you need to do what you are most comfortable with. Maybe share pic's of your kiddos for a day or so and then take them down? That way, you can brag on them (the fun!) but still not keep them up forever?

Cheers, Kiy

Jenny said...

My blog has pictures and our names, but I don't share our last name.

I love sharing pictures and stories.

My family knows about my blog, but I haven't shared it with extended family. I get nervous thinking about people reading it.

Sometimes I'd like to start a completely anonymous blog so I can vent about family and things!

MrsM said...

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm sure you'll notice that I went all crazy and stuff and changed my blog name (finally) to Mrs. M---that's right, my very own truly real last initial---AND posted a picture of the Hubby and I on my post about our wedding anniversary.

I think my new policy is going to be no names or places, but if someone I know in real life comes across this blog and figures out it's me through deductive reasoning I'm just going to have to let that go. And ignore them when they try to talk about it in real life. =)