(do I have to tell? *grin*) -- 30 something
When did you start your site?
1999
Marital Status
Married
How old are your kids?
Ages 7 and 3
If you have pets, what kind do you have and what are their names?
Two goldfish named Bubbles and Goldilocks. The girls would love a dog, but I have allergies
Occupation - What kind of work do you and your spouse do?
Hobbies - What do you like to do, besides keep this site?
Gardening, cooking (especially with the girls), occasionally reading when I get the time
Location - Where are you from? Where are you now?
Canada (Alberta -- near the rockie mountains)
Why did you start writing your Web site?
I needed a hobby that would allow me to do something for mommy (exercise the brain a bit) but that didn't take me out of the house. The website's great -- I can sit at the computer (it's in the family room) while the girls play. I'm there as a referree if needed, but am still doing something that makes me proud of me (it's great being proud of my girls and my husband, but every once in awhile I need something that's mine).
Why do you write a site about your family?
I've chosen to do a site that allows the children to participate (they're the official craft testers). I find they're much more forgiving for the time spent on it that way. They even encourage me to sit down at the computer quite often ("mommy, have you put my ladybug on yet?")
Why do you post pictures of your children on your site?
Do you discuss your children on your site? Why or why not?
I discuss them more in the newsletter than in the website, but I do talk about them in both. Basically for the same reason as I post the pictures.
Do you and/or others in your family communicate with readers of your site?
Yes. We receive feedback and general chit chat through emails and the discussion group.
How much email feedback do you recieve from your site? Is it mainly positive or negative?
I receive mainly positive feedback (and lots of requests). Near a holiday, I can get 150 to 200 emails a day -- my husband and Grandma Gloria help answer all the mail when that happens. When there isn't a holiday coming, I get about 20 to 50 notes per day.
Have you met any new friends because of the site?
I've "met" a lot of new friends, but never in person. I've helped two other moms start websites and we talk at least once a week.
Has your motivation changed over time?
Do your friends and family know you keep this site/read it? If so have you had any really negative experiences as a result? If not why?
Everyone knows, but I've had no negative experiences. Everyone seems to like it (and chip in occasional ideas on how to make it better). The only "negative" is that for awhile it's all anyone would talk about, but I think the novelty has worn off now.
How has your Web site benefited you? Your friends? Or total strangers?
It's benefited me by giving me something I can be proud of.
I think my friends have benefited the most by having a more well-rounded friend. I have some "working mom" friends and "no kids" friends and I find we relate to each better now that I have something to share other than stories about my kids.
I like to think the website benefits moms, kids, teachers, etc. by what it provides.
If you had to do it over again from the beginning, what would you change?
I would have started earlier. I'd been looking for something like this for about 5 years before I discovered the website. The closest I came was gardening, but here in Alberta, we only get 4 or 5 months to garden.
