Dear Mummy-Blogger-To-Be, It’s Not What You Think…


Dear Mummy-Blogger-To-Be,

I know what you’re thinking – this blogging thing could really work for you. It could give you a voice, an identity, maybe even a career! You’ve dipped your toe in and found a warm community of fellow bloggers eager to share their money-making secrets and helpful parenting tips.

You’ve found a place to belong when, in the “real” world, you don’t.

I know this because that’s what I thought too.

Blogging is not the holy grail

But I’m afraid, lovely mummy-blogger-to-be, that I need to shatter your starry-eyed views. Blogging is not the holy grail it appears at first.

I once believed it to be the ultimate deal when it comes to flexible working – I could drop the kids off at school, bash out some emails and tweets, and then pick them up ready to crack on with the homework and bedtime routine. I would be around every weekend, and school holidays would be a doddle because I would be my own boss, able to take leave whenever I liked. I would have the best of both worlds – a stay-at-home mummy who was making money and forging a career for herself.

Alas, this is not how it has turned out.

Career-blogging is very time-consuming. There are appointments, deadlines, meetings and conferences. Yes you can be flexible about when you type your posts, but what about the Thursday evening theatre production you need to review? Or the blogging event being held on a Saturday? What about the PR person who wants to meet you in person when you’re supposed to be at parent-assembly?

Blogging, like every other career, comes with its hurdles.

mummy-blogger-to-be blogging with dirty dishes

Blogging = no time to clean the house!

The impact on family life

And even if you manage to keep your diary free for all the key childcare moments, being a parenting-blogger encroaches on your life. Oh mummy-blogger-to-be – you will never have a quiet family weekend again. Wherever you are, whatever your family is doing, you will be snapping away for Instagram.

As much as you try to “switch off” from work, you will inevitably pause the family expedition at least once to get an insta-worthy photo. You might even do a quick Facebook Live. The kids will eventually start to roll their eyes – they know the drill – they need to stand still and smile at the camera because mum is working again.

What’s more (and this is a hard reality to face), your kids will begin to wonder if you actually like being with them because you like being with them, or because it’s your job to play happy families…

Great opportunities

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I am sorry for the tale of woe I have just bestowed on you. Let me assure you that there are many great things about blogging too.

There are the opportunities – we have visited theatres, been sent gifts, had all-expenses-paid days out, we’ve even had a one-to-one meeting with the big man himself (Santa!). These are things that we would never have done otherwise.

Then there’s the sense of pride that you will feel. These companies are searching you out. These readers are avidly reading your posts. As a mummy-blogger-to-be, I am sure you long for that validation and encouragement. Yup that feels good (although you’ll question yourself at least once a day, wondering if it’s all a fluke and everyone came to your blog by accident).

And the money is always a perk. It’s amazing to have a little extra income that is a direct result of your hard work and creativity.

I never want to seem ungrateful for all of this. This is what I have longed for and worked towards for all these months. The phrase, “when my blog takes off, I will…”, has been uttered more times than I care to remember! It is exciting and humbling for me that I am now in a position where I work regularly with brands.

mummy-blogger-to-be computer and the word blog

Don’t be naïve, mummy-blogger-to-be

But I don’t want you to be taken in, Mummy-Blogger-To-Be. I want you to know that it’s not all free Christmas hampers and pyjama days. Being a mummy blogger is a career like any other – it takes time (LOTS of it), it takes commitment, it takes sacrifice.

It’s not a fast track to paid motherhood or an easy solution to childcare problems.

This side of blogging is not discussed very much – the posts focus on getting you to that golden moment where you can become a pro-blogger. I don’t want to put you off. I just want you to know the truth.

I want you to see that the further in you get, the harder it is to fit around family life. I want you to be prepared.

So my advice to you is this – follow your passion. If you love to write, if you love to take photos, if you love to create, blogging could be the perfect career for you. But just remember, it is a career and it is just as time-hungry as any other start-up business.

And remember, you can always step back a bit or keep it as a hobby if it’s getting a bit too much.

Thanks for reading,

Lucy x

Blogging is not the holy grail & here's why - the truth about blogging as a parent blogger and blogging tips

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24 Comments

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  1. 1
    Hazel Newhouse

    This, this, 100x THIS!!!! Absolutely spot on. I’ve been blogging for 6 years now and it’s gone from ‘hobby’ to an actual ‘job’. I still have lazy days, where I can’t even be bothered to check my emails… and boy do I pay for it! Good luck to any future bloggers. My tip fpr them: keep it fun and don’t stress about it! X

  2. 2
    Tubbs

    This so true and should be compulsory reading for any wannabe blogger. My blog is firmly hobby but a few mum friends have asked me about blogging as a career and been horrified at the amount of time I spend. I always tell them double or treble that, plus deadlines, meetings and other job related stuff because if you want to do it as a job, that’s what it is. A job. And you have to show up for those rain or shine. Plus it takes ages to get from start up to pro. It’s not a quick fix.

  3. 3
    Baby Isabella at Dear Mummy Blog

    We read the title as our blog name to begin with!! LOL. Such a true post and we’re so glad our blog is our hobby. We love that we can put it down and not stress, but its still great we can work with brands. This is our happy balance. My mummy couldn’t imagine doing two careers as she works full time in a job she loves. We’re amazed at the amount of people that think that blogging is a quick win….its proper hard work to make it pay well! x #DreamTeam

  4. 4
    natalie

    This post is so true – it is so hard work. You also never get the time to switch off – its constantly taking pictures, commenting on posts, writing posts – its full on!! #dreamteam

  5. 5
    Emma McCarthy

    Couldn’t agree with this more. I haven’t been blogging that long but under no illusion about the work that’s involved. If it was just about writing posts and occasionally posting on twitter then great. But to make something out of in you’ve got to put in the hours and make a few sacrifices as with any career. But then i hope to find that it is a rewarding one! #DreamTeam

  6. 6
    Helen aka Welsh Mum Writing

    So very true. I have been a “mummy blogger” for four months now and to be honest I could spend 6 hours a day on it if I let myself. I have a day job so that’s not possible but that day job is in comms and PR so I under exactly what is needed to get all “the stuff done” to make digital content work.Making money by blogging can happen but it’s not drinking coffee and banging out a few tweets. For me I do what I can and I do it’s because it’s fun. Realistically I know I can commit enough to grab some goodies and products that I want and a couple of holidays.I have a second blog which I’ve had since 2013 which is focussed on my fiction writing. I don’t do much now but at its height I would be spending hours a day on it, including getting up at 2am to take part in Facebook parties with a US audience. It’s amazing fun but I agree like any job, it is work! It also costs money. Now if anyone could come up with a job where I just need to tweet a few times today and eat cake… well, sign me up. #ablogginggoodtime

  7. 7
    Sarah Stockley

    Oh so true… I started out 3 years ago sharing craft tutorials for our wedding. I always got good feedback about my family days out on FB so a successful blogger friend suggested I started sharing our days out. At the time I worked part-time still, I didn’t need the extra income from blogging, I did it for pure enjoyment (and the odd free day out). I got made redundant in 2016 and last year decided to try and make a bit more of my blog. I get the odd sponsored post but don’t take things seriously enough. Blogging is time consuming and completely takes over your life but I love it. Sarah #ablogginggoodtime

  8. 8
    Modern Gypsy

    This is so very important to remember, isn’t it? Blogging is a lot of hard work, even when it’s just for fun! There’s the post writing, image creating, social media sharing, reading and commenting, and the list goes on and on! And yet, this is an aspect that no one ever talks about. So it’s refreshing to read this! #ablogginggoodtime

  9. 10
    Annette, 3 Little Buttons

    This is brilliant Lucy. I completely agree. And it’s such a very small amount of bloggers that make blogging into a highly lucrative career in the end. It’s definitely not for the feint hearted that’s for sure. Thanks for joining us for the #dreamteam xx

  10. 11
    Rhyming with Wine

    Oh Lucy just yes yes yes to this! I was besotted with blogging and wowed by the incredible community when I first joined. Every view was such a high and it thrilled me to think that people were reading my posts and leaving such gorgeous comments. The time and commitment that has to go into maintaining a blog is mind blowing though, and it feels as though the more we do, the more there us to do! I’ve poured my heart, soul and countless hours into my blog this last 2 1/2 years and I’ve yet to earn a penny! It scares to push myself into pro-blogger status as I would hate the commitment and obligations to suck the passion out of writing for me. You’ve posted a really balanced view here and I completely relate to everything you’ve said. Thanks for linking to #DreamTeam x

  11. 13
    Erin Ek Rush

    It is a job that requires lots of hours but I think the hourly wage for all but a tiny few is really low even if you are a ‘pro’! I think one thing I love about blogging is the novelty of not knowing what opportunities might come your way but the other side of this coin is that there are constantly highs and lows! I constantly swing from thinking it is amazing to thinking it takes up way too much of my time!

  12. 14
    The Autism Dada

    So true, in that to take anything as a career you need to be able to work at it. I’m currently at the stage of blogging just for the fun of it, but I would love to take it – some day – to that next level. Its more about spending more time at home with the family than my busy work day with inflexible hours.

    But I’m not blinkered to the fact that if/when I go that route it will be a lot of work. Great post and eye opener for sure.

  13. 15
    absolutely prabulous

    This is so damned true, I almost wept. Instead, I settled for quietly fist-pumping the air and inwardly shrieking YES at the screen…had to keep it down as I’m in a cafe…BLOGGING…of course! Love this. You’re brill xx

    • 16
      Lucy At Home

      Thank you. I’m so glad you could relate to it. I don’t think it’s talked about very much in blogging circles so I was unsure how it would be received. I hope your blogging session was successful 🙂

      • 17
        absolutely prabulous

        I’ve written a lot about blogging mojo’s and the downside of blogging but your angle is a wonderful slant on it regarding the ‘myth’ side of it as it were. The title is a goodun…drew me in 🙂 I’ve shared it on FB by the way as they probably won’t notify you (ANOTHER nightmare aspect of blogging!) x

  14. 21
    Liberty

    I can identify with this 100%, I have never worked so hard at any job than I have as a blogger, and for very little return at the moment. I hope it picks up otherwise it simply wouldn’t be worth it as a career. And I was fooling myself if I thought I could go away on holidays and forget about the blog, I thought about it constantly, kept up on Instagram and struggled to post blog posts fromy phone. My blog stats have suffered and I’m constantly doubting my own abilities! I still absolutely love it though and can’t imagine ever giving it up! Thanks for writing this candid post.

  15. 22
    Q

    Dear Lucy

    I’m about 11 month late with the comment but you are right. I think that, of all the blogging types in this world, mummy bloggers work the hardest because (quite frankly) if they have ANY energy left to blog, after caring for their children, it is nothing short of a miracle. Therefore, I think mummy bloggers deserve free chocolate and wine and I think I am going to start a petition RIGHT NOW!

    Love from Q

  16. 23
    Xina

    Thank you for this. I’m returning to blogging after having it as one aspect of an online shop. The blog was way more successful than the shop was in terms of page views, but wasn’t ever monetised, because I simply didn’t know how and my web builder dissuaded me from putting adverts on the blog.

    I have a bricks and mortar business now and blog for that. Also, I’ve recently entered the sphere of working-mom-blogging. I’ve taken countless courses on “how to do blogging right” but as a business-graduate-come-business-owner, I know that theory is often far removed from reality!

    I’ve listened to honest podcasters talk about the reality of blogging and how tiring it can be. I’ve decided to keep an open mind about it because I truly love writing, I’m all about balance. It has to work well for me and my family for it to be viable because I’m fairly busy as it is anyway.

  17. 24
    Nicola

    So so true! I too have enjoyed all the freebies and collaborations, but went back to work at Social Services in September, so much easier! Still blog when I get time though! If you’d like to write a guest post, then please do get in touch. 🙂

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