Comments for Rebecca Reads

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Literate Housewife

Literate Housewife — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:30:09 +0000

I love your blog too much to be concerned about when and how you post. I applaud you for taking the measures you have. Just like a happy mommy means a happy baby, a happy blogger means happy readers.
Literate Housewife´s last post on blog ..Has Anne Taintor Read Revolutionary Road?

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Valerie

Valerie — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:56:20 +0000

I totally understand that you are feeling you need to spend more time with your family. And, potty training is very stressful! My kids are older now; I can’t imagine having had the time and energy to blog when they were younger. However, you do need something that is for yourself…and if that is blogging, go for it. Even if blogging only once a month works best for you. You are in my google reader (and will stay there), and I will look forward to reading your posts however often they show up!
Valerie´s last post on blog ..Life is Good!

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Shelley

Shelley — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:42:00 +0000

I will enjoy your reviews no matter how often or seldom they come! Good luck with the potty training. I’ve been through it four times, and the accidents are definitely much harder to deal with than the actual training!

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Emily

Emily — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:00:39 +0000

It’s so hard to find balance in our lives, and identify which activities are enriching our lives versus which are just adding pressure & stress. Good luck to you in finding that middle ground, Rebecca.
Emily´s last post on blog ..The Confidence Man

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Teresa

Teresa — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:49:12 +0000

My feeling is that blogging, for most of us, is something we do for fun, and if the pressure to do it a particular way makes it stop being fun, then it’s best to just ignore that pressure and blog in the way that you want to.

I’m happy for you to post whenever you can get to it and still feel like you have time for yourself and your family. If that means once a week or once every two weeks, or five posts one day and nothing for three weeks, I’ll still keep your blog in my reader and be happy to see your posts when they come.
Teresa´s last post on blog ..Hush

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:06:46 +0000

I’m glad you’re not leaving! I always enjoy your posts and of course I loooove the Classics Circuit (thanks for starting that!). Finding a balance between life-life and internet-life is, as everyone has noted, a challenge.

(Good luck on the toilet training!!)
Jenny´s last post on blog ..Review: Secret Keeper, Mitali Perkins

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by claire

claire — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:31:41 +0000

I wrote a similar post with even the exact same title a few months back, haha. I am still thinking about it EVERY SINGLE DAY. That I should just quit blogging and stop adding more pressure into my life. In fact, the only thing stopping me is the fact that I had committed to group reads with other bloggers, which will make me feel really bad if I didn’t follow through. I will never take you off my reader, and will be here whenever you post.. or not.
claire´s last post on blog ..Once Upon a Time

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by melissa @ 1lbr

melissa @ 1lbr — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:57:08 +0000

Yeah! So glad you are still going to blog sometimes. Good thoughts on balance – something I struggle with.
melissa @ 1lbr´s last post on blog ..A Bit Behind

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Aarti

Aarti — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:44:35 +0000

Oh, Rebecca, what a wonderful post. I think a lot of people are going through the same thing. I am glad you aren’t quitting completely (and of course I won’t unsubscribe!). Like Nymeth, I too will be returning to school in the fall and am not sure where blogging will go. That’s why I’m moving away from review copies and am really enjoying rediscovering my bookshelves.

Whatever works for you is what will work best
Aarti´s last post on blog ..Sunday Salon: Do you fall for the hype?

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Suzanne

Suzanne — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:30:45 +0000

I honestly couldn’t believe how much you have been able to do with all you have going on in your life — you definitely deserve to take it back a notch or two. I’ll look forward to your posts whether they are every day or every week or every month.
Suzanne´s last post on blog ..Ulysses — come join me

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Steph

Steph — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:09:16 +0000

How timely this post is! I was just wondering what you were up to, thinking I hadn’t seen a post from you in a long while.

I understand needing to strike a balance between your family and your blog – obviously your family should come first! And I tend to blog because I feel like it enriches my life, and heightens my reading experiences, but when it begins to feel like a chore, or like it’s interfering with the rest of my life, I know it’s time to scale back.

Don’t fret about posting regularly. I will not unsubscribe from your blog, and will be happy whenever a post from you should pop up in my Google Reader! And good luck with the toilet training!
Steph´s last post on blog ..“The Sea, The Sea” by Iris Murdoch

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Heather J.

Heather J. — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:13:16 +0000

I completely understand the need to step back and to re-evaluate. But you’re in my Google Reader already, so whenever you post I’ll be here to read it – once a month or five times in a day. I’ll miss your regular presence but I commend your decision to spend more time with your son. I never could have had a blog when Kiddo was a toddler, so you’ve done great in my book!
Heather J.´s last post on blog ..My Answers (A Flock of Readers for The Sparrow)

Comment on Reading Journal (17 March): Happy St. Patrick’s Day by Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:09:28 +0000

I’m a little worried about Zola, even more so now…

I read King Lear in college. I’m not a big Shakespeare fan but that one was better than other things by him I’ve read for some reason. Never seen the movie adaptation though.

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Jackie (Farm Lane Books)

Jackie (Farm Lane Books) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:47:50 +0000

Sorry to hear that you are cutting back on the blogging – I really enjoy your blog.

My youngest son is a similar age to yours, but he goes to nursey four 1/2 days a week so I have lots of free time to blog. Prioritising your friends and family is very important so you are making a good choice. Hopefully you’ll be able to come back to the blogging when he heads off to school.

I hope you keep in touch and don’t disappear completely.
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)´s last post on blog ..My Driver – Maggie Gee

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Chris@bookarama

Chris@bookarama — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:04:53 +0000

Being a new mom is a tough job. Potty training is pretty frustrating. So I can see why you needed a blog break. At the same time, Mommy needs her outlet too. I think that’s why there are so many Mommy Blogs.

I really did miss you when you were gone. A few times I was going to mention something to you on Twitter and then I remembered you were taking a break. I do think the friendship we make online are important.

Anyway, I was so happy to see your post today!
Chris@bookarama´s last post on blog ..Reading Together: Coraline

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Christina

Christina — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:46:12 +0000

I definitely reached that point myself and had to step back from my blog for a while. I’m glad you’re not fully leaving, but don’t feel guilty at all for deciding to chuck being a “balanced” blogger out the window. This is after all a hobby, and your son is way more important than this.
Christina´s last post on blog ..Lost and Found

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Nymeth

Nymeth — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:46:52 +0000

I’m very glad to hear you’re not quitting altogether, because I’d miss you terribly. At the same time, I completely understand the need to step back and find a new balance. My life circumstances are really going to change later this year, and once they do I have no idea if I’ll be able to keep blogging. I think just knowing you *can* quit must be reassuring, though, no? Maybe I should give it a try myself

What keeps me going are definitely the connections I’ve formed with others. I’d so miss the bookish conversations (as well as the more personal ones) if I stopped. Which is why I think that whatever happens, I’ll stick to Twitter after September. I want to stay in touch with you guys.
Nymeth´s last post on blog ..Henrietta’s War by Joyce Dennys

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Kay @ Kay's Bookshelf

Kay @ Kay's Bookshelf — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:34:42 +0000

Like everyone else, I am also very glad that you are not going away completely (I love your blog!), and I also understand that your family needs your attention too (duh). After all, a blog is something one does for the fun of it, not for want of an extra chore.

Your post reminded me of the Blogging without Obligation manifesto: http://www.tartx.com/blog/?page_id=233
Kay @ Kay’s Bookshelf´s last post on blog ..I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)

Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:47:08 +0000

Although being a student is not nearly the same thing as being a parent, I think there are some analogies in the idea that you commit to doing something and being that person 24/7 and have to make space in your life to do both. Since I started grad school, I try to think of blogging as my little break in a day — I get to stop reading for school or writing or whatever and read books I want or read about books or write about them. It’s the moments when I stop appreciating blogging, when it starts to feel like an obligation, that I try to step away for a few days.

I’m glad you got a chance to be away for awhile, but also that you’re not going away totally. Good luck
Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)´s last post on blog ..Review: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Sasha

Sasha — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:28:10 +0000

Good luck on the toilet training–and I’ll be here whatever you decide to do in the meantime, and then after (and, yes, I know I’ve lurked too long: this is my first comment, methinks).

Also: I’ve gone without updating my blog for about a week or so, and it was difficult the first few times I did that–I’m a fairly new blogger, and there was a time when I had to check my stats every other hour or so, haha. But now, I take it easy. That is, I tell myself, if I haven’t read a good book, or can’t bother to talk about whatever read, there’s no loss in not cluttering up the already crowded internetz.
Sasha´s last post on blog ..marginalia || And Falling, Fly, by Skyler White

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:08:25 +0000

Well, I for one am really glad you are still going to be around (and The Classics Circuit is brilliant – don’t stop!!). That said, I totally understand and you know what? It is okay to post more than one post a day (I do it all the time!), or be silent for a few days (again, that’s me). We all have lives outside of blogging that are important and anyone who doesn’t get that is probably living a pretty narrow life! Sounds like you are just adjusting the balance in your life, Rebecca – and that is something I completely respect!
Wendy´s last post on blog ..Honest Scrap Award – 10 Things About Me

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Gary Brannigan

Gary Brannigan — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:33:39 +0000

Hi Rebecca,
I hope you find that balance you are looking for. It is important to nourish yourself as well as your family…and in your case, fans.
I just saw a tweet that said “There is no greater profession than parenting.” Another said “Parenting is the most important leadership position.” Here’s mine: “Parenting is a lifetime occupation…and a labor of love.”
When your son gets behind the wheel for his first driving lesson, you will wish for the days of toilet training! We all do…
Take care.

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by bermudaonion (Kathy)

bermudaonion (Kathy) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:32:08 +0000

I’m in a totally different stage of my life than you are, so I completely understand your need to back off from blogging some. After all, this is a hobby.

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Kathryn

Kathryn — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:23:46 +0000

His childhood will go by so fast. You are wise to give him your time and attention while he still wants/needs it! Develop these bonds and you will form a relationship (not to mention friendship) that will last forever! :>

Comment on This Is NOT Goodbye by Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:07:45 +0000

Hi Rebecca! I’m glad to know you’re not quitting altogether, and I will keep reading your posts no matter once.

To tell the truth, back when my kids were toddlers, I had nothing. No outlet for friends, for grownup time, for talking about anything I loved. I was so lonely and for awhile I went a little crazy and even thought about running away. If I hadn’t started my book club, then joined some writing groups, started getting online through myspace first, then blogger, facebook, and twitter, I would probably have done something drastic by now. I neglected myself really bad for a long while when they were young, thinking I could devote myself entirely to them, and that mis-balance didn’t work for me. Now, I probably am still not fully balanced, but I am much better than where I was 5 years ago.

I look forward to hearing from you no matter how often you post.
Amanda´s last post on blog ..Once Upon a Time IV