For a year and a half I have been blogging about parenting.  However the continued positive feedback I have received has been evenly split between those that are parents and those that aren't.  From heartfelt emails from teenagers to comments from single ladies in their thirties without children, I have seen that I have touched a much wider audience than I had ever expected to. 

My biggest surprise came last year when my husband called to tell me that a customer called him from out of state and asked if he was related to me.  The customer, of course, had some work related questions but wanted to mention that he and his wife had been thinking about school for their child and was able to find their own way with the help of a couple of things I had written about.  My blog was shared with them by someone in their local homeschool community.  Needless to say, I almost dropped my cell phone!

From that moment on I realized the true impact of anything I wrote about.  I also realized that my inner drive to keep writing was something I needed to honor by continuing to write.  With that said I have to admit I write a lot more than I post.  Most of it ends up sitting in a folder because I am unsure of whether or not it will serve the highest good of my readers.  My usual gauge is to note how I am feeling when I write it.  If it's not something I am nervously excited about then I know that's not my post for the day.  I understand the power of my words and I do not ever want to sway someone to do something that could change their or their child's life forever in any negative way.  Sure there are people out there just looking for any excuse to not take responsibility for themselves but I will not willingly put anything out there knowing that it may be easy fodder for someone like that.

In taking all of this into account I am starting a new writing journey.  I have wanted to write my own story for many years now but couldn't envision how it could help anyone.  About a month ago I had written a new About The Author where I shared a little more about who I am and how I became the parent I am today.  The emails started pouring in.  Little did I realize that my life experiences and what I learned from them were enough.  That is what drives me to continually be a better parent.  And that is what drives me to write.  And so my new journey begins where I take all of it and write about it not only for myself, but all of you who continue to inspire me to keep going.