I can’t remember how long I’ve known Laura. Probably close to 10 years now. We met through our blogs and the first time we had lunch in person we stayed at the cafe so long we were still there at dinner. This was when blogging was still somewhat new and most people would ask “What’s a glob? Like a diary? But…why?” and neither of us could really explain except to say that it was a nice way to document the weird thoughts and moments of our lives. Her son, (Hurricane Harry) and Hailey were both only children, kids of bloggers and the same age so they’ve been friends as long as they can remember.
They’ve shared holidays, vacations, and the hassle of mothers who have had to defend their decision to be bloggers over and over.
It’s not as unusual now but I remember a time when people thought that blogging about your kids would mess them up psychologically, or get them kidnapped, or that it was oversharing or – more often – that the technology that goes into blogging removes you from life so you can’t live the very thing you’re documenting. And honestly, I can see those points. I’ve seen others fall down those rabbit holes in terrible ways, but I’m lucky to have blogging friends who’ve always had my back to help me decide what should or shouldn’t be shared, and those are friends I never would have found without blogging. My job, my life, my community, you guys, my best friends…all came from blogging. And Hailey’s best friends are all the children of bloggers. Maybe because of luck, or happenstance, or maybe because they’ve all grown up in the same strange world.
Harry and Hailey were just a few years old when they became friends.
Tomorrow both of them start middle school and we spent this weekend running around parks and feeding ducks and playing Pokemon as they sniped gyms from each other and shared tips on how to throw curveballs and laughed at private jokes that were probably about Laura and me. And as I looked at this photo of Hailey and Harry using technology to further bond and to laugh it reminded me of how it all started.
So perhaps, in this small case study at least, technology isn’t so bad after all.
(Until they want to start their own blogs, of course. Then we’ll have to lock to them in their closets with no internet.)