So I totally missed National Delurking Day this year. Mainly because on that particular day (I believe it was officially January 14th this year), I had slept all of two hours the night before due to a stomach-virus-plagued four year old, a needing-to-be-fed-constantly three-week-old, and a still-recovering-from-unbelievable-trauma tooth.
…Which would have made it the perfect day to ask you guys to do the blogging instead of me, but I wasn’t even together enough to get that far.
At any rate, I met so many of you nice readers last year when I participated in National Delurking Day, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to make more new friends this year, so I’m coming to the party, albeit a little late.
What does it mean to delurk? It means that if you’ve never commented on any of my posts before, it’s your day to comment and introduce yourself!! If you’ve been reading here long, you feel like you know me, but if you’re not saying hey back, I don’t know you – and I really do want to – just ask my other readers!!
So today is your day to say hello and introduce yourself. And don’t fear any lurker-judgement from me – over 80% of my readers are lurkers, and I love you all! Oh – and if you have a blog, be sure to link it in and I’ll come visit you, too!
(Don’t worry if your comment doesn’t show up immediately – all first-time comments go into moderation first, but I will to approve it quickly!)
And also, for both the lurkers and regular commenters, I’m going to try something new… I’ll admit it scares me a bit, but I’ve seen many other blogging friends do it, so I figured it was time that I put on my big girl panties, worked up my courage, and gave it a try.
SO.
If you’ve ever wanted to know something about me, my kids, my life, my beliefs, my philosophies, my opinions, blogging, homeschooling, the state of Alabama, the country of Bangladesh – whatever, ask it here, and I’ll see if I can answer them in an upcoming post.
(Although I might have to Google your Bangladesh question…or ask Ali – she has a strange obsession with Bangladesh.)
So introduce yourself and tell me a little about you, or ask a question, or both!
The answers to these questions can be found in three parts:
Can I just say hello? :)
I’ve only been following for a month or two but keep coming back. :)
Of course you can!! Thanks so much for coming back! You must not have read one of my posts that chases people off… like the Placenta one. :)
I delurked a couple of months ago, and yes, I feel like you’re a great friend, but you don’t know me at all!
Anyway, questions…are you going to have a big family or is this it? Or is it too soon to say? :-)
Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere?
You can ask me any question you want, too!
Howdy!
Here’s my question: do you plan to homeschool your kids through high school? I feel like I know a little bit about your homeschooling background/philosophy, but not much.
I think that yours may have been the first blog that I de-lurked on! And yes, I do feel kind of like I know you… like if you were ever in my neck of the woods, I’d totally have you in for tea. Also? I think Ali and my girls would have a blast :)
I so didn’t know that this was a thing! I want people to de-lurk on my blog too! Of course, other than you, my readers would probably turn out to be all family anyway. :P
So question: I’m guessing Ali is home schooled? Why did you decided to go with home schooling? And how’d you get into blogging? And how did it become a career? (or do I only get one? :)
Hi there,
I’m not a lurker, but I am interested in the homeschooling thing. As an ex-High School teacher, I’m pretty vehemently opposed to homeschooling – can you explain why you do it?
Cheers,
EJ
Hey Rachel!
I de-lurked last year but just wanted to let you know I am still reading… everyday! Your baby boy is beautiful and your daughter continues to give me stories to tell at dinner! My husband still finds is strange I know so much about you and have never actually met you! My question: Is it weird to know so many people read about your daily life and have never met you? (I found you though a friends blog, by the way)
Not really de-lurking, but I just thought I’d mention I was homeschooled. :)
Great questions so far!! I can’t wait to answer them.
I wanted to tell you how much I love reading your blog. I’m a 64 year old grandma and came by way of Prudent Baby when she noted the day you wrote about trying on jeans. I laughed out loud and even harder when I read about taking your mom shopping for jeans. You are a gifted, delightful writer and I look for you every day.
Hi and welcome to my blog!!
Thanks so much for reading – I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it! Yes, Mom and I had fun on that shopping trip. Unfortunately, soon after that, she reverted back to her Mom Jeans ways. (sigh) – you can’t win them all. BUT she did just buy a new pair that she thought I would approve of, and they WERE pretty nice! So maybe it just took a couple of years to set in for her. :)
Thanks again – it’s always so nice to meet my readers!
That was the same post that introduced me to your blog. LOVE it here!!
Hi Rachel,
I think I first read your “Mom Jeans” because we may have a real mutual friend (not just online). I’ve started following a little more in the last month, so I thought I should say “Hi!” I’m new to blogging & homeschooling. So here’s the question…What would you say were the best and worst parts of being homeschooled?
Hi Lorie! Thanks for saying hi!!
Great question!! I’ll definitely be pondering that one.
Hey Rachel! Because of today’s post, I’m coming out with the fact that I stalk your blog. :) Your posts are always great, and your sense of humor is even better. Mom Jeans was the first I read, and I’ve been hooked ever since! I can SO relate to your stories of Ali (and now Noah, too) because I have a 2 year old and an almost 4 year old. You seem like an awesome person, mommy, writer, etc… Thanks for making me smile (and laugh out loud)! ~Kara
Hi Kara!
Thanks for saying hi!! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed my blog, and it’s nice to meet you! I think most people found my blog through the Mom Jeans post… there’s just something magnetic about my butt in a pair of horrible jeans, I suppose. ;)
Hello to all the lurkers! :)
You are definitely the best at blogationships, Rachel! I have tried de-lurking on other blogs and didn’t ever get a response so I went back to being a lurker. I’m glad you like to delurk people…although that sounds like something entirely different, haha. :)
Hi Rachel! I am not really a lurker…I am an out in the open follower. But, I wanted to say thanks for the comments (I think you may be the only one reading…lol) I love reading your adventures and think our girls would have a ball together! :)
Hi! And no problem – I love the opportunity to get to know all of you – it’s an honor!
Hi Rachel!
I’m a lurker. I may have commented on a post or two, but I am not sure! I have been reading your blog for at least a year. I love reading about what you and your family are up to. I appreciate your witty and humorous writing style!
Hi Jac! Nice to meet you! Thanks for sticking around that long – nice to know that I can manage to not run people off :)
Ha, I don’t know how my name got cut off in my previous comment, but my name is Jackie. :)
I look forward to reading your blog, so it’s not hard to stick around. My husband often asks what I am laughing about when I am on my laptop and I have to explain that I am reading your blog!
Not really a lurker, just an infrequent commenter…lol. But I figured I’d join in the questions…homeschool? Really? I have been reading your blog for awhile and this is the first I’ve caught this reference….are you talking about BEING homeschooled or homeschooling your own kids? Tell us more. =)
Both! I was homeschooled 1st-12th grade and it benefitted me immensely. I also plan on homeschooling (and already am, really). I will definitely write up answers to all of your questions about it.
Oh my goodness Rachel! I never realized you were homeschooled too! Not that I was, but I have seen some of your posts pertaining to educating your daughter. SInce we are homeschoolers it is always great to “know” a second gen HSer!
Yup!! Mama Hen knew – she’s even met my amazing Mom!! In fact, I think my Mom is speaking soon at the homeschool group at our church about her experiences…she had to ask my permission first since a bunch of my friends are in it! :)
I also found your blog through the Mom Jeans post, and I added you to my reader accidentally when sending it to a friend. But you’ve kept me laughing, so there’s no way I’m deleting you : )
I was also homeschooled through all grades and loved it. I love to learn and went on to get an MS in Hydrology (though I enjoy so many subjects, as my blog shows, I could have chosen almost anything).
My blog is linked, and I just opened an etsy shop!
HarmlessColor.etsy.com
Hi Sarah!
I’m so glad you commented again – I noticed you commented for the first time the other day, and I meant to save it and reply to it and visit your blog, but then I somehow lost the email. Then I tried to find it again, and … probably got sidetracked by a screaming baby or something.
Anyway, Thanks for saying hi again! I’ll definitely visit your blog and Etsy this afternoon during naptime.
Hi Rachel,
I am completely a lurker! I have also been reading your blog since the ‘Mom jeans’ post.
I really enjoy your style of writing, your humour and the stories about day to day life in Alabama.
I just took my wee boy in for his first school visit today (here in New Zealand kids start at 5 but their parents go along for the first couple of visits). Home schooling is very unusual here so I find stories from people who home school fascinating. It seems to be quite common in the US?
Hi Sarah!
Wow – you’re my third New Zealand reader that I know about! I love international readers, because you guys can always point out the crazy things we Americans can do that we didn’t know were crazy! :)
Yes, homeschooling is fairly common here – more in certain parts of the country than others (all the state’s laws on it are different, and cultural differences and all).
I hope your son is enjoying school!!
I’m totally a lurker. I check your blog almost everyday! Your sense of humor makes me laugh out loud, even in public places, which gets me some strange looks. I haven’t experienced most of what you talk about, I don’t have children yet. But I’m getting married this summer and it’s fun to get a glimpse of how things might be in the future. So here’s my question: ” if you had to give one peice of marriage advice to a brand new wife, what would it be?” Thanks! Amanda
Hi Amanda! Thanks for saying Hi! I’ll definitely be thinking about that one – I was already pondering it last night. Great question!!
Hi Rachel!
I love your writing. You always have just the right amount of honesty and humor.
There is a list of words circulating the blogosphere that bloggers read on a video so their readers can get an idea of their accents, how they say certain words and what they call certain things. It’s been neat to get to know some bloggers a little better. Being a California girl, I love hearing southern accents and would LOVE to hear what your accent sounds like.
Here is a link to an example of one that I watched:
http://bethanyactually.com/bethany-actually-sounds-like-this/
What do you think? Will you do a video for us?
Oooh – I’ll have to think about that one. I don’t so much mind my voice, but I DESPISE seeing myself on video. It’s SOOO awful!! There are a bunch of old videos in my blog where I’m talking to Ali, though… hmm. Would links to those satiate your curiosity, or must I show how unbelievably unphotogenic (unvideogenic??) I am??
:)
I don’t want to pressure you to do a video if you don’t want to, but the neat thing about those videos is hearing how people say words that are pronounced different ways depending on your accent. I find it really neat to hear how people in different parts of the country say these words and also what they call things. It has also made me realize how I pronounce things differently from my husband or my grandma or even my sister who mostly grew up in a different part of southern California. Maybe you could overlay your voice over a slideshow of pics of Ali and Noah of just have the camera on them instead of you?
I found a breakdown of the list everyone is using:
Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught (Val’s addition: “rather” (because my mom-in-law and I pronounce it so differently and she doesn’t hear it, kinda funny since she grew up in California with a father from Alabama and a mother from Boston, talk about a mix of accents)
What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
What do you call gym shoes?
What do you say to address a group of people?
What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
What do you call your grandparents?
What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
What is the thing you change the TV channel with?
P.S. Just so I’m not hassling you only about making a vid. 2 things:
1. I thought you would be amused to know that I took a page out of your parenting book last night with my almost-17-year-old sister (note I didn’t say sixteen because she reminds us all that she is almost 17 anytime we say she is 16). She was being cranky, so I asked her to find her happy heart and please use a more loving tone with me. She looked confused for a second, rolled her eyes, sighed and then smiled and actually did take a nicer tone with me.
2. At what age or maturity level will you have Ali (and her tummy) go to church services with you? It’s one of my great fears of having kids. My church has childcare and activities for the kids during services, but I worry that they won’t learn how to behave during services if they are used to having fun with the other kids during services.
I probably comment too often to be considered a lurker but a post on homeschooling and being homeschooled would be AWESOME.
Heck, why stop at one?
Do you have specific questions about the experience or anything? It’s such a broad topic (it covered 12 years of my life!) that I’m not sure exactly where to start.
Hmm…
How about: What age did you start? What age did you start with Ali? When are you planning to start with Noah?
Why would you (or wouldn’t you) encourage someone else to homeschool?
What do you think is the biggest disadvantage of homeschooling?
yes, i am a lurker, but i do enjoy your blog. Your blog is not only fun for the mom in me, the nerdy math teacher in me, but also the Southern woman in me who misses the sweet tea and drawl while I am in Europe. My Mother-in-law (MIL) also reads your page and lets me know when something new is afoot.
Now back to the shadows…
Nice to meet you! How long are you in Europe? And where at? We were just talking about a trip to Greece someday. Don’t know that it will happen, but it sure would be nice… (sigh)
I am in Europe for a few years at least and we love it.. did I mention its Europe?! I actually live in Southern Germany near the Black Forest and we love wandering around Europe trying out new foods, exploring new lands, and meeting such great people. I too want to go to Greece, but Mr. Elisabeth is less than thrilled about the money involved to get us there. Here is a link to our small family blog of our adventures. Thanks for writing back.. I feel like we are nerdy friends. :)
That sounds fabulous!!! How fun! I’ll definitely check out your adventures on your blog! And yes, any nerd is a friend of mine :)
I’m trying to figure out how you will use Excel to analyze the questions we are asking. hah! Although it wouldn’t be too hard since most are about homeschooling.
Maybe you did a post about this, or not, but how did you teach Ali to write her letters? I’ve got to get my 4 year old up to Ali’s pace :)
I’m a total lurker! :o) I’ve been reading for a while, but I don’t think I’ve commented before. Maybe Mom Jeans was the post that got me here, I really can’t remember! I totally relate to you. I live in the south (Go HOGS! :o)) and my kids are almost the exact same ages as yours. My daughter Mollie just turned 4 in December, and we had our second daughter, Addie, in October.
I should have commented on it, but your post about your talking pump had me rolling! I work FT outside the home and am breastfeeding, so I pump at least twice a day through the week. Mine talks to me too!
I love your writing style and how real and relatable you are. I’ll keep reading!!
Hi Amie!
Congrats on your second baby. It’s always nice to see someone a couple of months down the newborn road from where I am…and see that you survived it! :)
Thanks for saying hi!
I can’t even pretend to be a lurker. I’m just giving a solid virtual high five to you for doing such a great job getting others to de-lurk, for responding to them openly, and for “putting yourself out there.” You’re so amazing! I’m fascinated by how many people have missed that you’re a homeschool chick. I’ve decided it is my waaaaaay back-up plan for when the boys get older if I freak out about public school. I’ll be sure to be on your doorstep promptly each morning with my boys!
If I had a blog, I would probably fear the lurkers so I will delurk today! I live in the Birmingham area (Chelsea actually). I enjoy reading about the fun things you do and places you go with your kids. It gives me ideas for when my nephews visit. I’m also a UA graduate so Roll Tide!
Hi Leah!
I’m glad you’ve been able to use some of my ideas. Have you taken them to the Treetop Family Adventures out that way? I’ve been wanting to go but haven’t made it yet. Ali, however, got to go to a Birthday Party with my Mom out there and LOVED it.
Total lurker and don’t even remember how I got to your blog. I have to laugh at a lot of your posts since I have a 3.5 yr old girl and a 7 mth old boy…there are a lot of days our lives look similar
Hi Amanda!
I’m sure our lives do look similar! Puke, diapers, more puke.. but all fun!
Thanks for saying hi!!
Hi Rachel! I think I qualify as a lurker although I did post on your guessing game page for Noah’s weight/birthday (and was wrong, of course!) My friend Lindsey linked your page about How to Act When They’re Expecting and I was hooked ever since! (I also plan to print that page out with a few additional suggestions when the time comes!) I grew up in Georgia, went to Samford and now live with my husband in Oregon. So please go eat some Chick-fil-A, Jason’s Deli or Zaxby’s for me since we have NONE of those here! =) And please keep writing because I look forward to your thoughts (even on Twitter!) every day!
Hi Katie!!
I can’t imagine an existence without Chick-Fil-A – you poor thing!! Zaxby’s, however, I could do without. They ran Guthrie’s out of business!!! I know they’re basically the same thing, but Guthrie’s made their sauce fresh – and I could taste the difference. All of a sudden, I sound like a sauce snob…maybe I am one – hmm…
Thanks for saying hi!!
LOVE your blog! I still cackle at Uncle Joe’s Tot Locker (that’s when you got me hooked!) I’m a stay at home mom to a 2year old girl and a 12 week old boy and have loved getting cheerful random musings from you. Speaking of which, at some point, I’ll explain Jesus in a Box. Once you understand, it makes perfect sense and can even be inspiring! BUT – the 12 week old is stirring..
PS: I live in Scottsdale AZ, and just turned 37. I have always wanted to be a Southerner and so I read everything I can that takes place in the South. =)
Hi Angela!
Thanks for saying hi! Now you have my curiosity completely piqued at an explanation of Jesus in a Box – I didn’t know that there was one!! I can’t wait!
And being a Southerner is pretty awesome, except that the rest of the United States usually makes fun of us. But that’s okay – it just keeps the great parts of the South our little secret! :) You should come visit sometime!!
I need to know which conferences you’re headed to this year so I know where I can see ya again!
I don’t know if I’ll make it to any this year … I don’t know that I’m brave enough to come to a conference with baby in tow, and my other option is much worse: breast-pump in tow!! Yikes.
But I’ll miss you!
Just saying hi! I de-lurked awhile ago. I have been trying to think of a great question, but sleep deprivation has taken away any and all creativity thinking power. But I am curious about your (what appears to be) great time management skills? How do you do it? As I am completely jealous. I mean, you care for a newborn, have school for Ali, and still manage to blog regularly. I am so jealous, as I am barely able to care for my newborn as Ella goes to preschool daily. Keep up the great work! I love reading all your posts!
Hi Rachel!
I found your blog through a friend and have loved it ever since! You are so funny, creative and I love reading about you and your lovely family. :) My family home schools as well, and it is great meeting other people who do it too!
Sorry for not commenting sooner!
God bless you!
Bethany
Hi, I thought I would just say hi because you are right, I’m constantly lurking on your blog. :-) I’m a nurse and I work the all night shift so I can’t tell you how many times your blog site has brought a smile to my day (nite). I was introduced to your site by another nurse who wanted me to read the jeans/butt blog and it made me laugh and I come back every week to see how you and your kids are doing. I’m sorry about your hand. Hope you get better soon.
Hi Marlene!!
Thanks so much for saying hi – I’m so glad that I can bring cheer to the middle of the night! :) It’s kinda fun to know that people are reading even when I’m asleep.
I hope you have a great day!