Monday
Mar292010
Delurk! (or in other words...please say hello)
Monday, March 29, 2010 
I have some post ideas percolating in my mind. But I've also been busy and haven't had a ton of time to write. Last year at this time, I did a delurking and open thread post and encouraged people who read the blog, but don't get around to commenting, to come out and say hello. So, I've decided to do it again.
Last year I wrote:
You see, every day hundreds of people visit my blog. Sure, many of them come in from search engines and only look at the one post they landed on and then never come back. But a lot of people do come back, over and over again, and I really appreciate that. But most of them never leave a comment. And that’s fine. I know not everyone wants to jump in and comment. But I’m curious. Will you satisfy my curiosity for me, just this once? Pretty please?
And 33 people left me comments, including people like Tamara from Parenting by Nature, , Desiree Fawn from So Fawned, Shannon from a Crafty Mom, Heather from the bee in your bonnet, Anji from ghostlove, VDog from Room704, Tara from Feels Like Home, The Noble Savage, Amanda from Family Nature, Loukia from Loulou's Views, Jessica from This is Worthwhile, and many more. I've gotten to know these fine bloggers of the course of the year and would like to get to know many more of you.
If you are a regular reader and you haven't commented before or haven't commented in a while, would you drop me a comment to say hello? If you need a topic to write on, tell me what you would like to see me write about in the future. Or just write whatever you like.
No more new posts until enough new people fess up to reading this blog and say hello! :) Let's aim for at least the 33 comments I got last year.
Ready...set....go!
Image credit: miuenski on flickr
Reader Comments (192)
Actually, I'm a fairly new reader, but I rarely comment on blogs because I just dont have much to say (hence all of the picture posts on MY blog).
So, hi. (I'm nervous.)
I'm shy, I really am, but I can see I've been caught. And really, who likes to be told they're a "lurker"?. Not that "follower" is all that much of an improvement. We really need to get some better terminology in this fabulous on-line world. I enjoy your blog and your view on all things parenting-related.
Thank you for saying hi! No need to be nervous.
How about community member? I like to think of this place as a community.
I don't comment on anyone's blog very often. I worry that I'm interrupting a conversation between a writer and an already-established readerbase (I'm not so good at interrupting). I also read most of my blogs via a feedreader that does offline syncing to my phone so I can read on the subway which doesn't make for easy commenting. I do try to comment when the subject really moves me or makes me think, as your posts often do.
That and being called out to introduce myself. So hello there. To you and everyone here. :)
Hi! I often comment on blogs when I feel like saying something after I read them. I love your site, the pictures are awesome and Breastfeeding is fantastic!!!
I follow you on Twitter & read your blog. I can't remember if I commented on your previous delurker post so I'll just say hello!
I'm a bit of an outsider in some of your topics, not being a mother or a a parent. But I do enjoy your intelligent -- and non-combative -- ways you deal with controversial subjects. Hi!
Hi! I am a regular follower and big fan of your blog. I've commented a few times in the past, and I now am a new blogger, writing about parenting and breastfeeding issues! I actually bought a wrap from you during the summer when you were selling off some of your babywearing gear. I've gotten some good use out of it thus far with my now 2 year old son...and hope to use it a lot more in the future!
I've been here a few times and find myself coming back more and more :) I think i've only commented once though - but here i am :) I don't get too much time to comment with 3 kids jumping on me all day - but love reading your blog!
I'm Katie. I'm a breastfeeding educator in California (working for a WIC office), while taking classes to attend nurse-midwifery school. I also assist a homebirth midwife in my area.
I've been reading for several months.
I don't think I've commented ON your blog before. I usually tweet you! But, we'll count this as delurking.
Hello! Love your blog & I link to you via Facebook all the time. :)
I don't leave comments because I feel like I have nothing worthwhile to say. I love this blog though and have been reading for a while now. Thank you for all the information you provide.
I am a guilty lurker. I don't have a blog, I don't like to write, but I follow tons of blogs and manage them all with Google Reader. Thus, I rarely end up on the actual blogsite unless the full post does not show up in Reader and I am curious enough to click over. I do love your blog and I am also a "fan" on Facebook, so I have "liked" posts in the past and am slightly, ever so slightly, more likely to comment over there. I also have a "guilt complex", hence my commenting here. ;) Keep up the wonderful work!
I started following your blog a few months ago and really enjoy it. I try to constantly improve my parenting and read up on whatever I can to help. I am trying to spare my kids years of therapy, but only time will tell how that works out :)
*raises hand*
Guilty!
A friend shared a post with me ages ago (several months) and I was intrigued enough that I put the feed into my Google Reader.
Sometimes we agree, often we don't, but it's good to gain more perspective on various issues!
I'm a regular reader, and a terrible lurker. I need to speak out more, but I'm often reading while making dinner and comforting a toddler and supervising homework at the same time. Typing requires hands I don't have!
Hey lady. I haven't commented in a while, but I'm still reading religiously. There are only a few blogs that I read each and every post, and yours is one of them.
<3 you!
Hi!
I am a new reader/guilty lurker and mom of three. I keep finding your articles on my friend's facebook pages so now I subscribe on Bloglines.
I really should comment on blogs more. I know how much I appreciate comments on my blog so I really need to smarten up and pay it forward.
Jen
Hi - again.
I am the mom to a nursing and co-sleeping toddler (2 yo, 2 months), so any posts related to those topics are helpful. He's overall very well behaved so we haven't had to do too much in terms of discipline, but of course, more is coming, so topics on gentle discipline techniques for toddlers would also be great.
Our only "problem" is that he's not yet speaking very much. This (somewhat) concerned the doctor. I am personally not very concerned, because I feel like his comprehension is very good, and his hearing. He can point to many many different things. We read a ton and he LOVES to read. We do a lot of talking with him, including pointing and naming things.
However, it is becoming more obvious that he's behind others in his age group. He's very shy and doesn't like to "perform", so applying even a small amount of pressure (like asking "Can you say X?") makes him clam up. I'm not sure whether I should completely "let it go" or if I should be trying different things. What do you think?
I'm a new blogger (though it's hard to tell if 4 months is new in the time-warp of social media. I love the academic/informed nature of your blog. I think I comment fairly often, though I can't say for sure if I type it or think it. The latter doesn't help you much, does it? Happy de-lurking!
Hi, I've commented a couple of times before. I've even emailed you for advice on pump weaning (thanks for that, by the way! - I'm down to pumping only once a day at work - I have no idea how I will eliminate that one nursing, but it's a start!). I love the way you combine feminism and attachment parenting in your blog - I strive to balance these two concepts in my own life. Your blog has also been very validating of my own choices around nighttime parenting and breastfeeding. My baby is now almost a year old and still wakes up umpteen times a night to nurse; it's good to know that this is normal and okay.
My favorite posts are the ones where you share your personal experiences with breastfeeding, parenting, sleeping, etc. I am always so hungry for other women's experiences! I think that's why I love blogging as a medium so much.
Keep it up!
Cheers! Inder
Doing a one handed comment as my nearly-7-month old naps in my arms... (this week he decided that he won't sleep anywhere that is not attached to me, sigh...) I may have commented once or twice before, but mainly I'm a devoted lurker. I found your blog when just barely pregnant with my little man, and it has been a wonderful education on all things AP that I felt would be right for us. And it turns out it has been right for us indeed, we're a very happy breastfeeding ,babywearing, cosleeping family, thanks for all your wonderful insights into it all!!!
Another "de-lurker" here. I really enjoy your take on things.
Hi
I read all the time, comment occasionally, am often left pondering for days over things I've read here, which is a very good thing! Thanks for being one of the guiding lights in my gentle parenting journey.
Hi! I found you from a google search once, and I subscribed immediately. I like your take on things. I don't always agree, but I do think it's valuable to hear others' take on things!
This may not fit something you'd really wanna blog about, but I have been wondering about how long it takes moms to regain their fertility after having a baby and during breastfeeding.
My son is 15 months and nurses several times per day and 1-3+ times at night. I had my first post-partum period at 14 months and nothing since (and negative preg tests). So I'd be curious to learn how long it took moms to have normal periods once again.
Guilty! I should comment more since I know how great it is when I get them :)
The biggest problem is that I usually agree with you and so all I can think of saying is "Me too!" I recently weaned my 4yo. She had stopped asking every day, and when she did ask - she never wanted to do more than 2-3 seconds. I finally just told her no and gave extra hugs instead. My youngest (2.5) is still going strong though. Speaking of...she's ready to sleep so I guess I'm done.
I think it can vary quite a lot. I didn't have normal cycles after my first for 4 years even though he only nursed for 2.5. There were other factors like stress and weight that may have contributed. I was having regular cycles 6 months after my second and I was pregnant again by the time she turned 1. It took a little longer after the third because I was nursing two, but I was regular by 9 months. I assume I was fertile, but we haven't tested that!
Hi! I'm a fairly new reader but I read all the time. I enjoy your blog, and maybe I'll get around to commenting sometimes :)
Hi I started following about 6 months ago or so, mostly through facebook. I have two children so far, Im an army wife, and Im in training to be a doula/CBE. *waves* Im not a blogger though, I really should I feel left out.
I found you through a shared link on facebook. I love your topics & come back often!
-Colleen
Hi :-)
I'm not even a parent, so I don't usually comment. But I'm completely on board with about 98% of the stuff you blog about, so I just sit and read quietly. And link back to your blog occasionally (I believe I did on my "Friday Favorites" post last week...or the week before? Maybe both :-D
*waves*
Er, I don't have anything at all to say, but I'm here and reading regularly.
I'll say hello! I visit from time to time, but don't comment. Sometimes I feel others say what i want to much more eloquently.
I was thinking of doing a delurking post on my blog later this week.
Hi PhD! I've been reading for several months, now. After I took my DONA doula training in April last year (eek, my one year anniversary of being a trained doula is coming up soon), I started consolidating sites I frequent in my google reader, and you've been there, talking to me through the intertubes, since that day. (-:
I really appreciate your parenting-related thoughts. I'm childless, at the moment (although I expect that will change one day), and your words are preparatory, giving me food for thought about what it is to be a parent.
I read often and comment a lot less lately - I'm still home with three kids full time so my days are pretty packed :) I laughed reading my comment from last year regarding balancing family and career and finding affordable child care - I am heading back to work full time in September and have found wonderful, affordable child care a block from my home! Yay for moving forward with life.
Oh wait - this post is not about me ;) Love your blog and mostly always agree with your point of view - keep up the fantastic work.
Hi!
I read pretty often but never comment. I have this blog on the sidebar of my blog so I can keep up with new posts. I read a little bit of everything on parenting, but this one seems to actually talk about things that pertain to us. :)
Peek-a-boo! I'm de-lurking. I have commented on occasion but not enough to call myself a regular commenter. I read your blog quite often so I can at least call myself a regular reader.
Hello! I am a birth blogger/doula so I am most interested in your birth and breastfeeding-related posts :)
Hi! I'm a lurker/follower/community member, too :) Love the blog; so insightful and so thought-provoking. It's one of my indulgences once the kids are in bed.
I confess, I'm a lurker!
I don't usually comment on blogs, although I follow TONS of them! (Actually, to be quite honest, I believe this to be my first comment ever!)
But I love following your blog on here and on Facebook because we definitely think alike! :-)
I find I'm not commenting much on blogs since Jack was born -- mostly because it is much easier to surf and read with one (left) hand, than it is to type with one (left) hand while I nurse and/or am slept on by my almost-eight month old.
I am only a little embarrassed to admit I linked one of your posts to a thread at Kellymom.com where... they had already heard of you! Your blog is super and I find it one of the most 'convincing' resources I have to give non-AP parents as you are very informed and your writing is both lucid and interesting. Plus you're Canadian, which is even awesome-er. Were there such a word.
I had my first period at 3 months and was fairly regular within the next few months. I breastfed exclusively and still breasfteed my now 15 month old throughout the day and night, so I dunno. Maybe my body just wants to be pregnant again! heh
I'm here and reading! I love your blog and recommend it to others regularly.
*wave* I am also in the camp of "my comment would consist of I AGREE!" all the time lol. However I subscribe via RSS and always read!
Hi there! I have been an avid reader for a few months now. I am striking my own balance on the AP-feminist front and really enjoy the academic bent of your posts and the respect between commenters (for the most part). I would like to comment more but I mostly read while nursing and my one-handed typing is not great.
Keep up the excellent work.
Natalie
Hi Annie,
I am an Australian mum of one toddler. I've been reading you blog for several months and really enjoy the way you express your point of view so calmly. I haven't commented before because I read using Google Reader on my phone :-) And also because I would mostly just be saying "Yes! I agree!"
All the best from down under,
Kelly
*waves* Howdy. I've been reading your blog for a while, now, probably a year. I don't usually comment because I'm never sure what alias and e-mail address to use. I've attempted to start blogs before, but I lose interest and don't have time. (My eight month old likes to help me type, and when I won't let him, he wants to walk.) I do appreciate your posts on attachment parenting and I share them with friends on Facebook. Have a great weekend!
Hi. I'm delurking. I read often but rarely comment, often for the same reason as natalieushka (I'm breastfeeding while reading, so I'm one-handed). Thanks for all your honest posts.