“Are you online again?”

“Man, you LIVE on that computer, don’t you?”

“Don’t you EVER put that thing down?

If there is one topic of conversation that I hear consistently when chatting with my mom blogging pals it is the topic of balancing our online and offline time.  That irresistible pull to  blog, Twitter/Facebook/etc versus tending to our families, obligations and our professional life.  The resentment that can sometime come from our husbands or our children.  The resentment that can sometimes come from us when we don’t get time to “check-in” online or post a new blog or catch up with our friends or co-workers.

It is difficult to balance.  No doubt about it.  It is a modern day dilemma.  Especially considering that many mom bloggers translate their blogging and social media skills into paying consulting or online work.  If you  are not online enough then you are not current.  If you are online too much then your children starve.  Ah, the sweet irony!

Amongst ourselves (names withheld to protect their identity, yo) we have divulged the following crimes:

• Sneaking off to the bathroom or laundry room to check our smart phones.
• Going to bed with the family and secretly waiting until the they are asleep so that we can get back online.
• Getting up ridiculously early (4am!) to squeeze in some blogging time.

But of course, I personally have NEVER done any of these things.  AHEM. And if you believe that then I have some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

So how much is too much?  How much is not enough?  What are your strategies for dealing with dilemma?

ARTICLE OF INTEREST: 10 Tips To Balance Your Online & Offline Life

Can you believe it?

My very own blog is all grown up and ONE YEAR OLD today!

So exciting!  This blog is truly a passion of mine.  Can you tell?

When I branched out on my own last year and decided that I would host my own blog instead of solely blogging for others, never did I think that I would end up with so many amazing friends and opportunities.

I have been truly blessed by this amazing blogging community.  Y’all rock.

But not even in my wildest Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated dreams did I imagine that I would have been published by Maryland Life Magazine!

I know, right?

If you live in Maryland, get your hands on the March/April 2010 issue and look for my article “It Takes A Virtual Village: Rise of the Mommy Blogs.” (It also features the wonderful Jessica McFadden from A Parent In Silver Spring.)

But back to topic….what I really need to say is THANK YOU to each and every person who has ever stumbled upon my blog and stopped to read a post that I have written.  I may not know you, but you have profoundly impacted my life!