How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

On Being Lonely, Blogging and Love.

in Everyday, Lifestyle on

Five years. Do you remember where you were five years ago?  What you were doing?  What your plans and dreams were?  Me?  I was the Mama of two girls, ages eight and ten, and they were my entire world.  My dreams?  I wasn’t able to dream much beyond the next vacation.  I was feeling….stuck. 

5YearAni

One very cold night in February I found myself sitting alone on the couch, reflecting.  I had just turned down a very sweet job offer and I had no one to talk to.  Those happy little girls of mine were tucked into their beds, my Hubby was off on a golf trip, and I was alone.  What had I done?  I had given up a career I loved to stay home with my babies.  I know for them and for me it was the right choice, but   “Career Girl” gone “Stay At Home Mom”? Gulp.  Those words stuck in my throat.  Not because I wasn’t proud of my decisions, not because I was afraid I’d made the wrong choices, because I needed something else.  Dare I say I was lonely?

I started to write.  I wrote my heart out!  Then, I started a blog.  A place where I could vent, emote, and connect with other Mama’s.  I started How To Survive Life In The Suburbs.  I threw my heart and soul into this blog, and it saved me.  Each article I wrote felt right, each “like” and comment I received gave me a validation I didn’t know I needed.  More then that, each e-mail from other Mama’s out there thanking me for speaking the truth, laughing and crying with me, made me smile.  We were all in this crazy world together; laughing and living our lives as best we could.  We were surviving, we were thriving, and it was going to be okay.  

This month I celebrate my 5th Blogging Anniversary and I am a little bit proud. 

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I started out in this “space” truly writing only for me.  I wrote anonymously and loved every second of it.  It was easy to pour my heart out when there was no fear of neighbours, friends or family judging me for my innermost feelings and thoughts.  The only problem, it was not possible to take these connections further until I let a little bit more of my real self though.  So under the advice of a few professionals who wanted to work with the “real me” and some new on-line friends who said “Go for it girl!”,  I plastered my face up on my blog and let the whole world in.  This change in direction made my road through this blogging life both more intimidating and more exciting.  I’m grateful for every incredible experience that has been thrown in my lap and even more thankful for the one’s I worked my butt off to earn.  Yes, I am grateful to a blog.  Blogging has changed my life.

These past five years, I’ve made real true friends and maybe even some frenemies.  I’ve shed some tears, and been blessed with some incredible adventures.  I’ve had dreams come true, and even been allowed to dream new dreams. 

Today, I want to say thank you.  Thank you to the readers who have been with me for five years!  Thank you to those who joined me somewhere along the way, and to my newest readers, thank you and welcome!  I need you to know that each click, like and comment you leave on my little piece of the cyber world is appreciated!Five1

To try and thank you for your love, your comments and giving me a little bit of your time each day I’ve lined up a few giveaways!  Yes!  For the next few weeks I’m throwing my very own FIVE YEAR CELEBRATION!  Woot!  During this celebration I will be hosting a few giveaways of some of my favourite things.  Starting tomorrow I will present to you the tried and the true, the brand new to me, and maybe even the greatest of escapes from these suburbs!  Thanks for sticking with me in my little corner of the suburbs,  I can’t wait to see what happens next!  XOXO

    • Comments

      • I’m amazed to see how many of us started out blogging because we needed “something”, not necessarily sure what that is, but something. So blessed to have met you in this crazy world of blogging!

    5. Congratulations on 5 years! I’ve shown your blog to many friends who loved reading your thoughts, and you always make my day just a little brighter! So glad you found this way to express yourself and brighten the world a little with your happy energy 🙂

      • Bridget! You are so sweet! Thank you for your kind words and for showing my blog to your friends, I appreciate both! Wishing you all the best! Steph

    9. What a sweet post for a wonderful milestone! I am so very blessed to call you my friend (IRL) and thrilled with the career YOU have made by showing the world what I already knew; you are beautiful inside and out Steph. I am so SO proud of you! Congrats!!!!! XO

      • Oh Jacki!! Your sweet comment brought tears to my eyes! Thank you so much for your support both IRL and in this space! It means the world to me!

    14. Congratulations on your 5th blogging anniversary! I know how it feels when you have to make a life changing decision (I did it twice 😉 ), but I’m glad that you didn’t choose the “career path”. I tremendously enjoy your blog! Thank you!

    15. Happy 5 years hon! man I can still relate to those lonley days. Kids are tucked in bed, hubs is away on a business trip to England. and me? well, I’m just here aren’t I? I definitely got lost along the way! lol sigh….
      You’ve created a wonderful space here on the blog, congrats on the 5 and I wish you many more adventures for the next 5!

      • Oh you really do know where I started from, it sounds like you are in the thick of it right now! I hope your beautiful blog also helps you on some of those quiet days. It is too easy to get lost along the way, to just be the Mommy and nothing more. I really do “get” it. Hugs!
        Thanks for your kind words and I hope we both have some fun and fabulous adventures in the next few years! Sooner then later!