Just over two years ago I wrote a post about why I will never post my daughter’s face online.
Nothing has changed, you won’t see my kid’s face online, or know her name, at least not on my profiles.

BiP (Baby in Provence) is 4 and a half now. A huge fan of selfies, being filmed, making dance videos – you name it. But they are all OURS!

A few years ago I was accused of being a fake mummy blogger because I didn’t show my daughter’s face online – I even had people ask me if she had a physical deformity, which is why I wasn’t showing her face. I was stunned. No. She’s perfectly fine, adorable, a smart cookie and a real firecracker – it’s actually hard for me NOT to share publicly what she gets up to! Inspite of the scorn I still got voted #5 of the Circle of Moms European Blogs.

Not to repeat what I wrote 2 years ago, but BiP one day may hate her name. She may cringe at pictures of herself but she has the choice as to where they appear!

And if you ever need a reason to reconsider what you share online then Take This Lollipop.

Last time I shared this with a friend she deleted every picture from her social media accounts of her children.

It’s easy, we can do it in a second. But is it necessary?

One mother had her Instagram profile taken down for a fairly innocent pic of her toddler’s belly and it sparked a big media storm.
I was interviewed – click the pic to view (and the headline was off but hey, sensational reporting!)

It’s too easy to snap a pic an upload today. But we don’t really know who is looking nor what they are doing with the images.

Do I need to see your kid’s genitals? – NO

Do I need to see your kid’s face covered in cake/food/poop/some random crap – NO

Do I need to see how much your kids epically f-ed up something – probably NO but I’d LOL! I
If you posted it I guess you might be ok with deeming them idiots for eternity.

See how it works?

In this digital age where most things have an archive and a history, do we really want everything we posted about our kids available for years to come?

Maybe you do.

I chose not to and will uphold it until she’s old enough to read and understand.

It will be an interesting journey from my side (and I look forward to when BiP is old enough to fully embrace her own online presence).

We all have the choice as to what we post, how much me share and to think for our kids.

I don’t judge those who share pics of their kids and I often like them, as often as like cat pictures.

What do you think? Do you share your kid’s photos freely? Or do you do censor?  

Just over 2 and a half years ago I became a mother, a mummy blogger, and I have never posted my daughter’s face (or her name) online. Here is why.

Before I get into my reasons, actually our reasons, I just want to clarify that our daughter is (thankfully) happy, healthy, and doesn’t have any facial abnormalities – yes, that has been suggested on numerous occasions when I continually refuse to publish her face.

The fundamental reason you will never see our daughter’s face or name online is because we feel that SHE has the right to choose her online identity when the time is right.

Our stance may seem extreme but as cute as she looks with food all over her face she is quite likely to be embarrassed by some of her photos later in life – why would I compound that by publishing them for the world to see, and refer to forever?

I am know I am not alone in this stance to keep BiP out of the public eye; Carla Bruni, when her daughter was born stated “No Photos“.

BiP (Baby in Provence) obviously has a name. A proper name but I don’t know if she’ll like it when she grows up. Again, this is our choice.

Some have said I can’t be a real “mummy blogger” without publishing my child’s picture. After all, this blog is all about our journey through breastfeeding, EC and BLW. It does include hilarious stories of BiP pooping in a car park and times she’s dined out in Provence.

But mostly the stories are shared from MY point of view and all you get are pictures of me, the back of BiP’s head or an arm.

We live abroad with family and friends flung at all corners of the world – sometimes the easiest way would be to post her latest picture to Facebook but then how many others, who don’t know us, will see it?

Do you know everyone personally on Facebook? I know I don’t.

I have a hard enough time managing my own social media presence and have no desire to get on top of BiPs.

In addition, I do have a pretty strong stance when it comes to the use of children in advertising but I’ve written enough about that.

Obviously there are concerns with safety but they are minor at this stage as she’s too young to read but I would hate for someone else to use BiP’s face without me knowing (and yes, I have friends who have had their baby’s images in Picassa used for company newsletter).

Yes, it is challenging to keep BiP’s face offline.

BiP is adorable, an extension of us, our love, and wow, it is tempting to post those pictures online to get all the compliments that you get everyday which just make you want to burst with pride but NO.

It’s our duty to protect our daughter and the digital world we live in we feel that it’s our right to keep some aspects of our life private.

What are you thoughts on this subject?

Let’s see if I can get this out coherently.

I’ve always told my friends that there is no point trying to be supermum, because we are all super. Damn, we made babies inside our bodies – if that’s not a super power, well what the hell is? Really?

The thing is right now is that I’m beating myself up because I can’t do it all.

Yes, I have given up having sparkling floors, and well, the dishes can wait. I’ve even discovered a laundry mountain for the first time in my life. Even letting these things go so I can do more with BiP I still feel out of control.

I want to work, I have to work, I want to be there for BiP, I want to be an amazing wife, an awesome friend, I want to be me.

Guess that’s the issue. After running round trying to please everyone (and not always succeeding) I stop and think, umm, what do I want to do?

When I do grab a few hours to myself I run around doing errands, or working, I’ve forgotten how to have ME time. What did I used to do before I had BiP? It sounds so ridiculous.

Latest “me” time was spent getting waxed … so I could take BiP swimming, hardly relaxing or enjoyable – and off topic, but WHY is there still no permanent solution to hair removal? They can transplant hearts but they can’t remove hair forever?

It’s not the first time I have felt like this, and I know it’s not the last.

I know Supermum doesn’t exist because we are all super.

**********

This is my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post at all.things.fadra.
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

Firstly, new Stream of Consciousness Sunday button! I’m a bit slow getting on board with it as I’m not a huge fan of change … but I’ve finally done it.

So this week the only thing on my mind is the issue of winter bugs, illnesses.

I am so sick of BiP being ill. It seems like she’s not getting a break.

In the last month it’s been one thing after another.

A cold, an ear infection, then a tummy bug which made her appear like something out the Exorcist, followed with yet another cold, a perpetual visit from the snot monster and now we’re back to a tummy bug.

The worst part is that I feel so helpless. I know there is nothing I can do to stop her catching these bugs but it doesn’t console me.

I think this has to be the worst part of being a parent: watching your child suffer and feel like crap and not be able to take it away.

**********

This is my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post at all.things.fadra.
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

Yes, it’s been too long! I haven’t posted here in a while and well, I feel really bad.

Just today I caught Fadra on Twitter and said how it had been a LONG time since I took part in Stream of Consciousness Sunday. I also asked her how she does it; managing 2 blogs at the same time. She told me it was “HARD” and that she works late making sure she can keep both blogs consistently running.

I’m the first person to say that if you WANT to do something it will happen. But, I didn’t listen to my mantra.

Well, it’s the new year and I am planning to post at least twice a week on this site. I have another site, one that is my business so it get’s my full attention but Mummy in Provence is my baby, it’s how I started blogging and learning about social media. With over 130 posts I’m not going to let it go like that.

I’ve had challenges with this site in terms of design that got so frustrating I had to take a break. BUT! Whilst I iron them out I’ll keep at it.

Maybe you can help me – this site actually COSTS me money which is fine but I am struggling with one thing right now:

My Global Mama series is in desperate need of new posts … if you have had a baby abroad or know someone who has please can you tell them about the series “The Global Differences of Baby-Making”?

I get emails from other mothers who have said how much the series has interested them and some said it helped them feel part of a community of other mothers who’ve experienced the same thing.

Anyway, that’s it from me. I’ll try and keep my word about keeping this site updated with the info you all come here looking for!

************

This is my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post at all.things.fadra.
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

I have been working for a few months on developing a business that I find exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding. I’ve worked for myself for the last 5 years and have been constantly searching for something more, something else.

Just a few weeks ago I was depressed with what I was doing work wise – I love marketing, I really do but it was lacking something. I’ve never been one to conform to rules or traditions so I decided it was time I developed something that was MINE, all mine.

So, I’m still doing marketing but I’m doing it visually. I can’t use photoshop or any design programmes but years ago I went to art school – I never felt I was good enough to be an artist so I quit and studied History of Modern Art, then realised I didn’t want to be a critic so I went and did a Masters in Marketing. The corporate world didn’t work out (remember, I said I suck at conforming?)

Anyway, finally, I have given myself permission to bring together the elements that make me who I am today.

I’m excited, super excited actually. It’s been a giant leap for me, but giving myself the permission to go out there and DO has unleashed a part of me that I can’t wait to rediscover!

This is what I’m talking about …

Is there something you are longing to do but won’t allow yourself to do it? 

What’s holding you back?

************

This is my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post at all.things.fadra.
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

Here is my 5 minute brain dump as part of this great series. Here goes …

So, today is World Child Abuse Day. A day to think.

Child abuse ranges from physical, sexual, psychological, and economical types of abuse.

It’s a topic close to my heart. The stats never fail to make me cry.

Statistics vary widely on child abuse, mostly because an overwhelming number of cases are never reported (the last figure I saw in relation to sexual abuse was 88% of cases are UNreported).

Tonight I hugged my daughter a little tighter than normal. I can’t wrap her in cotton wool but I would give my life to protect her.

A much shorter post than normal but it I spent a lot of time thinking vs. writing.

************

This is my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post at all.things.fadra.
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.