A blogging milestone I never wanted: An open letter to internet trolls

It is official. I am a blogger. It is not because I have reached my 4th anniversary of blogging. It was because I was attacked by a group of women who disagreed with me, and instead of writing about their own experiences, they targeted me. It took me several days to process this. Now that I’ve sorted it out, I want to send an open letter to internet trolls. The world needs more kindness, so let’s do it.

I remember some of the words she used that stuck with me: “Sold your soul”, “Sad that you value money over real safety for children”, and “It’s people such as you that ruin the future generation.” Wake up!” One woman even posted my story on her blog with a call for action for her followers. This is not what I wanted in my blogging career. Joking that this means that I am officially a blogger is like telling the bride on her big day that the rain is a good sign. I hope sharing my story will help others who have been attacked online. We must be careful with our words to remind others that disagreement is okay. They carry weight.

An open letter to internet trolls

I remember in 4th grade when my mom told me words hurt even though we couldn’t see the damage. It’s amazing how words can hurt, no matter what age. I was once a complete people pleaser. I may have stopped blogging because of this old self. This made me feel sad about the world. What happened to the ability to disagree and openly discuss it? These moms would know me personally if they were one of my followers. They would also know that I value diversity of opinion and am open to dialogue. I love learning new things and am an avid learner. To keep learning, you must be open to learning new things.

We have reached a point where people feel entitled to attack others if they don’t agree with us. This is especially true when you consider the internet’s protection. I received a nasty DM from one of the women on a different subject. I wrote back to her and told her how her words hurt. I also reminded her that she is a real person. I hoped that it would spark a conversation. My response was met with silence.

I didn’t take lightly the decision to share my opinions and those of my family online. It is the reason why I almost gave up blogging. Even though last week was difficult, I would do it again. Although I’ve read through my post several times to determine if it should be positioned differently, I wouldn’t change it despite the hate it would bring. This is a topic I strongly believe in.

Despite the negatives of blogging, including being attacked by women, the upsides of blogging have been great. Over the past 4 years, I have created a community. I have a community of readers eager to celebrate everyday life with me. A group of business owners I met online and who have become my best friends. My daughter has taught me that you can create a business with your creativity and talent. You can have a business that supports your family, gives you purpose and inspires others.

To my haters, thank you for reminding me that 99% are kind. Motherhood can be hard. We all make difficult decisions for our children as parents. These decisions can have serious consequences. We all do our best to make the best decisions. If you disagree with something, please let us know. But don’t be rude.

We are grateful for your patience and support throughout this journey. We are returning to regular content that celebrates the life and the people we love.