What did 2019 look like for you?
Mine looked like work trips, pneumonia, helping two little men navigate life, and a shout out in GLAMOUR MAGAZINE. While somehow finding time to keep up with this blog. Because connecting with you ladies is life-giving.
So HAPPY FOURTH ANNIVERSARY to MothersRest!
Here are the highlights for 2019, including what went viral. Plus, much deserved thanks to the amazing MothersRest guest bloggers.
Top 10 posts for 2019
The most popular posts published in 2019 – in case you missed ’em.
1. Here’s why I’m delaying kindergarten for my kiddo
VIRAL POST ALERT, with 3,000 page views and over 500 shares on Facebook!!
2. I’m sorry-not-sorry my kid is too busy for you
VIRAL POST ALERT, with almost 2,800 page views and the second most popular MothersRest post on Facebook!! (This is also a super popular pin on Pinterest.) Congrats to guest blogger, Sara.
3. Why I’m getting the measles shot AGAIN
VIRAL POST ALERT, with 2,000 page views and over 2,000 shares on Facebook!! Plus, comments from more than 600 scientists in the social media realm.
4. Why you need to talk to your 4-year-old about alcohol
Because the kiddos are monitoring our wine habits at an earlier age than you might think. (This was the fifth most popular post on Facebook this year, so thanks for spreading such an important message.)
5. The big lie infertility wants you to believe
Infertility can take you down. Even after miracle baby has arrived. Don’t let it.
6. 1 in 4 women know we need to talk about this
Because miscarriage can be devastating… Oh, and congrats to guest blogger, Katie Huff.
7. Motherhood keeps closing doors for me. And that’s a beautiful thing.
Motherhood is a journey – and definitely impacts how we grow as women. Congrats to guest blogger, Erin, for this lovely post.
8. Why your kid needs a dad surrogate (otherwise known as a MALE babysitter)
I love me some male babysitters for my boys. Give one a try – you might love one, too!
9. Believe me, it’s possible to raise respectful and thankful tweens
Hint: start ’em off young with PLEASE and THANK YOU. Congrats to guest blogger, Ande.
10. Turn off the damn baby monitor (and other sleep tips for moms)
7 tips to get you through the night. No matter if you’ve got a 12-month-old or 12-year-old.
Your top 10, all-time faves
Since December 2015, posts on the blog have been viewed more than 150,000 times. Here are the ones you just can’t get enough of #love
1. The 10 penis rules for boys
SUPER VIRAL POST ALERT, with 20,000 page views and counting!!
2. Hey pretty girl, beware the boogie man. Human trafficking is real.
SUPER VIRAL POST ALERT, with over 12,000 page views and over 3,000 shares on Facebook!! Congrats to guest blogger, Sharon.
3. How not to be a submissive wife
Because sometimes we need courage to live marriage authentically and to be strong women. (This was the third most popular post on Facebook this year, because it was inspired by Rachel Held Evans who died in May at the way-too-young age of 37.)
4. How to survive 6 hours in the car with a baby
Hint: wear an adult diaper like that astronaut lady. (This is a super popular pin on Pinterest.)
5. 7 tips for getting your baby on a sleep schedule
Hint: loud guitar music kinda doesn’t help. (Another super popular pin on Pinterest.)
6. 10 things you should know about having a C-section
Hint: there will be blood. (This one is also a popular pin on Pinterest.)
7. How my kid almost crushed my marriage
Newborns are hard, you guys. And nobody tells you the impact on your marriage… Oh, and congrats AGAIN to guest blogger, Sara.
8. The 3-day potty boot camp
Because potty training is hell. Here’s how to survive 3 days of it to get ‘er done.
9. Why you need the flu shot – especially if you’re pregnant
Thanks for helping to get the word out about this important health issue.
10. How to escape swim diaper hell
Hint: it’s all about layering and lots of prayer.
Also popular on Facebook
Facebook is THE powerhouse for driving readership to MothersRest.
This social network sent 65% of visitors to the blog in 2019 – because we’ve got a really active audience on the MothersRest page. In case you caught on that I sprinkled some notes above about the most popular MothersRest posts on the site, here are the remaining two in the Facebook Top Five for 2019.
Weighing in at number four: Why can’t your kid write his own damn essays?
This one got a big boost in 2019 thanks to the college admissions SCANDAL.
And THE NUMBER ONE POST on Facebook was this little family story I shared – that garnered over 8,500 impressions!! Because Hillary really shoulda won the 2016 election. And I’m raising up my boys right…
More about Pinterest
Monthly impressions on Pinterest for MothersRest vary between 87,000 to 41,000. Whoa, those are some big numbers!
Y’all, Pinterest sent 35% of visitors to the blog in 2019. You can visit the main MothersRest board where I’ve archived every blog post back to December 2015. If you’re a design geek, you can even track how branding for the blog has evolved over the years.
Check out the stats from 2018 in this blog post. And if you want to start your own blog, here are my tips for how to start one without going crazy.
Now let the ROARING TWENTIES begin – Happy New Year!
Photo credit: NordWood Themes on Unsplash