Uh, 2020, that was crazy, huh?
So many things I could say about this year. Like how I learned I’m not cut out to be a homeschooling momma. Nor bake sourdough bread. Nor re-tile the bathroom floor by myself.
Also, I’m not that great at blogging through a global pandemic.
In a typical year, me and my guest bloggers publish 40 posts. In 2020: SEVENTEEN TOTAL.
Well, there’s a neuroscience reason for this that you might recognize in your own life: we’re all stuck in a weird place of terror and stress over COVID, a thing we can’t control or see. Our brains are on constant alert, ready to protect us. Instead of fully enjoying this 9-month staycation with my sweet boys, lounging about, reading and writing myself silly, I can’t concentrate long enough to pull together three sentences.
Given all that, maybe a paltry 17 blog posts over 52 weeks is actually something worth celebrating. Plus, it’s time to wish MothersRest a HAPPY FIFTH BLOG-IVERSARY!
Below, you’ll find my annual blog recap. Plus a HUGE THANKS to the MothersRest guest bloggers who successfully eeked out powerful and coherent sentences this year.
Top 10 posts published in 2020
Of those 17 posts, here are the most popular. In case you, too, were too distracted to read anything during these days of COVID.
1. I volunteered for the COVID vaccine. Here’s what happened. by Clint Morse, FIRST MALE GUEST BLOGGER
SUPER VIRAL POST ALERT: over 11,000 page views and more than 500 shares on Facebook! Why? Because everyone wants to hear his story of how he volunteered for the Moderna trial. It’s time to get vaccinated and return childhood to our children.
2. How to entertain your kiddos when you’re under quarantine
VIRAL POST ALERT: over 3,000 page views and 400 shares on Facebook! Fun tips and activities to bring joy into your home during the coronavirus pandemic. So you and your kids don’t go crazy.
3. 10 super fun things my kids don’t do. Because: BEDTIME.
Are you a fan of the crazy-early bedtime, too? Life goes sooo much smoother. It also means your kids might not experience FIREWORKS til they turn 10! (They’ll be fine.)
4. Jesus wants you to wear a mask
Covid-19 is winning the battle. But we can still fight back by WEARING A MASK. Because: science and human decency. Jesus would agree.
5. That time I tweeted and GLAMOUR interviewed me
I sent a tweet to protest a conservative, anti-surrogacy judge. Then GLAMOUR magazine wanted to hear my story of infertility. What do you need to share? Tell it proudly. You never know who’s listening and who you’ll inspire.
6. Comfort-eating is the new ME time
The coronavirus got me, like, I need chocolate. PRONTO. Because comfort food is pretty much the only escape from working-at-home and parenting-at-home and schooling-at-home. Who’s with me?
7. Finding the silver lining in this quarantine mess by Cathy Smallwood, guest blogger
How are you fairing through all this? Here’s how one mom’s struggle with postpartum depression prepared her to cope with the new normal.
8. It’s time for Mary Poppins to homeschool your kids
Here are 39 legit teachable moments from the delightful Disney classic, Mary Poppins. Including math and literature, science and history, and, of course, the arts.
9. How to keep the HANGRY monster at bay (hint: your kid needs food)
Your kid needs snacks. Or life will implode FAST. Here’s your list of protein-rich foods and snacks to help you get through the day. So everyone is happy.
10. The thing about taking the COVID test by Erin, guest blogger
We did everything right. We quarantined. We canceled travel plans. We kept our distance. And yet… Here’s the thing: we tried to avoid the germs of everyone else. Who knew we were the problem?
Your top 10, all-time faves
Since December 2015, posts on the blog have been read more than 200,000 times. Here are the ones you guys love, weighing in with at least 3,000 page views each!
1. The 10 penis rules for boys
SUPER VIRAL POST ALERT, with TWENTY-NINE THOUSAND page views and translations into FOUR LANGUAGES!! (Y’all don’t wanna see the search terms people use to find this post – cray cray AF!)
2. Hey pretty girl, beware the boogie man. Human trafficking is real.
SUPER VIRAL POST ALERT, with over 12,500 page views and over 3,000 shares on Facebook!! Congrats to guest blogger, Sharon.
3. I volunteered for the COVID vaccine. Here’s what happened.
See #1 in the previous list above 👆
4. How not to be a submissive wife
A reader once said, “I didn’t think ‘submission’ was a thing anymore.” Apparently it is, because folks keep reading this one. With more than 6,000 page views now!
5. The 3-day potty boot camp
Potty training is the #1 search term that brings mommas (and daddies) to this site. Fingers crossed these tips work for them as well as they worked for my kiddos!
6. 7 tips for getting your baby on a sleep schedule
Hint: loud guitar music kinda doesn’t help. (This is a super popular pin on Pinterest.)
7. 10 things you should know about having a C-section
This is another popular pin on Pinterest. Also, the companion post, The no-shame C-section, BLEW UP on Facebook this year, with over TWENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND impressions.
8. How to survive 6 hours in the car with a baby
I don’t know who’s driving baby anywhere right now, but at least we can DREAM BIG in 2021. (Also a super popular pin on Pinterest.)
9. Here’s why I’m delaying kindergarten for my kiddo
This one got over 3,000 impressions on Facebook and more than 600 shares. Because who sent their kiddo to “virtual” kindergarten in 2020 if they could help it, amiright?
10. I’m sorry-not-sorry my kid is too busy for you by guest blogger, Sara
The perfect message we all needed to hear this past year: Please don’t judge my parenting style. What I need from you is grace.
Check out the stats from 2019 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.
Here’s to 2021. May we all be healthy and calm!
Photo credit: Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels