Blogger Spotlight: After The Playground

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This week, we have Sharon from After The Playground taking part in the Blogger Spotlight interview.

If you would like to take part, and your blog is under six months old, or has been re-launched in the last six months, please email me randommusings29@gmail.com

 

Blogger Spotlight: After The Playground

1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself

I am a married Mum to three girls and I am in my (very) late forties. My girls are tweens and teens and my eldest is leaving home soon to go to University. My career was in medical research and I have a PhD in epidemiology but I left work just after my third baby was born to be a stay at home Mum and to help my husband in his physiotherapy business. I found being a mother a lot more rewarding and a lot more fun than I ever found being an academic! I have always loved reading and writing and have experimented with copywriting, editing and fiction writing with varying degrees of success and a good dose of failure.

I am at my happiest when I am curled up on the sofa with my three girls and my husband watching a film or walking with them on a beautiful beach.

2 What is your blog’s name and what is it about?

My blog is called After the Playground because that is what it is about. It focusses on what we, as Mums, do as our children grow older and need us less. It is all about defining the next stage of motherhood. We all have to go through a transition as our kids turn into young adults but that does not stop us from being a Mum. I want my blog to share my experiences of how I discover who I am again.

3 Why did you decide to start a blog?

I had a horrendous start to 2016! I had several health scares, a horrible bout of flu and was at a really low point emotionally. This was the year that my eldest child would leave home and within 18 months my youngest will leave primary school. My family was changing rapidly and I was left reeling. I think my blog was my way of getting my thoughts in order and putting together a plan to pull myself together. I wanted to document my journey as I moved on to the next stage of being a Mum.

4 Do you have any goals for your blog?

Yes, loads! I would love my blog to become a resource for ladies at my time of life. We have a lot to contend with – ranging from the menopause to empty nest syndrome. I want to devise a toolkit that ladies can use to get them through. I’m just starting to discover what works for me but I’m already convinced that it will involve a combination of exercise, education, creativity, travel and a new look! It also involves keeping a strong bond with your children and moving forward together as a family. I want my blog to list loads of activities that you can do WITH your tweens, teens and adult children. I think that’ll do for a start!

5 Tell us one random fact about you

I am totally hopeless at map reading and finding my way to unfamiliar places and have difficulties telling my right from left. I do not seem to have any sort of biological sat nav which has provided great amusement to my kids and is an endless source of irritation to my husband who is like a homing pigeon and seems to have an inbuilt compass.

6 What is the best piece of blog related advice you have received so far?

To be myself and to not try to copy anyone else. It is tempting to look at successful bloggers and to try and be like them but I am finding it so refreshing to just be me. My blog is an eclectic mix of humour, reflection, honesty and factual information. My writing is dictated by my mood and I love that! I can harness all of my emotions and get them down on paper as I am feeling them.

7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?

This one is easy! I love being the gatekeeper for what gets published on my blog. I have had writing rejected in the past by agents and publishers. I know that all writers have to endure this but it really annoys me. Now, no one judges whether my writing should be shared with readers – they get to see it and they judge for themselves. If they like it, they will keep reading my blog. If they don’t, then they won’t bother reading on any further. But at least they get to see it!

8 Is there anything you would do differently if you were starting over knowing what you know now?

I would definitely have organised my family photos before I started sharing in Instagram. I try to share one photo a day and I know that I have 18 years of fabulous shots but they are all in a jumbled mess on my computer. It can take me an hour and a half to find the one I want and then just 10 seconds to upload it. This is definitely not an efficient use of my time!

9 Anything else you’d like to share with us?

I would love to hear from other Mums who are going through similar experiences or from older ladies who have been through it and come out the other side. On the other hand, I love reading blogs by Mums and Dads who have young children as it takes me back to what was, without a doubt, the happiest time of my life.

Thanks for having me!

10 Where can we find you? (links to blog and social media)

https://twitter.com/DrSharonParry1

https://www.facebook.com/aftertheplayground1/

57 Comments

  6. Hi Sharon, it’s so good to hear a bit of your background and goals. I can really relate to you, as we’re at a similar stage! I think that we’re embarking on an interesting phase in our lives and it’s so good to share it. I found your point about your blog being read rather than a publisher making that decision an interesting one – very true. Alison x #AnythingGoes

    Reply

  9. I only discovered Sharon’s blog recently but it’s nice to see what life can be like in a few years when N is older.

    Although the issue with photos – easily got round if you use Instagram for instant photos!

    Reply

  11. Sarah @theparentingtrials

    I agree it is important to be just you, once in a while I find myself asking if it’s alright to write about such and such on my blog and other bloggers are like it’s your blog you can write and do what you want. Which is true lol xx

    Reply

  14. What amazing goals for your blog. I completely agree that blogging is a great way to get your thoughts in order when everything is changing. Good luck with it ll. #bloggerclubuk

    Reply

  16. Sharon I was delighted to find another mum at a similar stage both with teenagers and close to 50 (6 months and counting) and all that entails. I am also totally rubbish at reading maps and delight in telling my kids that I was thrown out of Geog O’level for not being able to do it! #bloggerclubuk

    Reply

  18. What a brilliant idea for a blog and I am running over to take a look now. Mine is all about life with (very) small children and I often wonder – with some trepidation – how I will feel in 15yrs when NG is 18. You sound lovely and I’m so glad I read this post! I hope you reach your goals 🙂 #BloggerClubUK

    Reply

  23. Lizzie firstooth

    Ah she sounds lovely! I have the same probs with Instagram, although not 18 years worth of fabulous photos. It can take so much time to select just one photo! I also love the reason behind your blog, a very sentimental thing for every mum x #bloggerclubuk

    Reply

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