Best Australian Blogs 2012 #bestblogs2012

I had the nicest surprise a few weeks ago….I opened my email to find that a lovely person had nominated me for the Sydney Writers Best Australian Blogs Competition 2012!!

I am relatively new to the world of Blogging and I have watched other competitions take place from afar. I had often thought that there is no way that my blog could ever stand with the other great blogs in a competition……

Although I have just jumped onto this blogging horse, I have already faced some hurdles. I have been accosted in a car park and told I should stop writing things on the internet. This lady went on to tell me that writing on the internet made me seem mentally imbalanced.

Recently I have learned that writing about my sports parenting on my blog has left me open for criticism and attacks. I had sort of expected something like this as I had been reading other blogs and comments for quite a while. I thought I was ready to deal with anonymous, uninformed criticisms. However, I was left reeling  by an attack on my parenting by a member of my family!

I decided to take a weeks break away from my blog because to be completely honest, those comments had taken away much of the joy and freedom I had found in blogging to share my voice with the world. …

….but I’m back…

I am back and determined not to let those comments rob me of my joy and passion for blogging. I have simply the strongest desire to share my and my families story with the world. The recent hurdles I have had to jump have just served to reaffirm my blogging goals.

I’m not saying that I’m any good at it, but I have always loved to write. I love how writing helps me to get my ideas and plans straight in my head and makes some sort of order and sense of the random  jumble of dot points in my brain.

My goals in writting my blog are to share my family’s story and to connect with other like-minded people all around the world (you can see them on my side-bar). I now have renewed enthusiasm to document the participation of my children in their sport. I am not afraid to be proud of them and their achievements. I am not afraid to love them out loud. Participation in sport and a healthy and active lifestyle is very important to me. Perhaps by writing honestly and from my heart I can encourage and motivate others to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

When I first read about the best Australians blogs competition I had absolutely no intention of entering. But then, the nomination I received gave me the confidence to put my little blog forward. I have entered into the personal/lifestyle category, the new blog category and the peoples choice award. I am certainly not expecting to win, but to see my blog listed in the competition is actually quite a thrill and perhaps my blog will get some further exposure through the process.

For the peoples choice award you can vote for The SportyMummy Blog (under ‘T' ) and other Australian blogs you like by clicking on the vote button or directly to the site here at www.surveymonkey.com/s/BAB2012. The twitter hash tag is #bestblogs12. There are 940 blogs entered and the prizes are courses at the Sydney writers centre which would be just fabulous!!

Anybody can vote, you don't have to have your own blog. Although it is an Australian competition, the voting is also open to international readers.

I’d just like to thank everyone who has read and commented on The SportyMummy blog. Your support, encouragement and friendship has been so wonderful and has been deeply appreciated!