Real or Reel?

How close is your blogging personality to the personality you believe you share with other people on a day to day basis? I know, I know, perception is reality. Bear with me here.


So I know this girl (bad choice of words....I guess I don't really "know" her based on what I'm about to reveal to you). Well, here's the thing. I knew her in person. I didn't know her as her blogging self. This woman was a completely different woman in person than what she presented herself to be on her blog(s)...I think she has about 3 blogs. She's a busy woman. I mean she's got about a gazillion things on the go in her life. It's none of my business how she divies up her time. HOWEVER, it got me to thinking: how many people out there use blogging to create another personality? And how many people accuratley convey who they are? How many people do a little of both in the same blog or in several different blogs?

Everyone wants to be construed in a positive light, I understand. Well, maybe some people don't care how others percieve them, but I guess I see blogging as a way to express myself through words. Now I guess I do it anonymously as Maple Mum, but that I feel is more about wanting to protect my privacy and feel completely free to say whatever I want. Does it just mean I'm being, as Georgie Sr. would say "prudent" and taking care not to put too much personal information out there into cyb erspace? Or does this this mean I am hiding behind anonymity, only feeling free to express myself knowing that no one will know who I am? So you don't know my name in "real life" but you know, or will know, my stories, experiences, feelings, thoughts: my life as it really unfolds. Does it make you "know me" any more if you did know my name?

This woman I mentioned above, she is what my friend PR and I call a loose canon in real life (putting it kindly) with some severely neurotic thoughts about friendship, very immature and overreactive. Case in point. Said woman, we'll call her MM was friends, and in fact neighbors, with PR for about a year before I moved into the neighbourhood. PR and I were both pregnant with our first baby when we met. PR told me about MM, that she had a toddler and a newborn, and suggested the 3 couples get together and have a BBQ and play games sometime to kick off the summer season. We did and it was fun. From the very beginning, MM was very polite and nice, but overly insecure (e.g., she actually wrote me an email asking me if my husband liked her husband, or what he knew of him) shortly after we had gotten together for the BBQ. MM and PR took me to a brunch baby shower and gave me wonderful gifts. However, this was the beginning of the end. On the way back in the car, MM became quiet and so PR and I were trying to carry the conversation, trying to include her, asking her what she thought, etc. Quiet. Dead silent. When we arrive back to the neighbourhood, I said I wanted to get some pictures of the 3 of us. MM wouldn't look at us and stormed into her house, saying she can't, she has to see if her kids are ok since she left them with her husband. PR and I were confused. Had we said something or done something wrong. It came out after several texts and phone calls to MM that she was concerned PR and I would be better friends by the end of the summer. I know, totally Grade 4 all over again!! Anyhoo, things over the summer were up and down. Some good times, but more very not so good times. Nasty, immature status updates were posted on facebook (knowing i was on there and would see them) to try to express her anger at/with me. Blogging posts criticized PR and I for being horrible friends. Just alot of needless and immature drama. The fall brought what seemingly would be a new start...but that didn't last long. MM was up to her old tricks again and PR didn't want to deal with it just having a newborn and having to return to work, so she ended the friendship. I had my baby now too but never indicated once that I wasn't interested in being friends. So MM's posts in the fall kept slamming PR and I while presenting herself in a sickening sweet, sugar coating. It was so obvious to both PR and I that MM was two totally different people; she was one person in real life and someone totally different in blogging. And it was sad because PR and I could've been friends with the blogging MM. The husbands all got along well, too. We had fun. It's sad....but most upsetting is how we are left feeling so confused.

But I digress.

I pose the question: are you putting your REAL self out there, or are you presenting yourself as a film REEL, story crafted from beginning to end, with drama, theatrics, whatever tools you want? Maybe it's a little of both? Does it really matter? Maybe not. But I think it's worth thinking about.

So you're a mum, eh?

Welcome to my blog! So here I am, joining in all the fun that is blogging. Before I get all carried away and wrapped up in this new world, here's a bit about me....

I'm a mum of a hysterically funny, cuddly and cute almost 1 -year-old with a big, curly auburn coiff, hence forth referred to as "Beaver"

I'm Canadian (and so the title of my blog is born)

I moved "down here" (NJ) in 2006

I haven't been working for the past two years because of visa issues, which proved to be a blessing, not-so-much in disguise when I became pregnant with Beaver

For paid work, I work in the field of sport/recreation/health wellness

Now then. A few other important things to explain. You see, back in the homeland, also referred to as the GWN (Great White North) we are greatly influenced by the Bri'ish. So, we spell Mum "M-U-M". Didn't want you to think I don't know how to spell!! In order to pay tribute to the land where beavers rule, moose droppings are chocolate covered raisins, and "ors" is "ours" I will periodically address and debunk great Canadian myths.

Now....on to the meat 'n potatoes. Like so many mommy bloggers" out there, the reason I wanted to start blogging is to have a forum where I could share my experiences and perspectives about my journey through motherhood. I want to hear feedback and recieve suggestions, solutions, advice, stories, comments or questions others would like to share. My husband is truly a wonderful partner and father. But he's a "typical guy" in some respects (apologies to the super sensitive and vulnerable men out there). He doesn't always understand why I feel the way I do. He doesn't always clue in when I drop hints that I need someone to talk to about stuff. He's a scientist; he's factual and realistic. He's also very optimistic and positive, and doesn't understand why sometimes I get down, negative and frustrated. I'm a pretty upbeat and fun person, but I have bad days like everyone else.

So let's get this party started!!!