Sweet serendipity: being named a Kidspot Top 50 blogger!

Oh, my stars! While I’ve been busy visiting my Dad in hospital, playing Planet Baby’s Monopoly game and generally attending to matters of state here, the most curious thing happened. Someone (no idea who) nominated me as a Kidspot Top 50 blogger for 2011. What serendipity! I am absolutely overwhelmed, flattered, flabbergasted and humbled at the same time. Never, when I hit ‘Create blog’ on 23 July 2010, did I imagine that only 9 months later, I’d be in this little spot in Blogland.

So what does this nomination mean for me?

Well that, sweet Planetarians, is something I’ve really had to think about since hearing the surprise news from Kidspot.

It’s funny – for most of my life, I’ve always sought validation from others and my opinion of myself relied totally on what others said. So what caused me to think like this - nature or nurture? I know it was a combination of both. It also got me into terrible muddles about my self-worth and sense of identity.

Fortunately, as I’ve grappled with depression over the years, brilliant and supportive professionals have helped me to get over this problem and to work out a better way to approach life.

I’ve finally realised that *I am enough*.

I am me.

I love being me.

I have no control over what others think of me, only what I think about myself.

Working through the issues behind my depression and the changes wrought by the enormity of motherhood have helped me reach this place in my life.

I am so glad I’m here. Now, in this moment.

So, having finally reached this point of self-awareness, it’s a little strange, even ironic, to me to suddenly be in this competition. And competing against so many of my dear bloggy friends and in particular, darling Felicity and sweet Bron.

I’m so delighted to see so them all getting the acknowledgement they so richly deserve. They each add to my daily enjoyment of Blogland in so many different and diverse ways - I'm so thrilled to have found them all in its vast expanses.

You can meet the Kidspot Top 50 Bloggers here – treat yourself by having a peek at their blogs.

I've clinked a champagne glass in Hobart tonight as the other nominees celebrate at a cocktail party in Sydney. How I wish I could be there to join you all!

That I've also made the cut is extraordinarily flattering and humbling for a newbie blogger like me. It feels very unusual as I'm not into blogging for self-promotion or competition. I just blog because I love it as we were discussing the other day.

So, thanks Kidspot for the nomination – I’m truly delighted and honoured to be in such fabulous and inspiring company. You’ve made one tired mum in Hobart very happy!

You can find out more about how the Top 50 bloggers were selected by reading here. Oh, and treat yourself to reading Linda from Kidspot’s thoughts on the joys of blogging here – I’m sure you’ll find yourself nodding away!

So what’s the next step?

Given where I’m at in life now, as described above, I think of the competition more as a joint celebration of blogging as opposed to a competition.

You sweet Planetarians are welcome to vote for me if you’d like – just click on the button in my sidebar which will take you to the right spot (if you look hard, you can see my header up in the top!). Or this link will take you there as well. I’d be chuffed if you do that but it’s up to you. I certainly won’t be hectoring you to vote for me ☺.

Oh, and feel free to vote for your other favourite bloggers – I certainly have! However, according to Kidspot, only one vote per blog counts per ISP, though, just to keep it fair.

Just so you know (says the lawyer in me, in the interests of full disclosure!), there are further steps involved in the competition which concludes with the Top 5 bloggers getting to drive a new Ford Territory for a month and a $300 fuel voucher. The Top Blogger will be announced on 3 July 2011 and will win the use of a new Ford Territory for a year and $5,000. I’m not sure whether I’ll pursue this – as you know, I have quite a bit going on at Planet Baby now!

But for now, I'm just delighted to be along for the ride with some of my best bloggy buddies!

Happy in Hobart ☺.