Hello my friends,
I've decided to take a sabbatical from The Artful Parent for the month of February. During this time, I have lots of good posts already scheduled for you. They are a mix of guest posts as well as some old favorites (and new re-mixes) from my blog that you may not know or remember.
You may wonder why I am planning a break and what I'll be doing during that time.
First, the big why.
I have a few reasons:
- It's healthy to take a break from something every once in a while and it feels like the right time for this one.
- I have other projects that are begging for my focus at the moment.
- The Artful Parent book will be out soon (April 9th is the publication date!), and I'd like to get a little breather in before all the book release activity starts.
- I also feel, at this five year mark, that I'm at a transition point with The Artful Parent and need to step back from it in order to fully see it and plan my next steps.
Here's what I have planned for the month:
I won't be idle. (I'll save that for a future break... Although, knowing me, I'll always have some sort of project brewing.) This month, I will be focused on finishing my spring crafts ebook, exercising and doing health-related activities, and participating in The Artist's Way course I'm beginning.
I'm also going to use the time and distance from The Artful Parent to think about and make a plan for the blog. A strategic planning retreat, if you will. So far, I've mostly been going day to day, flying by the seat of my pants, and not really considering the big picture.
Now, though, I'm ready to step back a bit and really look and perhaps help the blog through some sort of metamorphosis. I want to be deliberate about this process and make The Artful Parent the best it can be, and to help it grow. I'm not sure in what way yet (although I have a few ideas...).
So, I'll spend some time in February with my index cards and rollerball pens, my notebooks and my life collage materials (blog collage materials?). I'll ask myself big questions and hope to find the answers within myself as well as in the outside world. I'll talk with other bloggers and do some reading and research. And, during that time of reflection and planning, I hope to come up with some ideas worth acting on.
I promise to give you a full report when I check back in on March 1st!
What I'd like to ask of you:
While I'm on my sabbatical, I am, of course, hoping that you will continue to read The Artful Parent posts I have scheduled for you, and to leave comments. I probably won't be reading or answering them, though, and so I ask that you, as an artful parent yourself, help answer questions and respond to comments as you have the experience, interest, and inclination. Some of you already do this, which I very much appreciate. This is an express invitation for all of you, as The Artful Parent community, to help answer each others' questions and respond to each others' comments. Thank you!
Other notes:
- Rachel Miller, from Kids Activities Blog, will be managing my facebook page and social media for me (she also provided a few guest posts).
- The newsletter is on hold this month. However, I'm working on big plans for it as well, so be sure to sign up if you haven't already. You'll be the first to receive the new and improved newsletter at the beginning of March!
- The Artful Winter eBook is on sale for half off ($4.99) through the rest of the month. Use it for family-friendly Valentine's Day decorations, yummy recipes, and winter crafts. And next winter you'll already have it on hand for Christmas and New Year's ideas as well.
So, until March 1st!
xo,
Jean
