For as long as I’ve been blogging (coming up on two years) I have never written something that has generated 50+ comments. That is, until recently, when one of the essays I wrote for Hybrid Mom was posted on the front page of the parenting section of Shine.

I wrote it many months ago, when baby Blake was barely out of the womb and Dillon was adjusting to being a big brother and learning how to share his mommy’s attention. And I, despite my “village” of support was struggling to find a new routine.

So I wrote about the experience. I picked a slice of my life and turned it into a story. I poked fun at myself. I exposed my insecurities and my strengths. And I hope, I encouraged so many moms out there who may have been struggling with their choices. To remind them that they’re doing okay.

This weekend, as I discovered the article on Shine and watched the comments pouring in, I had to dig down deep and remind myself why I choose to tell stories about my life and to practice what I preach. Many of the comments were supportive. Some were indifferent. But the critics, although currently the minority, were harsh.

“Be an adult!”

“Loser!”

“B**ch!”

Those were the among the worst. Other critics wrote things I had actually thought myself:

“You sound a little self-centered.”

“You showed your son that when things get tough it’s okay to quit.”

“The problem is YOU! Get it together. Learn how to plan better.”

Others debated the merits of preschool, which wasn’t really my point, but they were within their right to do, and I understand why my story would initiate that conversation. One of my goals as a writer is to build a community of like-minded people. I do not expect everyone to agree with everything I write. In fact, I love discussions with different points of view. Especially when they come from a foundation of respect.

But hatred doesn’t sit well with me. I have a feeling in this new media, where writers can publish their work online and readers have instant access to respond however they wish, this is only the beginning.

In the meantime, I want to leave you with a couple of quotes. The first one arrived today from Angel Roberts, the instructor of Daniel Island Hip Hop. (As a total aside, her class is FU-UN!)

Angel wrote:

You all have such power within you.  By sharing your joy, giving your love and standing firm as your true and beautiful selves, refusing to be changed by the world —we WILL change the world— if only a little at a time.

Since Friday, this quote from Marianne Williamson has been on my mind. This one really resonates with my soul. I hope it inspires you as much as it does me.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”