My Own Mind

I don't know if you've ever spent any time looking at the masthead on my blog, that part at the top of the blog page with my cheesy pic on the right, next to the quotation by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The quotation reads Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. I chose that quotation in my life and for this blog very deliberately.

Emerson was a 19th century philosopher, writer, lecturer. He wrote and spoke about something called the Transcendentalism movement, a school of philosophy that gained some intellectual popularity in the early- to mid-1800s, probably in response to the anti-intellectualism brought on by various strains of religion. You can read about Transcendentalism in many great places online, so check it out if you are interested in this. Absolutely inherent in the belief system of Transcendentalism is a belief in the goodness of people and of nature. 

Furthermore, these folks believed that society and its institutions, mainly religions, actually impair and undermine the goodness of each individual. If you've ever read Emerson's series of essays called Self-Reliance, that is what he is referring to, the idea that individuals should rely upon their own thoughts, instincts, and opinions rather than conform to those of other institutions. Emerson would say that individuals are best when they are independent, that, were we, as individuals, to rely upon our own minds rather than those of past authors/philosophers/lecturers, we individuals would create our own independent thought and be better people, thus, self reliance.

Don't blindly follow the thoughts and beliefs of others, true independence comes from self-reliance, and nothing can bring you peace except for yourself. That's what Emerson was saying.

SO, I love the basis of Transcendentalism, though, naturally, I don't follow anyone or any doctrine...kind of like what Transcendantalism says to do.  LOL The quotation at the top of this page reflects exactly how I feel about the necessity for questioning, for continued learning, and for absolute respect for the process of exploration and of the unknown. 

The quote is an incitement, a catalyst, an inducement to myself and to all of those who read this blog to cultivate a life of free thought, of questioning, and of integrity.

Good night, Folks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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I Got Goosebumps

You Don't Comment...

It's a funny thing, being a blogger.
As a blogger you have this awareness that you are writing mostly for yourself, but every so often you are reminded, I am reminded, that there is an active readership out there, reading my stuff.

I've been blogging for about nine years now and my awareness of the readership goes in and out. Mostly because you guys are so quiet. I'm pretty sure that people drop in and drop out following clip art and such, and, of course, that's OK. It's a blog for goodnesssake. 

And I'm perfectly capable of sustaining my own motivation for blogging and for regular postings and, just, for creating content that is readable and relatable and maybe a little bit provocative. I do think of my writing as a thing that I do for myself too...IOW.

The thing about a blog, though, is that it is an oddly intimate, so I'm going to share this little secret about myself with you.

• I like hearing from you.
  I do.
  Your voice matters to me and, in a way, if you are are here, we are one-way confidants, you know? And I prefer two-way.
  I guess that's my problem though.  ☺️

Anyway, I like comments. I like communication.
I like quality over quantity.

But if I'm not earning it, I'm not, I get that.
🤔  Hmmmmmm, your input is welcome.
This post isn't about guilt tripping anybody and it's only a little bit about begging. It's actually more looking for feedback. 

Maybe I'm not offering enough to read? Maybe my content isn't gutsy, provocative, inspirational, authentic, unique, or readable enough. In that case, I'd appreciate hearing that. I don't know what I'd change, but I would love your feedback.

Thanks for your time.
You don't comment...and that's OK.  😊

Please Share This Post With Your Frends.

LOL, JK! 

😄 

1000

Well, an amazing blogging milestone just silently passed for me with no fanfare. I posted my 1000th blog post the other day, the one where I celebrate OCCUPYING SPACE!

 Thank you so much for taking this journey with me!
I truly appreciate you

and I love the friendships you have brought to my life!

💜💙💜

 

A Fascinating Blog Post

Last night as I was laying in bed I wrote this excellent blog post in my head. It was hilarious and poignant at the same time. You know, a really fascinating post. I was lying there, writing it in my head, and chuckling at the humor of it all. There was even a subplot to the post idea. 
I was excited about the blog post idea because I thought that, surely my readers would be entertained by it, maybe some people would even leave a comment or two.

I had been super busy yesterday so I then fell into a deep sleep. I remember dreaming about the Serengeti Plain. Lots of large animals wandering about on this beautiful golden plain. A few spots of jungle foliage in the plain there for some reason... I couldn't seem to catch up with the large animals. No matter hard I looked, the behemoths were always out of range. But I was okay with this. 
It seemed to be mostly rhinoceroses. I've been kind of enamored with rhinos lately.

I woke up one time during the night to go to the bathroom and the writing was still with me; There was a bit of chortling as I thought about the funny parts of the blog post I was writing in my head. When I went back to bed I thought of something really interesting to add to my blog post. It was a graphic that I could see clearly in my mind, a graphic that both clarified what the post was about as well as adding depth and erudition to what I was planning on writing.

So I went back to sleep and had this dream about buildings. I think I was in large towns, one right after the other. The kids and I were just looking at the large cities as they wandered by, one of the cities was Chicago. Some of the buildings also had these darling small town-like store fronts. The kind with porches, tables and chairs, flower pots. Like that, think Mayberry. My overall feeling in the dream was delight in all things welcoming.

When I woke up this morning I was planning on writing the blog post from last night...but I couldn't remember a single thing about it. I gave myself a couple of hours and tried hard to jog my memory, but...nothing. So I guess I won't write a blog post today after all.

What I've Learned from Readers of this Blog

I have now written over 900 blog posts, have had over 1,200,000 visitors to My Own Mind blog, and have kept the blog for nearly eight years. When one blogs as I do, one tends to give the process of blogging a bit of thought. Otherwise I would be unable to continue. I'm weird like that.

Does this blog mean something...anything? Am I a work in progress? Am I full of hot air? Do I have a niche? Are my words still viable? Is there more to say?

Listen, it may be true that I think too much, or that I have a bit too much time on my hands at the moment, hence this blog post. I'm thinking about what I have gotten from keeping this blog and I'm wondering who visits here and why.

For the most part, visitors here seem to be looking for the exact thing that I strive to put out there: real life atheist parenting, a positive world view, maybe a sense of community, and authenticity. I think. Comments from readers that appear both here, on FB, and to me privately nearly always refer to their difficulty in finding relatable information when it comes to raising wonderful children in a world gone mad with religious extremism. I can't say that I have the answers to the religious extremism, but I am definitely optimistic about the ability (and the mission) to raise good, strong, solid, logical-thinking, children with good hearts.

According to blog stats, parents also visit this blog looking for religion-free homeschool connections. I have that too. As a long-time homeschooling parent I have fought the Christian homeschool model and image for almost fifteen years. But that group of people dominates the internet and almost all social media. That is why I felt it so essential to maintain this blog...so that reasonable people could also find a home with homeschooling. Even with my relentless blogging in those days, I'm still an incredibly obscure, back-water blogger who has fewer than 150 followers and less than 400 views a day, and almost no ongoing notoriety. Not that I care about notoriety. But...I don't know. I just know that my blog is a small one.

But I have learned that my small voice has value. Those few people, friends, who do follow my blog have found value in what I offer: support, encouragement, genuineness, and a sincere belief in the human spirit...especially in really determined parents! I've learned that my atheist parenting memes (and others) have been repinned literally millions of times on Pinterest, yet few people are interested in the human connection of a blog for some reason. I've learned that people far far prefer commenting to me privately then here on my blog's comment section. I've made in real life friends from readers of this blog. I've learned that, with a very small bit of encouragement, steadfast and loving parents will make the leap into a rich and rewarding lifestyle of homeschool and/or of raising atheist/humanist/freethinking children. I love being that encouragement.

With my own children growing up (too fast) I have entered a different place in my life. I'm no longer the parent of small kids or teens, but rather college students with busy lives of their own. I'm floundering a bit, I don't mind telling you. I'm not at all certain where I will go or what I will do...but I'll continue to share my thoughts of parenting and/or of atheism and/or of my thought process right here at My Own Mind blog until it no longer makes sense to do so.

I've Got a Few Goals

atheist blog

I'm no longer really finding it necessary to find atheist/secular homeschool materials, so this blog's function in that direction is at an end. I'm no longer struggling with finding my way as a first-gen atheist parent in this very Christian culture. I'm moving into a different phase of my life. So why am I still blogging?

Because I still have some things that I want to accomplish, some objectives to this fairly public venue of a blog.

One goal I've had, more of a drive, really, is to stay openly atheist. To be THAT person who can be counted on to call it out: I'm an atheist and I won't sit by quietly, not speaking. So many atheists or doubting believers live in quiet places, places where they feel absolutely no freedom to be honest about their skepticism. And why? Because people would treat them differently, badly. I know people who are completely in the closet about their apostasy for fear of how they and their children would be treated.

YES, you read that right. I know and care for people who are fearful of being openly science-minded, logical, rational. I find it so weird and tragic that in this country people have to actually hide their intellect, who must keep their rejection of mythology under a bushel. How can this be? How can this country be so steeped in Christianity that informed and educated people feel the need to keep their children close and their atheism hidden?

So I'm on a mission. In every way I can, I will represent atheism to my small part of the world. I will be the face of atheism for as many people as I can, people who are fearful of atheists, people who think they have never met an atheist. I will be that person. I'm good and kind and I have a gorgeous face: I'll put it out there without fear. Through this effort I think more and more people will figure it out: atheists are people worth knowing, not the fearful people the church claims.

For that reason and for a few other reasons, my daughter and I have been looking into the Secular Student Alliance (SSA). The first time our family knew of the SSA was through the Skepticon, the atheist convention put on by the SSA members at one of the universities in Springfield MO. We were impressed with the SSA people and we've enjoyed Skepticon many times.

So Elizabeth and I are looking in to connecting up with an SSA chapter near us...we'll see.

The Secular Student Alliance is an organization whose goals are to educate students on high school and college campuses about evolution, the scientific process, reason, and the intellectual basis of secularism in its atheist and humanistic programs and efforts. The organization is national and offers many resources to its chapters, leaders, and members.

I'm also still blogging because I enjoy this community of people. I enjoy the many people who have become a part of my life through this blog and these writings. I intend to keep it up as long as I enjoy it!

And finally, I blog because the world is a weird and wonderful place, because the human mind is so very interesting, and because I love to learn...however small my little world is.

SO, those are my goals. 
Do you have any?

Is This a Clickable Blog Title?

atheist blog

The World Wide Web is freaking HUGE, isn't it?
It's overwhelmingly full of information and opinions and pictures and clip art and messages and online communities and advertisers and statistics and journals and news and sources for more news and people who want your money and games and time pass and time sink and debates and educational things and annoying things and...stuff.

 And then there are the blogs.

Every time you click onto a blog, you are opening yourself up to another person's thoughts, to their philosophies, to their biases, to areas of interest and of non interest, to their overt efforts, to their hidden efforts, to their deeply held opinions, to their unspoken desires, to their LIFE. It can be a bit overwhelming, really. I enjoy reading through the blogs when I have the time. I love following them from one to another to another and finding myself completely different from where I started. It's a reader's delight.

And a reader's nightmare! 

What to read? For how long? What will you give your time and attention to on a blog? How many "clicks" before you leave a blog? What is this writer trying to say? What are they trying not to say?  
Why should I read this? Are they entertaining? Educating? Supportive? Lame?  Full of shit? Full of wisdom? Does it make me laugh? Is the blog easy to navigate? Is it pretty? Does it make you feel empowered? Does it lose you? I have read dozens of posts on some blogs and no more than a few words on other blogs. Some blogs are wonderful places. 

Did you know that some bloggers really watch their statistics and strive for viral posts? There is now a science to blogging and the prize is to have the popular vote, many subscribers, and cash in pocket. Someone has created formulas for the perfect blog post. Others create click bait to get people on to their blogs. But none of that interests me much.

My favorite blogs are written by people that I think I would like to know in real life. I love it, really love it, when I hit on a blog that seems to speak to me somehow. I love it when something just "clicks" and I feel as though this person and I would enjoy a tea time together and, somehow, that doesn't seem freaky or stalker-ish at all. It seems bloggish, in a good way.

And now you are here reading this blog. Why? How did you get here? What are you looking for?  What interests you about blogs? Just curious. 

It's IRL me, only not.

 I'm glad you are here...really! Welcome!

As Time Goes By...

atheist blog

When I think about blogging lately I am so aware that I genuinely have very little to say about actual homeschooling anymore. I'm trying because I think that some people who read my blog are looking specifically for atheist homeschool stuff...but I'm done with that.

My kids are older, our lives have changed, my focus is so different than it used to be just a few years ago, the way I spend my time, the energy I expend all goes in a different direction, it's just not something I can write exclusively about more about.

John is still in homeschool high school and Elizabeth is still in college and JD is still adulting sometimes...so I will still write about them because they are where my heart is. But there is so much change going on with me as the kids get older and less dependent on me.

.

.

And So, As Time Goes By...

I do plan on continuing to blog about my thinking and whatever I am processing. I completely expect many readers to fall away with this switch of content. I understand if you disappear. I hope you understand.

Peace.

I Care About Crystals

atheist parent  blog

This week on social media I have seen a meme, piece of clip art, whatever you call it, that is actually upsetting me. I don't know how much you are on social media, but it can be a cesspit of innuendo, uninformed rioting, super bad science, pseudoscience, mythology, bullshit, and unarguably the worst source of breeding, progenitor-type nonsense. And once one person shares some meme of questionable voracity, everyone shares it.

It makes me feel corroded and drained...and I just remembered that I recently told you how I felt such a strong need to post And Now for a Moment of Science on my Facebook so often. But it's not enough.

I have already whittled my Facebook friend list down to bare essentials +essential family. Yet memes like this one still appear on my feed:

Yes, grown ups, get out your collection of crystals

 with differing vibrations and cleanse them.

As Rachel, a woman on an atheist parenting group that I participate on at Facebook, said:

And why, you might be asking, do I care? Live and let live and all of that. This type of belief isn't hurting anyone!

Why Do I Care?

I care about this because so many of these people are adults with children. They are raising kids and passing this nonsense on to their waiting children, thereby crippling the minds of these children. I care because one of the smartest sciency kids I know just told me yesterday that she does not NOT believe in ghosts. I care because this crap is all over social media and is treated as fact. I care because ADULTS I know actually believe in genuine freaking guardian angels. I care because the weight of time and space this kind of thing gets is enormous.

I care. But what can a person do?

  Maybe I'm too grumpy to write about this...  

If No One Ever Read My Blog

atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent atheist parent 

I don't know who reads my blog. I can see statistics and things, but who really reads it? And why? Who would follow this blog? I've never followed another blog. 

Even without knowing the answers to these questions still I write again and again, a couple of times a week, and I have done so for over six years. I heat up my PC, grab something to drink, and start typing about what's on my mind. I share my heart, my mind, my doubts, my celebrations, the intimacy of my life.

But I wonder about this blog. If more people read My Own Mind blog would it be considered successful? If fewer people read the blog would it be considered unsuccessful? Would I define success as other bloggers do? Do I care about numbers of readers? I can tell you that, in some ways I do care when people read my blog posts when people leave comments; I care very much. It humbles me to know that people read my blog and receive connection.

Those few blog posts I've written that have had hundreds of thousands of views are the exceptions. Nearly all of my blog posts go by quietly and in obscurity. But I know that some readers and friends visit here regularly.

I got to thinking, what if no one read my blog, 

would I still write it?

Yes. 

I started writing the blog completely for myself and I still do, mostly. I started writing here because there were so many things that I couldn't write on Facebook, important and unimportant things that I felt that I had to keep to myself. Things that much of the world would actually condemn. I love having this blog  I do love having the eyes and hearts of people, even for a moment. But the important part of my blog for me is a reminder of what I celebrate each day with my kids. If not for this blog I know that I would forget so many things...this way I have a lovely journal of moments that my mind wouldn't otherwise hold onto. 

Of course I write the posts on atheist parenting and homeschool parenting and whatnot, but even those posts have special meaning for me. I write things that I wish I would have been able to read when I've needed it and it wasn't available to me. But my blog has more meaning to me.

And I've met some amazing people through this blog.

And of course and fame and fortune are nice. 

Keep reading, OK?

I Guess I'm a Hypocrite

secular parenting, atheist blog

This past week I was visiting my brother in Detroit, BLOOMFIELD HILLS, he would say to correct me.
I was awake quite late, as I do, and I decided to do what is, apparently, called a Vanity Search. I searched my own name. I've never thought to do it before and it was delightful to reread old blog posts and comments to friends.

I wasn't surprised with much of what I found. Lots of this blog, the Carnival of Atheist Parenting blog, the many comments I make on blogs, The Secular Parents on SecularTv, and the like. But I also found two different blogs that mentioned me by name. One of the authors of the blog called me a hypocrite (check his/her blog out of you like) because of my statement and meme My life is far more meaningful to me and far more genuinely happy since becoming an atheist. The amusing part of the blog post, which seems to meander and become kind of confusing a bit, is this statement:

How can you know you live a better life, such as asserted by Karen Loethen, My life is far more meaningful to me and far more genuinely happy since becoming an atheist. if her standard of a good life is based on the subjective criteria of man? What happens when someone thinks that a more meaningful and happier life is to shoot a dozen people in cold blood?

What happens when someone thinks that a more meaningful and happier life is to shoot a dozen people in cold blood? 
Good grief! Did I mean that I thought shooting people was OK when I said that my life is far more meaningful to me and far more genuinely happy since becoming an atheist? 

Or is it possible that this writer has taken a very simple and profound reality of mine and has tried to warp it into the fears and misinterpretations of the religious people who can not see beyond their fears and misunderstandings? Correct me if I am interpreting the blog post wrong because it really seems as though much of the commentary rather supports my point of view...except for that part about atheists being hypocrites.  

Or maybe, as my friend Gen suggested, the blogger is trying to sell cheap tickets to the Caribbean. 

Anyway, to my knowledge this is the only time anyone has bothered to read my stuff (or see it on Pinterest or whatever) and reply to it, so I'm grateful. If I'm ever in Lee's neck of the woods and in need of appliance repair, I'll give a call.


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You might also like this post:
My Writing Process Blog Tour
PC Enough?
An Unfortunately Necessary Evil
Why I Accept Your Beliefs as Valid for You
Moments of Reflection
That Hideous Dance Between Faith and Critical Thinking

Tea and Biscuits for Atheist Parents

Why do I have an atheist parenting blog? I mean, without the religion part, isn't it just... parenting?!
Why do I spend so much time getting atheist parenting information out there into the ether? Once a person finally let's go of the shackles of their religion, isn't that... enough?!
In that case, why do I feel the strong need to blog about atheism and atheist- or humanist- or skeptic-related issues? Isn't enough that I just AM?!
Isn't this just giving me a label: atheist?!
What is the point?! 

Some people have asked me why I have an atheist parenting blog, why I blog about atheist parenting in particular. For the people who feel this way about posts and blogs labeled atheist parenting, I appreciate your skepticism. Is it possible that my writing is offering simple basic rational parenting support? 

Yes, I guess that is very possible. 

At the same time, there are many parents out there who are new to living a secular life, new to raising children without the traditional ways, people who are hidden atheists or people living in seclusion due to their secular choices, afraid to be open and yet determined to raise their children as skeptics and as happy people, and looking for those few voices out there who can offer them understanding, community, advice, or just a general feeling of being normal. Many first-generation parents are seeking in earnest and I am proud to be available and open and willing to offer my support. 

Not my advice, not my expertise, not my definition, not my label! 

My support, my friendship, my small community.

Sometimes I am quite shocked by the vehement negativity that has come my way for my atheist parenting blog. Some of the criticism has actually come from other atheists! Why do you have an atheist blog???

But it's OK, I view their condemnation with compassion and with an open mind. I'm quite certain that those who don't understand the place for an atheist/humanist/skeptical parenting blog are coming from the point of view that atheists can simply move forward into the world, parenting, working, forming relationships, living their lives in a wonderful world free of religion. 

And I would love if that were so.

If only it was so easy.

But many of us still have questions and concerns and things that confuse the heck out of us. 

Moving into the World as an Atheist Parent 

• Should we do Santa? 
• How about the Easter Bunny? 
• Is it inconsistent to do the fun part of Tooth Fairy? 
• Is it damaging to pretend? 
• How do we handle religion in the schools? 
• How do we explain the religion that is so much a part of the world without being disrespectful? 
• How do we teach our children to recognize indoctrination attempts? 
• How do we handle family? 
• How do we face the pain of death in the family?
• What do we do with the friends of our children who tell the kids that they are going to Hell? 
• How much openness is best for the kids with their peers? 
• How about openness for us with adult friends? 
• What about those who bully with their religion? 
• How do we handle the Pledge of Allegiance in school each day? 
• How should our family handle the very public religious rituals in our culture? 
• What about Christmas?

These are some of the struggles for newbie atheist parents who no longer accept handed-down rules. 

The earnest questioning goes on and on. 

I, as an atheist parenting blogger, don't have the answers. But I do openly entertain the questions. I fearlessly use the words. In my opinion, what I offer on my atheist parenting blog: I encourage other parents to make their own decisions about how to address these issues. The loveliest part of what I do as an openly atheist/secular/humanist parent is I encourage parents to ask the questions, to explore the ideas themselves within the context of their own families, and to create their own family identity, rituals, practices, answers, and direction with confidence. Sometimes I simply remind parents that not knowing the answers is absolutely OK.

My blog is a place where people come with questions, with confusion, with timidity. If my blog existed in the real world, I'm sure I would serve tea and sandwiches or biscuits and I would have a spot for a nice nap. And a fireplace...

I post what I post... things about holidays, discipline, education, friendships, daily experiences, playtime, the media, parenting questions, my own concerns. Readers who comment give me great feedback, feedback that helps me to see why they come to my blog when they have books available that they can read. Specifically, they are looking for another person with whom they can feel understood, valued, of like-mind, welcomed, and even entertained by with the humor of questionable taste. I love the friends who visit here!

Mom and Lizzie

Yes, now I see it.

Just like regular parenting.

Being a parent is the hardest thing that I have ever done; and just between you and I, that is saying something! Most atheist/secular/freethinking parents that I know are extreme thinkers. These are people who voraciously read, question, wonder. I am proud to be on this parenting journey with other parents ...just normal parents.

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Other posts you might enjoy:

An Unfortunate Necessary Evil

Everything Happens for a Reason

Sex, God, and Shame

All-Knowing, All-Powerful, and Ever-Loving God

I Wish More Homeschoolers were Secular

Inspired Blogger Awards

secular parenting humanist homeschool blog raising atheist skeptical freethinking humanist parenting Atheist parenting, homeschool secular

In my small corner of the Blog-o-Sphere I have had the distinct delight to have been befriended by some truly wonderful writers and people. I find the internet to be a true source of inspiration and delight and I have decided to share some of my favorite blogs and posts with you from time to time.

In the spirit of making such distinctions I have created this meme that I will use to share my favorite bloggers and I invite you to share this meme with your favorite bloggers as well.

If you have been directed to this page by following the links on a meme, it means that your writing has been an inspiration to another human being, a reader who found their way to your small place in the ether and wishes to thank you for your contributions to the blog-o-sphere.

My Sincere THANKS to bloggers all over the world who share their insights, struggles, hearts, integrity, and honesty so bravely. People who are introverts, extroverts, brave, weak, everywhere on the spectrum. People who take a moment and reach out a hand...

I have a few versions of this award, so look for it in several designs and colors

If you are given this small token of esteem on your blog, you are welcome to mention your award in any way you wish, if at all.

Some suggestions might be:

• List your favorite underdog posts from your own blog - those posts that contain your heart but that are seldom read
• Explain why you blog what you blog
• Invite your readers to extend the award to other bloggers
• Create a special blog post celebrating something new and innovative
• Offer the award to some other blogger or two
• Thank the person who offers this award to you
• Create some other way that fits your personality
• Include an image of the award in conjunction with one or more of these ideas
• Or do nothing and just know that you are appreciated.

The Award is not intended to be a pyramid scheme or a self-aggrandizing event or a thing makes the receiver beholden. Just a celebration of the pioneer blogger spirit!

Now let's go out there and blog! 

Karen

 

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You may also like this post:

My Writing Process Blog Tour

Carnival of Atheist Parenting Blog Posts

The Ten Most-Read Posts on my Blog this Year

My Atheist Parenting Blog

Dear Reader

Do You Know Why I Started Blogging?

My Writing Process Blog Tour

I am still Homeschool Atheist Momma!

 atheist blog homeschool

I am happy to be mentioned by fellow blogger Danica on her blog Danica's Thoughts where she asked me to participate in a blog tour called #mywritingprocess. Please check out  Danica's blog, Danica's Thoughts for a nice read. Her post My Writing Process will be especially interesting to other bloggers.

Who is Danica? She's a fellow blogger who lives in the Netherlands and who dreams of making it big as a writer one day. Check out her blog if you have some time. And someone please encourage that woman to post some of her writing!!!  
COURAGE, Danica!

Each person participating in this illustrious blog tour must answer four questions. Hopefully after reading this, you will have an informative manuscript of my writing journey. Are you ready? Come with on in, grab a cuppa, and off we go:

1)    What am I working on? 

I'm working on a few different atheist sites, submitting articles weekly. I have been working on being interviewed for an atheist podcast. I'm excited and a bit nervous about that. We will be talking about atheist parenting, homeschooling, and blogging.

I have a few blog posts in the works with plans on writing more about John's activities this summer. I am also a maker of memes.

You can also find my writing on:

Atheist Republic

Carnival of Atheist Parenting

Pinterest

http://celestialteapotmagazine.com/

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I haven't seen many other blogs that are specifically written for and about secular parenting and/or secular homeschooling. It's such a tiny little niche that I sometimes feel like such a freak!

I'm not interested in debate, so that makes me different from most atheist blog writers. Sometimes I have thoughts that I could totally write an in-your-face post about it. But I usually wait around a bit until I can think more clearly and write, instead, a post with more introspection...

I am also generally optimistic and happy. 

That can be very different.

3) Why do I write what I do?

I'm sure I have answered that one again and again. I feel it to be a mission to be out as an atheist.  There you go, my mission.

4) How does my writing process work?

Weirdly enough, I don't really get writer's block or anything. Daily I am surrounded by things that inspire me to learn more about a thing or that I think is worth writing about. Also, having kids is such a trip that nearly every day is an interesting destination.

Continuing this blog tour during the week on the 28th of July will be one of my favorite bloggers, Laura from Stag Beetle Power, True Adventures in Portland blog. Laura and I are just rocking along, blogging buddies.
 
If you are interested in the #mywritingprocess blog tour but haven't been asked to participate, please contact me; I'd love to encourage and include you.

Also, Fellow Secular Bloggers,

Please submit your secular parenting blog post to my upcoming

CAP:  Carnival of Atheist Parenting

I NEED YOU!

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More posts you may enjoy:
On a Mission or an Imposter?
My Atheist Parenting Blog
Dear Reader
Count Me Among the Faithful
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