Parent Hacks admin: Where are the hacks?
Wow. Once again, my parenting life has dropped me in completely unknown territory. With no map or GPS. And a tank hovering near empty. But I'm seeing a glimmer on the horizon, and I'm heading in that direction.
I thought that parenting was tough during the toddler years. Well, my oldest is approaching 10, and I'm more confused than ever. But I'm also finding wells of strength and wisdom I never knew existed.
I hope you'll excuse my vague metaphors. Despite my wanting to tell you everything that's going on, I generally keep the specific details out of my writing here in order to preserve my family's privacy. Suffice it to say that things are complicated enough that I'm having a hard time consistently posting hacks. They're all here (as always, you continue to send in the most fantastic ideas) and I've read every single submission, but I just can't keep up the pace at the moment. It's temporary -- and I hope you can be patient with me.
I know that the obvious solution is to get you all involved! As interns, as contributors, as helpers! And that has always been my goal, but the attention I need to jigger the mechanics is being sucked up by my offline life. I know I keep saying this, but I WILL get going in that direction, and have, in fact, started the process of reengineering this site to make your direct participation more possible.
In the meantime, just know that I appreciate you more than ever, and that this continues to be the place I want to be more than anywhere else, and that the hacks pipeline will flow again in a few days.
And if you are one of those people who'd like to get more involved here and have ideas about how to do it, I'd love to hear from you. Let's brainstorm in the comments, or send me an email at hacks (at) parenthacks (dot) com.
Thank you for everything. You continue to inspire me every day, and I wish you all lived in Portland so I could throw a party at my house and make us all cupcakes.
I hope things improve for your family!
Posted by: Jill | 16 April 2009 at 09:42 AM
We'll be patient, Asha. Your readers aren't going anywhere. Trust me.
Posted by: Angie at Baby Cheapskate | 16 April 2009 at 09:42 AM
Good luck.
Your posts are well worth the wait.
Posted by: BuffaloJenn | 16 April 2009 at 10:13 AM
Hang in there, Asha. YOU deserve the cupcakes!
Posted by: Sara | 16 April 2009 at 10:33 AM
Grace and peace to you and yours. If you were in DC I would make you cupcakes.
(I would be willing to help out in any way that you have need. My job is pretty relaxed and I have time to goof off on a daily basis!)
Posted by: RobMonroe | 16 April 2009 at 11:06 AM
Hang in there, Asha! Please ask me if there's a way that I can help you!
Posted by: RookieMom Whitney | 16 April 2009 at 11:46 AM
I hope peace soon returns to your home.
I am a stay at home mom and I would love to be able to help out.
-Alisa
Posted by: Rusted Sun | 16 April 2009 at 12:26 PM
Parenthacks isn't the same without the regular posts we're all used to, but we all have families that come first too! Take the time you need - see you back soon.
We'll help ice the cupcakes when they are ready!
(dropped you an email too)
Posted by: Carrie | 16 April 2009 at 12:51 PM
Asha-even when you don't post multiple hacks a days, we already know that you are amazing and that for all of us parents our kids really are our first priority.
I am always inspired by you and everything that you have accomplished.
Posted by: Julie Wolfson | 16 April 2009 at 01:37 PM
Prayers and hugs.
Posted by: Marita | 16 April 2009 at 02:17 PM
I'm spending a lot less time online these days, but it occurred to me last night I hadn't seen much from you in a while and I should check in. There's an email on its way to you from me. Hang in there.
Posted by: Kristi | 16 April 2009 at 02:21 PM
Asha, you are always inspiring and amazingly positive in the face of difficulties.
Good luck with whatever you're dealing with!
Posted by: Sara | 16 April 2009 at 07:17 PM
*sniff*
Wow, thank you all for these lovely, soul-lifting comments (and the emails, which I'll read tomorrow morning). That we're all on this crazy ride together...that's what it's about, huh?
Posted by: Parent Hacks Editor | 16 April 2009 at 09:45 PM
Good luck with whatever you're working through. I'm sure things will lighten up soon.
Posted by: Catherine | 17 April 2009 at 05:52 AM
We love reading your blog. We look forward to your return!
We have posted a few fun links today on our blog. Susan Boyle will inspire!
Have a great day.
Ashley, with CWDkids
http:\\kidbits.cwdkids.com
Posted by: Ashley, with CWDkids | 17 April 2009 at 06:39 AM
I wish you well and patiently await the return of hacks!
Posted by: amida | 17 April 2009 at 09:49 AM
If I'd known being the mom of a third grader was so complicated, maybe I wouldn't have complained so much about potty training. I know what you mean about it getting harder.
Good luck with handling your current issues, and as this is a parenting site, I think we can all understand that family comes first.
Posted by: STL Mom | 17 April 2009 at 10:07 AM
10 can be rough. 11 is different, still, but not as rough as 10. I hear 14 sucks, I'm still bracing for that one.
Hormones in general are a tough thing - add in social awareness, a deep need to fit in (sensitive emotions and fragile sense of self), and so-so skills on all of that... it can whack you (and your child) about 90 million different directions.
Deep breath. Hang in there.
Posted by: hedra | 17 April 2009 at 11:14 AM
Asha, I understand, no matter what the difficulties are, believe me we all have or will be there one day. My oldest just turned nine and she thinks that she is going on 25. It is exacerbated by the recent relocation from MD to TX....man o' man, I wish we could all have a cup-cake party for all of us moms.
We are patient, take care of yourself and your famiy and thank you for all of your work to keep us all hacking.
Posted by: Candace Prosser | 18 April 2009 at 01:34 PM
Hang in there! Thanks for all your work on Parent Hacks!
Posted by: Kelly | 19 April 2009 at 08:00 PM
We will surely miss you. Hope you are back soon. I love reading your site. Great stuff. Another site I find great for parents is http://www.daughters.com. They have some great articles. Just thought I'd share this with you.
Good luck with your issues. Hope to see more from you soon.
Posted by: Jonathan | 20 April 2009 at 12:34 AM
yES WILL DEFINATELY BE MISSED ! LOVE READING YOUR BLOG, FIRST TIME WRITER. GOODLUCK WITH EVERYTHING!
Posted by: Baby Pushchairs Plus | 20 April 2009 at 01:12 AM
Don't worry - your archives are huge. I can look in there for years and still not read everything!
Hope everything gets better for you soon!
Posted by: Jess | 20 April 2009 at 08:36 AM
i hope things are looking up!
http://chroniclesofmomnia.blogspot.com
Posted by: Rosana | 21 April 2009 at 07:58 AM
As a reader who is trenching it in the toddler years, I deeply sympathize...with whatever you are going through. I will certainly still be here...and tho I'm no computer hack, I'll think about you could be supported...sounds like an interesting problem. Best, Melissa
Posted by: Melissa | 30 April 2009 at 07:29 AM
Asha, as a longtime reader I want you to know that you owe me NOTHING . . . your posts are a little treat - like a perfert petit fours - but you aren't obliged to make them. Your posts have made my life so much easier that I can only hope you can give the gift of ease to yourself by forgetting about your friends in the computer and putting yourself first (without guilt).
Posted by: Julie | 02 May 2009 at 09:18 PM