Upcoming Changes for Interest-Led Learning

by ChristinaPilkington on October 24, 2012 · 17 comments

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I started this website in March of 2011 because I wanted to share my passion for interest-led learning.

This site has been a great creative outlet for me- a way to share my thoughts and ideas, as well as resources and books that I’ve come across while living and learning with my kids every day.

I’ve also met so many amazing parents who help their children live passionate, interest-led lives. I’m so grateful for everyone who leaves comments and shares their thoughts and opinions here on the blog. It adds so much value to the posts.

Lately, though, I’ve been struggling with several things. I’ve felt torn between keeping up this site and pursuing other strong passions and interests. Also, my two children are getting older. I thought my life would be a little easier now that the kids are more independent. In some ways this is true, but in many other ways they require even more of my time and attention than before!  And learning and playing with them is my top priority and where I want to spend most of my time.

I don’t want to stop writing for this website; it means too much to me, but writing two posts every week isn’t giving me the time to do other things that are equally as important to me, too.

So, as of right now, I’m dropping down to posting once a week on Wednesdays.

That’s not to say that I’ll never post twice a week. Some weeks, especially at the end of the month when I share my monthly resources and activities post, it might be twice a week. Also, some Saturdays, I might post an update on any books I’m working on, guest posts (both my own and anyone else who submits a post for this site), or news I have to share.

But for the most part, Wednesdays will be my regular day to post something new.

Thanks so much for understanding. I want to get to some things that I’ve been missing out on that are really important to me:

-catching up on reading blogs that I love

-being more current with comments on this site

-sharing more interesting and valuable contest I come across on the site’s Facebook Page and Twitter

I will always be available through the comment section here and by e-mail. Please never hesitate to write me with any questions and comments you might have.

I’ve been working on some e-book and audio projects that I’m really excited about that will add a lot of value to this site, too. Hopefully, I’ll be able to share more about that soon.

Photo Credit: Mera

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Tagged as: adventures, family bonds, Interests, pursuing passion

  • Ross Mountney

    I realise too that the blogs and other social media can become too great a draw on our time as parents and really need careful managing. BWs x

  • http://twitter.com/ilainie Lainie Liberti

    Taking care of yourself and meeting your own needs is the best example for your children. Good luck and see on you Wednesdays!

    • christinapilkington

      Thanks! I’ve been talking so much with the kids about doing things that bring them joy and passion, but I’ve been putting off a big dream of mine to be a novelist and screenwriter for years now. I’m 37,so I better start working on that since the urge to write fiction hasn’t left me alone for the past 20 years!

  • http://twitter.com/campcreek Lori Pickert

    i know a lot of people who are pulling back from blogging right now to make room in their lives for new things. i hope it’s great for you!

    • christinapilkington

      So far this past week I’ve felt so much better about my life. When I make time for fiction writing and working on e-books for this site, I feel such a sense of purpose and passion. Plus, it’s too hard for everyone to keep up with reading all the posts on all the blogs they love.

  • http://thegettys.blogspot.com Susan

    It sounds like you have a good plan in place, Chris. There is only so much time in any one day, and I think it’s important to be realistic about that and make choices to represent how we really want to spend our time. I’ll be here reading, whenever you post :)

    • christinapilkington

      Thanks so much, Susan! I was a little nervous about making this change, but since I’ve been backing away a bit and doing other writing and working on books, I’ve felt so much more joyful and peaceful. I had this nagging sense of what I should be doing, and I’ve been ignoring it for far too long.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000164730847 Amy Stevenson Dingmann

    So glad that you’re able to be honest with what you need to do. It’s most important that it works for you. Isn’t it funny that we think as our kids get older, we will have more time and it will be easier…and that is SO not what happens? I enjoy your posts, they always make me think…and so I will be here to read whether you post once a week or once a month. :)

    • christinapilkington

      I really, really appreciate that! I was nervous about dropping back, but I’m so thankful for everyone who has written to tell me that they’ll read whatever I can put up. Quality is more important than quantity sometimes, so I want to make sure I’m not just putting stuff up here just to get out two posts a week.
      And sometimes I think, if things are so busy and life is so full at age 6, what will things be like when they are 12? Yikes!!!

  • tereza crump

    I completely understand. I sometimes post once a month because that’s all I can do. I have a load of pictures and posts I would love to put up on my blog but more important things are happening around here. :)

    • christinapilkington

      I’ve felt so much less stress and more freedom this week. I’m with you on sticking with the more important things!

  • Sierra Mama

    I understand completely! Have you thought of you posting once a week and maybe having about interest led learning blogger write a guest post once a week? (just a thought)

    on another note.. I did not see the link for the ebook on my email. Did I miss it? Is ot possible to get it resent?

    • christinapilkington

      Sierra Mama, I have thought about that. If I do get interest-led learning bloggers who’d like to post something interesting, I’d be more than happy to post that. I’ve had guest posters in the past, but I’ve had to go out and ask them to post. That can take up a lot of time, but if I were approached by the right bloggers I’d be very willing to put up extra guest posts on Saturday.
      And I’m so very, very sorry about you not receiving the ebook! I’m trying so hard to catch up on comments and e-mails. We’ve been doing so much with the kids and we’ve travelled a bit, so I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to get you it sooner. I checked my subscriber list and didn’t see you name in an e-mail. Can you send me a personal e-mail at chris at christinapilkington dot com? If you send me your e-mail, I’ll send you the book attachement. Also, let me know if you’re receiving my e-mails on Wednesday. I can put you on that list again if you need me to.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1199615301 Karen Terry Cagle

    I so agree. I post once a week, almost always. I just don’t have the time to do more. I am in awe of bloggers who post daily. I love your blog and have gotten so many great resources from it. I don’t have time to read and comment on all the blogs I love either. Well I could make the time, but at what cost? I hope your once a week blogging will give you all the opportunities you feel like you don’t have time for Chris. :)

    • christinapilkington

      I can’t even imagine blogging every single day! There are quite a few blogs I enjoy reading that post so often that I’ll never keep up with all their posts. I want people to enjoy reading my blog but not feel overwhelmed by it. And thanks so much for your kind words about the value you get from my writing. That made my day :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/bethcranford Beth Cranford

    I know just what you mean. There is only so much time in a day. I think the advice to post something several times a week is old and not good advice. Who has time to read all that anyway? (Because when you multiply that by all the websites we’re all signed up for… whew, that’s a lot of articles in a day!)
    Enjoy your new schedule!

    • christinapilkington

      Thanks, Beth! I can never read all the blogs and websites I’d like. I used to feel guilty for not reading everything by friends and other bloggers I really enjoy, but then I realized I don’t feel bad when other people can’t read everything I write, so I shouldn’t feel that bad either! I agree, too, about the advice to post twice a week. I think it’s good when you’re first building a site to add lots of value and content up front, but I’ve been doing this for 19 months now, so I want to put more effort into my other writing and keep in better touch with readers and other bloggers.

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