April 02, 2008

Adieu

This journey has come to an end for me. I have to follow my heart, because life is not all about blogging. Sometimes you just have to log off and simply live it. When I started this blog, I thought I would write a book. I decided to focus on blogging instead.

Purple WomenTM is my trademark, yet I admit I know not what to do with it from here. I have reached a turning point in this project. It has served its purpose. I decided not to invest the time in publishing a book. Nor do I have ambitions to turn this into a revenue stream. Is anyone out there really marketing to childfree women? (Okay, I could turn that into a longer post, but it is time to close the door on this project, as new ones have opened for me!)

To my fellow bloggers, especially contributors to this site, Guest Posters and Regular Contributors alike, a huge thanks for blogging along and exploring the childfree topic with me these past few years. I'd like to think we helped our Co-Contributing Editor, Laura Scott along her path to actually publishing her book. She announced recently that she has secured a publisher. Wish her well, and please check in at her website from time to time: The Childless-By-Choice Project.

The comments will remain open and monitored by me, the Creator and Editor of this unique blog, however, without new posts our readership will drop off and Blogger will only continue to host this site as long as there are visitors. At some point, all our work here will be deleted by a mindless robot (aieeeeee!!!). We have collected 2+ years of posts here, all on the topic of being a woman who is childfree. My final task is to make a back up copy for posterity.

Feel free to explore!

This blog is officially closed. I invite you to visit me over at my personal blog: Peggy's Place.

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17 comments:

Laura S. Scott said...

Teri--
Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to this blog. You opened up a space on the web and in your heart and invited us to chat, in a safe place, about the decision to remain childless and childfree.

For that I will remain eternally grateful.

Nothing that is done can be undone.

Cherry Red said...

Teri,
I'm sad that I just recently discovered your blog and that it's ending, but thank you for leaving the archives up (at least for while) so newbies like me can continue to explore them.

Through a link on this blog, I've discovered the BellaOnline Forums, particularly the Married No Kids Forum:
http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=178

Thank you for that too.

Take care,
Kim

Anonymous said...

LauraS - You are so welcome. I am proud of what we've done together. Right from the beginning, from my first three-word post (Purple Women Unite!), I've thought it would be more interesting if the blog were about multiple voices and opinions. It took a lot of my time to keep things moving in a forward direction.

You've been a big part of it and we are all cheering you on in your book and documentary.

I personally want to be at your debut viewing, so keep me and the rest of the gang here posted (pun intended!).

Cherry Red - What's true about this blog is that new people discover it every week, if not every day. I was often rewarded with a new childfree woman being so excited to find us that she sent me a personal email.

Just last week, I had someone new sign up for the weekly subscription. That is simply the nature of the blogosphere. I wish I had thought of the PW button to "wear" in your sidebar much sooner. More childfree (and by the nature of being outnumbered, childed) women would have discovered us.

I am still out here, just re-focusing. I am dedicating a large part of my free time to a local arts organization, as a board member, and I have a house to fix up, and ug, a job too now that we are back in California! Chickens, cats, a husband who travels a lot a and my new box garden (now in development) will keep me as busy as I want to be.

Anonymous said...

I've been a lurker for a few months, but I'd like to come out and say thanks. I myself am a blogger and I understand the effort that goes into even the simplest of posts.

I personally appreciate your work because I started reading as someone who was just child-free for now (mid-20's) but already feeling the crunch as more friends have kids and more people, even strangers, ask when my husband and I are having kids.


I can't tell you how many times I've been told, "Oh, you'll change your mind. And when you have a kid, you'll realize that nothing else matters and that it's the great experience ever.. blah.. blah.. blah." (Of course, some people changed their minds when they found out I have fibromyalgia and that there may be a small genetic link -- but that's a whole 'nother issue).

Now I have seen that I have more options than simply when to have kids. The blog and commenters have all been wonderful support while my husband and I have both started to really consider what we want to do, especially since I have a fibromyalgia and I don't even know if I could handle children if I even wanted them. I don't know for sure that we will remain child-free -- though it's leaning that way -- but it's such a relief to breathing room while we decide and real advice from those who haven't had kids.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And by the way, our favorite color is purple.

emorychase said...

Sorry to hear about the blog closing. Thank you so much for the time and effort you've put into this. This was the first blog for childfree women I found on the web, and it has helped so much to read your posts. Your words (and that of your guest contributors) have been so positive and affirming of this path - very much needed, since it is so unusual and misunderstood in our society.

Anita Marie said...

Thank you so much for this site. I understand you must go onto the next chapter of your journey. I still haven't read everything here on this site...so I know I will benefit from it for a long time.

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear this Terri.And well done for all you've done for the Childfree world. It will be just that bit poorer without Purple Women and Friends I remember your enthusiasm when you talked about your book. But you must do what's right for you - and we both know the sheer effort it takes to continually post such high quality articles. Especially when you're working FT.

Best - and do stay in touch :)

Britgirl and Like It Is.

Stasha said...

I'm sad to see it go, but please know that Purple Women is what got me started blogging about my experiences. Knowing this community was here was a huge support for me when I really needed it. Thanks for what you've done.

queenb said...

Teri,

I'm sad that we will no longer be able to enjoy Purple Women. You're always welcome over at Unscripted if you ever need to get something off of your chest.

Ashley

UKShell said...

Sad to hear this is the end :( I've really enjoyed coming here over the past months. I've never really commented before, so now is as good a time as any...! It's a shame it's to say 'goodbye'
I've so enjoyed your articles, from both you and your guest bloggers.
Good luck in the future and i wish you well.
UKShell

Anonymous said...

dharmakitten, emorychase, anita, nikky, stasha, queenb, ukshell,...

...thanks for letting me know we created something of value here.

I am just busting at the seams to announce here that I will be live and in person at the BlogHer Conference in San Francisco, CA July 18-20, 2008. Yep. I will be one of a half dozen or so panelists speaking on the topic Childfree Women Bloggers now slated for July 19th, just before lunch.

It would be so great to have you all in the audience! They are paying my registration in exchange for being on the panel (guinea pig PW). Cool. And, uncanny timing with the closing of my blog for childfree women don't you think?

Be well, be safe, and have fun -- and get bloggy with it!

Teri

Botany's Desire said...

So sorry to have found this blog as it ends. Best of luck to you. I will probably keep up with your new personal blog and continue reading your old post. I have found them to be great reading.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for leaving us a note Botany's Desire. What a cool blog name. I can't wait to visit your site to see what that's all about!

Keep in touch.

Anonymous said...

Teri,

You're very welcome. I wish I could attend, but I don't see it happening at this point (a bit of a trip for me). Still, who knows.

bonsai said...

Teri,

Well said. Well written. Well moderated.

Well done.

I've seen it happen with many CF folks before...there's a point when you've got a fire in the belly and you've got to kvetch a lot. Then there are moments when (as you said) you've got to just go out and live life. As the geek community used to say: "meatlife beckons".

Viva gardening, my West Coast friend! The apple and cherry blossoms are just coming out here in NH. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe I just discovered this blog just as you close it...bummer! But thanks for the info.

Unknown said...

Thank you for all you gave us, for all your thoughts and your stories.

Imprimante second hand de calitate, la cele mai avantajoase preturi.