This post was 3,000 words long. They all felt overly complicated and heavy and weird. I clicked delete. Then I just typed what we’re really feeling, complete with things we’ve never said out loud and even a few things we’ve never fully admitted to ourselves before.
The truth is that we love you guys. Like for real. Even for the tough love. We know you say it because you care (or hopefully you did at some point), and we want you to know we care right back. We want to do a good job. We want to do this with joy and excitement. We want to inspire you. We know this is an incredible way to have made a living and we are full of gratitude for the experience to have shared the last seven years of our lives with you guys online.
We would NEVER be here without you, and not a day goes by that we don’t know that. It’s why we asked for your feedback last week and read every last comment. We appreciate the honesty and the passion you guys have on the topic of making this blog great. And we agree with a lot of what was being said. We have been feeling off for a while – like we have lost our rhythm and we’re somehow missing the mark for ourselves and for you guys. We too miss the good old days when we did this for the love and were full of such obvious joy and spontaneity. This felt like a place we all hung out and it just doesn’t have that vibe anymore.
Over the years many amazing opportunities popped up for us. Things we never dreamed of doing in a million years, and things we’re incredibly grateful to have had the chance to experience. A book deal, curating paint picks with Benjamin Moore, a line sold at Target, a showhouse, etc. But in hindsight those things also made this feel a lot more like a business than a personal blog to many of you, and to us as well. We have actually ramped those down behind the scenes in an attempt to get back to our roots (we no longer do the BM color collection, the second book is mostly written, our products at Target have completed their run, and we finished the showhouse) but we never really made a big announcement about that – so it’s completely understandable that some of you might think we’ve moved on to those greener pastures and left the blog in the dust, so to speak. The reality is that our site propels the success of any outside project like a product or book, so we could never turn our backs on the blog and expect those items to continue to sell as well.
Not only have we felt this shift from “John and Sherry” to “Young House Love: The Brand”, but the blogosphere as a whole has become increasingly sponsored/corporate lately. We can see from the outside prospective as a reader, or even a fellow blogger, that it’s hard to read a blog post without suspecting some ulterior motive or money-making system behind it. Last week a few of you mentioned that we might need to keep giveaways around because they pay us well, which surprised us since they’re never something we accept payment for (we like to pass free things along to you as a thank you for reading).
Along with the whole business/brand thing that’s going on, and the side gigs that felt like they muddied the water for some of you, there are certainly other things we wish we had handled differently in hindsight. Just to name a few, there’s: being too defensive, over-explaining, letting things get in our heads and change our lighthearted approach, and the internal struggle between being transparent and oversharing personal details like a vacant new house without an alarm system (looking back we wish we’d handled our third house announcement differently). We know many of you felt insulted that we didn’t share more freely about that house, and we truly apologize.
Anyway, back to that whole “we’re sexy stumbling and you know it” thing. It’s endlessly frustrating to do a job that you love poorly, especially when it’s a blog baby that you’ve birthed yourself and nurtured for seven years. And especially when it’s such an amazing job that we once felt so inspired and joyful to wake up and do each day. What’s wrong with us? We know this is a dream job. We acknowledge it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. We know most people who have built something like this would be more inspired than ever. It’s not that we lost the gratitude, I think it’s that we feel like we’ve fallen out of our groove. We feel like we’re letting you guys down repeatedly. It got to the point that every time we pressed “publish” we braced ourselves.
So in an attempt to stop stumbling around and feeling like we just can’t get it back, we’re taking a break. We don’t know exactly how long we’ll be stepping away, but our guess would be at least a month. We will certainly be exploring other options for supporting our family (something we mentioned we were considering back in April). We had that fiery blog-spark back when we had day jobs and did this as a hobby, so we think it could be a good change. We’ll also be taking a break on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, but the blog will stay public so you guys can access the archives whenever you’d like.
Our internal struggle and the state of this blog is entirely of our making, and we completely own that. Please don’t get mad at anyone for being honest with their feedback last week or accuse them of sending us packing. We have been struggling with that “something is off” feeling for a while now, and after way too much denial and “we’ll turn it around” pep talks, we finally asked for your feedback because we truly wanted to hear what you were thinking. It was cathartic and helpful for us. It has allowed us to very clearly see that if we have any respect for this blog and our love of it, and for you guys and what you’d like to see, we need to take a break if we ever want any hope of getting back to that fun/real/spontaneous place it used to be when this was something we did for the love instead of the high stakes game of supporting a family.
In summary: we love you, we thank you, and we hope you understand.
Carol says
Sad, but totally understand! Looking forward to you coming back, if only to see the blue trim in the dining room removed. :-)
kimberly says
Personally I cannot fathom not being able to “unplug” for over 7 years! I would have gone mad long ago. I’m glad you guys are taking a much needed and much deserved break. Love you guys!
Liz says
I have so much respect for you two and your decision. Thanks for taking us all along for the ride and being honest!
Lauren (in PA) says
Miss you guys already!
Stella got her goove back…I’m sure yours is out there waiting for you!
savuryandsweet says
I respect your decision. I understand it. I support it. This blogging business ain’t easy, you’re a one man shop for marketing, photography, editing, writing, the list goes on. Take the time off, you deserve it. The true friends and readers will be here with open arms if and when you are ready to come back, we’ll pick up just like old friends do after not seeing each other for years. MUCH LOVE TO THE PETERSIKS!
nancy says
Understand completely.
Kristin says
I’m not going to lie, it’s going to feel weird not reading about any updates for a while and I’ll feel like I’ve lost a friend, but you guys need to take of yourselves and your family first and foremost. Whatever comes from this time away, I know that y’all will be making the best decision for YOU, and that’s what matters more than anything else.
Jennie says
That was a wonderful post… You covered it all and nailed it all. I often use your archives for house projects or decorating ideas, so very happy I will still have access to that – thank you! I have only discovered you guys in the last year, so of course I am very (VERY) sad to see you take a break…but as part of a duo of working parents with two young boys I completely understand of wanting to get your groove back Stella. :) We struggle with that everyday and we wish we had the opportunity to take a break without financially destructing our family. Go for it, you deserve it. We will be here if/when you decide to come on back. Best wishes for finding your path again whatever that may be!
Jennifer {Renovation Rehab} says
I am not going to lie and say that I am happy that you guys are taking a break {cause I am going to miss the heck out of you till you come back}, but I completely respect your decision and understand the need to step back and find your passion again. Hard decisions are often the best decisions. I will be here when you return. Good luck!
Susan says
Sorry but also cheering you on. You deserve to give yourselves time to figure out your next steps. And if that means a different direction, I am in full support. You have given us faithful readers a lot over 7 years. I will be waiting if you choose to come back, sad if you don’t but grateful for what you shared either way. Best to you both!
libratravel says
Ps) Hop on a plane to Hawaii and celebrate all that you have accomplished.
Jennifer says
:slow clap:
Thank you for continuing to be so honest. I’m glad you are taking this time. Everyone deserves the chance to step back and reevaluate their situation. I’ll miss my daily reading, but I have confidence that you can rekindle the romance you once had with this blog.
Petra says
I completely understand. We all need a break from things because we are human.
We will miss you!!! Hope you do come back to the blog someday!
Jess says
Will truly miss your color and wit over my morning coffee! This is such a great post and feels truly from the heart. I think it will remind your loyal readers (myself included) that you are in fact REAL people, not just characters on our favorite tv show from whom we expect compelling plotlines and new episodes on a daily basis! All the best to you during your blog-cation and thank you so much for the wealth of content and overall positivity and joy you’ve brought to your posts over the years :-)
Jessica says
Good luck John and Sherry! I’m very sad that you’ll be leaving us for awhile, but I’m glad you were able to make a decision that is good for your family! I hope your time off will help renew you and your passion for the blog. I feel like I’m saying good-bye to friends, and I definitely hope you’ll be back.
Amber R says
You will definitely be missed. I love reading this blog everyday. You have inspired me so much over the years. Enjoy your break. Focus on your family. Best of luck in whatever your next step is.
Abby says
You guys are the best. Thank you for all of your work. I look forward to your return!
Melanie says
So long overdue. Glad you guys are stepping back for a bit.
Colleen says
You have to do what is best for your family.
Listen to your hearts.
I support you 100% and am SO happy I can still go in the archives for decorating ideas :)
Love you guys!
Cristy says
I think you all troupers for putting yourselves out on the internet for everyone to see (and judge). Thank you for sharing yourselves, because you’ve inspired me in small ways and you’ve witnessed to me many ways of being charitable when my own response might have been defensive/passive aggressive. Take whatever time you need to feel like things are right for your family. Your family is what matters. Don’t forget that. Maybe the break will give the haters time to move on to trolling other branches of the internet and leave the rest of us to enjoy you. Maybe you’ll find something else to focus on that makes you happier. Maybe you’ll yearn for it so much that the break is exactly what you needed to get that spark back… maybe…..
I hope you’re able to make the break be what you need it to be.
Erin R. says
Duuuuude. I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself each morning. I’ve been reading your blog for years and you’ve become part of my “starting the day” routine! I have to admin, I’ll be lost without you guys and I’ll miss you while you’re gone, but I completely understand why you’re stepping away. Hopefully it’s not forever. Come back soon! *hugs*
april says
I’ve read your blog since the beginning, but was never a big commenter. I think it’s important you have recognized what is significant to you in your lives right now, and that you are only human! Sometimes we just need a break or a change of scenery, and it is sure to be good for your souls :) You have a beautiful family now, and that in and of itself makes for a very busy life :) Enjoy your days with your babies and I sincerely wish you the best of luck with whatever happens in your future! If and when you come back to blogging, I’ll be excited to follow back along :)
Stephanie says
I’ve been here from the beginning and i love what you do, and I’m very sad that you are taking a break, but every now and then we need to stop and focus on our lives. Can’t wait for you to come back. You will be missed
Faye says
I’ve been reading and loving your blog for several years now, and just wanted to stop by to say that I love what you do and that I hope you find the peace, clarity and inspiration that you’re looking for. You will be missed – come back soon!
Samantha says
So sorry that it had to come to this, but I totally understand the need to step back. I hope this break is revitalizing for you guys! I want you guys to be happy above all else!! My life will be a little more empty without you, but I’ll be sending you good thoughts while you’re gone!
Kristen says
So many things to say about this: I love your blog. I don’t agree with every little decision you make but you put out great content and blog way more frequently than most of my other faves (actually, most of my faves have quite blogging altogether lately). I thoroughly enjoy your writing style and design aesthetic and, on an entirely personal note, think you seem like nice, genuine, good people who I’d get along well with “in real life.” Your family is adorable and your entrepreneurial spirit is admirable. I’ll admit to having been one of the people who sometimes thought, “How is this their JOB? Like, this blog is the equivalent of full-time employment for two people and they can support their family on it?” Not from a standpoint of “Wow, they’re slacking at that” but from a place of extreme envy. I’ve thought I would love to be able to “just blog” for a living. But I know it’s not just blogging, because you’re not like, navel-gazey lifestyle bloggers, you’re actually DIYing and building and turning old houses into updated awesome houses. You can build things! I can’t build anything! You’ve got skills and “deserve” to be able to blog for a living. But I can’t imagine blogging in the age of GOMI and the crazy backlash that so many blogs are getting these days. It must be difficult. And while I think there should always be a forum for people to express disapproval and disagreement with anyone’s job performance (reviews by a manager at a “real” job, critical (polite) comments on a blog or blog-discussion forum), the hatred and nitpicking has gotten a bit extreme. So with all that said, I hope you enjoy your break and come to whatever is the best decision for your awesome family. I’ll be reading if/when you come back and have appreciated the fun morning read you’ve given me every day for the past several years. Hugs!
Kathleen says
I’ll miss you! I hope this break gives you what you need. (So, auto correct tried to make “gives” “ignites”….which works, too!)
Leah says
I love you guys too! I’ll miss you, but hope that you find what’s best for you.
Christina BK says
Petersiks enjoy this time with Burger Bean and Bun. Recharge, regroup rearrange your boundaries. You have let us all into your lives, Burger, Clara and lil man do not really get much say in that maybe that will change. It’s time for you both to figure out what is right for you the Petersiks, we that understand that will be here blue in the face (from holding our breath) waiting for your return. I know I will miss the daily from you guys but completely understand. Good Luck in your search for what is right for you. Lots of Hugs!
Maria says
I admire your courage. I will be here when you come back from the break…. I am sure you guys are going to come back with a creative strategy. Enjoy your time and off-blog projects…
Ursula Ellis says
I’ll miss you, but I’m so glad you’re giving yourselves a break.
Tess says
I love this blog, not because I have a house or have ever remodeled anything; I don’t like sewing and the thought of putting up wallpaper and painting walls makes me nervous. What I love about this blog is you guys. And if taking a break, be it temporary or permanent is what’s good for you, then – although I will miss this corner of sunshine – I’m happy. I wish you all the best for whatever you decide.
Billie says
Totally agree, Tess!! You hit the nail on the head :)
Bethany says
I think one of the reasons so many of us were dissatisfied is because we know you guys can do better. We like you as people, as friends and we want you to live up to your potential. I hope that this break allows you to do so, whatever the end result may be. Best of luck.
Jackie says
Good grief! Live up to their potential? That is certainly a passive/aggressive statement. With all the multiple projects, changing houses, having babies and running this blog what more potential should they be reaching for? I hope they get to have a season of peace and restoration. And the path forward will be clear to them. And the many you mentioned are certainly a small percentage of the whole response.
James H says
I’ve been reading for years and years now. You have done an amazing job.
Don’t forget that you’re writers–that’s what blogging is about, after all–and that writers struggle daily. Novelists take months and years off between books; long-form columnists turn in only a few dozen submissions each year. Most daily columnists depend on someone to make the news for them to write about. It’s a tough, tough gig.
You are wonderfully creative people. You are totally due for a break. And, you are also totally in a new stage of life with two kids–one in which it might be perfectly acceptable to quit this hilarious business of taking circular saws to your house’s interior.
You will always have a brand, and you will always have an audience, regardless of how you write about it. Your talent and skill have proven that over and over. Best of luck to you as you take a deep breath, wrap your head around where you are, and figure out what’s next.
All best,
James
Kelli says
We’ll miss you! I hope you find what you’re looking for. And then come back. Quickly. :)
Lindsey says
I’m really sorry you feel this way and are taking a break (and not in a passive aggressive kinda way, like truly sorry). That being said, I hope you find what makes you happy! Everyday I would look forward to my 10am “break” at work, which basically just consisted of reading your blog because I know that’s what time you usually post. :) I even kept up with you while I was on maternity leave this past spring, but instead of reading at 10am, your blog kept me awake during MOTN feedings. Wishing you all the best and I look forward to your return!!
Lesley Ann says
Wow! I hope whatever your next steps are you both are successful. I loved your blog for many years and hope that this break brings you back better than ever. It has been wonderful of you both to share your hearts with us. Wishing you all the best. A fan. Cheers
Trisha says
I loved you before you were famous and I’ll still love you now :)
Enjoy your time off from the blogging world.
And if you’re looking for a side job, I have a house that’s almost done being built that I need an interior decorator for. You seem pretty good at that ;)
Jess13 says
I’m actually really shocked that you have had multiple readers complaining that they are angry or insulted about what you choose to share/not share or how you share it. I can’t even imagine how people partaking in a cool thing that is given to them FOR FREE would have the nerve to give you any sh*t for not tailoring that free thing just how they want it. To be honest I think you guys beat yourselves up way too much, and I also think some of your readers take this blog WAY too seriously.
For the record I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these many years of cool inspiration and product leads. Watching your progress through 3 homes was inspiring and coincided with my own first home (read: HUGE fixer-upper). I even emailed in once looking for some advice/guidance and Sherry was lovely enough to get right back to me.
You guys do whatever makes you happy, and keep crazy internet weirdos in perspective.
Melanie says
John & Sherry felt the same way we all did, so we are not crazy internet weirdos.
Lisa E says
I have to agree with Jess13, it’s unfathomable to me that people can be so critical when J&S have shown nothing but grace.
Barb W, says
Well said Jess!
Lakitia says
Aw man. I felt like this was coming. I’m glad you are following your heart and taking a break. I always wondered with a lot of the home blogs, will it ever end? One day your house will be complete. Then what’s next?
I hope this break serves you well. I’ll miss you guys.
Danielle says
best of luck! enjoy the time off with your family and finding that spark again.
Mara says
Reading your blog has been a happy daily ritual for the last 5 years, and meeting you in person was a treat because you’re absolutely as charming in person as you are digitally. I wish you the very best and hope the break gives you everything you need, but I will miss you guys.
Amy says
NOOOoooo…! Oh, alright. Be happy guys. Enjoy your littles while they’re little and best of luck with whatever you decide is next!
Andrea says
This actually makes me happy — because you have decided this is what you both and your family need and you’re honoring that. And, you’re also honoring and respecting your readership as well. I very much appreciate the honesty; this post is the “old YHL” to me in terms of that “real” feel. So, thank you. I hope you rekindle that passion for blogging, but if not, I hope you find what is best for your lives. Best of luck!
Meg says
Sending love and hugs! We all reach a point where we have to reevaluate what we’re doing and if it’s working for our family, and you’re more than entitled to do just that. Opening yourself up to criticism with each post is really tough, I’m sure, but just know that we love y’all and are grateful for all the inspiration you’ve shared with us on your journey.
clodia says
I love your blog and I will miss it while it is gone (or, if you need to move on, forever). However, I want you two to be happy, healthy, and sane and do what you need to do. Be well! Have all the good thoughts coming your way! Enjoy every moment you can!
Jen says
A whole month or more without you guys!?!
:(
I’m selfishly sad for me because this blog has been my favorite for a few years now, but ultimately, I’m thankful for what you guys have shared with us and I support you in doing whatever is best for you and your family.
I also second the comments that have said they’ve never been disappointed. I feel like your blog has grown and your brand has grown and with growth comes change. I don’t think the growth of your special projects has negatively affected the blog in the slightest bit. I’m happy to see your success continuing to grow.
Kelly {the Centsible Life} says
I am glad you’re taking a break for both yourselves and for the site. It will give you time, fresh perspective, and allow you to figure out what comes next.
I hope you enjoy your time ‘off’ and look forward to seeing what your next chapter looks like.
Sally says
Congrats on making a tough decision.
I’ve been loving your blog since 2009. I’ll be excited whenever and however you start blogging again.
I am grateful for how much of yourselves you’ve put into your blog baby. It is totally understandable that over time it has become less of a passion project. How y’all read all the comments at all hours of the day…I don’t know. I certainly would want more separation between work and life. I would also understand if you want more privacy.
So, congrats on taking control of your lives and making the tough decisions.
jeannette says
vaya con dios. you two deserve all the success you have had, and i have every confidence you will make the right decision for your future. love and thanks.