Life has been busier than ever for us – and there’s nothing like having a baby to confirm your true priorities. We’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately: what exactly are our goals? What are we working towards? Hoping to gain? The answer, we realized, was definitely not more blog hits or traffic or approval. Honestly we both feel unsettled by the idea of our blog growing any larger, and we look fondly back on the earlier days when we worked less, slept more, and spent more quality time with our family and friends. This little website of ours has already surpassed every expectation we ever could have had for it. So what are we chasing?
When Clara was born we were both blogging full time, but we had about a third of the traffic that we have now and we usually shared around one project a week amidst other home-related chitchat, family happenings, polls, reader makeovers, etc. It was one of the best times of our lives. We did less and had less, and we were completely comfortable. So in light of everything on our plates, this new baby boy, and a girl who’s growing up entirely too fast (cue the Armageddon music), we’ve decided to paddle back towards that.
We know this choice may directly correlate to fewer hits and therefore less income – and we’re ok with that. Sure, it’s a little scary not knowing where we’ll be in a few months or years (but we’ve never known that as professional bloggers anyway). We’ve made “risky” career choices before in the name of life quality – like leaving the NYC rat race and giving up steady salaries for blogging – but they’ve also been some of our best decisions.
Just like we did when we made those leaps, we’ve saved enough to help us sleep at night. We’ve also both left the door open in our previous professions, so even if this choice means we’ll eventually be taking on freelance advertising work again (which I did to make a living before we started this blog, and which John has dabbled with over the last few years) it’s a risk we’re willing to take in the name of bringing some balance back into our lives.
The good news is that our love of home improvement and blogging is burned deep into our hearts, and our to-do list is still a mile long. We have no plans to stop blogging anytime soon. We’ll still be posting our projects, planning, shopping, and other usual fare here regularly. But things will be noticeably different as we recalibrate our priorities (we think we’ll end up in the 3-5 posts per week range).
We’ll also be going back to sharing all of our family posts on Young House Love (sorry Young House Life). We’ve always had family stuff here – in fact some of our favorite (and most popular) posts are the personal ones about things like breastfeeding, Clara’s birth story, her photo project, this ridiculousness, and random facts about me and John. Between those types of posts always existing on our main site, and Instagram taking the place of the smaller family updates, Young House Life has felt less necessary lately, so we won’t be posting over there anymore.
We know some people will be relieved by this change of pace (many of you have encouraged us to slow down) or excited about the new looser style of posting, while others might decide to tune out – and we’re ok with that too.
We feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to make this choice. It’s not a decision that we’ve made lightly, and we realized that if we don’t seize it now, we may never have the chance to again. Teddy is our last baby and Clara is just a year away from kindergarten (how did that happen?!), so we want to enjoy this time with them instead of working our nights, weekends, and vacations away chasing some business goal we don’t even want.
We have no idea what the future holds, but even if the internet exploded tomorrow, we’re already so grateful for this amazing and completely unexpected journey of ours. This blog has surprised us in the most major of ways, and has led to some unbelievable experiences and opportunities, many of which we can’t quite wrap our minds around.
We still have big dreams for this house of ours and can’t wait to share how it evolves with you guys. But if you’ll excuse us, I have an almost impossibly tiny diaper to change and John’s off to buy some lumber again…
Julie says
Congrats! Not so say I don’t check YHL every day at work. :) But 3-5 posts a week, I think you’ll still get plenty of blog hits! Not to mention, I always forget to check Young House Life anyway, so bring on the family posts over here, love them! You guys are amazing, inspirational, funny, and loving. I’m a 25 year old single gal hoping to buy a house and fix her up too! I’m also trying to balance my life too, and it’s great to get affirmation for both these dreams (even from bloggers I’ve never even met) Less is more and balance is more! Two requests though: 1. don’t stop blogging, I would miss you guys and 2. TAKE A VACATION!!!!! Love, congrats, and best wishes from Colorado! Keep it up!
Samantha says
Way to go you guys! No sense running yourselves ragged when you have two of the most adorable children ever to spend time with. So glad you will be keeping up with your renovation posts at a manageable pace though because I am obsessed with your style and have learned SO MUCH from all of your DIYing! Y’all are the bomb!
Sadie says
I’m a long time reader and a never commenter-but I just wanted to say that I’m so impressed with your decision to do this! I’ll continue checking in once a day and am excited for your new family of four to have more time to enjoy life!
Stacy says
I am so proud of you, I am actually crying right now! God bless you for focusing on what really matters in life!
Beth says
I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know about Young House Life. Best wishes to you and your family. :)
Charisa says
Congrats to you for making this decision. I bet you feel like you can breathe again! I have wondered how you have managed to keep this pace up. I’ll be a loyal reader even if there’s only one post a week!
Cristina S. says
Best. Post. Ever.
Big hugs Petersiks.
taylor says
As a devoted follower of YHL, I am so happy for you guys! Enjoy your children and each other. I can’t wait to see what is in store for y’all down the road. I am looking forward to the family posts on here!
Amanda says
Well, I can sincerely say these changes won’t keep me from visiting your site. I love reading about your home improvements and your beautiful family. It’s good to hear you’re going to start moving at a slower pace – best wishes to all of you and I hope you’re enjoying time with baby Teddy!
Classy Glam Living says
I think we all love your family too much to tune out. It’s great to be able to spend more time with your family, while still working on the things that you love! You guys will probably be even more inspiring with a looser time frame to post! Looking forward to your future posts =)
Karen S.j says
John and Sherry,
So happy for you and will continue to be a loyal follower no matter how often you blog. You two and your beautiful family are the best. Nothing is more important than family and when you reach my age (60’s), you really realize how very short life really is.
So impressed with how you two young one’s handle all you do with such grace and class.
Kristen M. says
I say, awesome! I have read your blog for years. I love it. I have your book. Love it, too. As a blog reader, I am actually really happy when blogs slow down a bit. When the real people behind the blog take a break for a vacation, a family reason, a birth!!! It helps connect me to the writers as real people who respect other parts of their lives, not just their blog lives. I say this knowing that it is your livlihood, so I do not say that lightly.
I am a few years ahead of you in the parenting game and I took 5 years off from work when my children were small. Life got simpler, out of necessity and desire. I hope the same result happens for you.
I will continue to love to read your words and see your pictures. I am a novice diyer ( hammer, nail and spraypaint is about it) and I even read the big-time reno posts! :)
Marci says
I’m so glad you will return to posting about family on the main site. I miss all those personal posts. Your readers have a choice whether to read or skip. I will definitely keep reading although I will miss the daily posts. Checking the blog every morning is a habit for a lot of your readers so I imagine you will lose traffic because people will get out of the habit when they know there won’t be a post every day but sounds like you are ok with all that or maybe there will be more traffic since people will keep checking all the time waiting for a new post…lol. Embrace this special time with your family….
Dianne McGriff says
Glad you and John realize that less is really MORE. Take care.
Brittany says
As sad as it is to think I might not always get my daily dose of YHL, I’m so excited that you guys are taking this step!
You want this blog to be something enjoyable and fun, while also allowing you to live your life! Enjoy every moment of your relaxation and slower pace!
Like my husband always tell me, “I will not let my job come before my family and personal life. It’s just a job, but I only get one family and one life.”
So don’t feel guilty one bit! Plus I kept wondering how you guys were going to be able to drag out your forever home repairs and updates, and this definitely helps spread it out! Best of luck, and hope you can continue doing what you’re doing with your loyal fan base, while keeping a newer slower pace of life! Congrats.
Annette says
Go John & Sherry! I read every day but am only a lurker (have only commented once before this) – but I am continually in awe of what you get done and I admire these decisions you’re making about all of these aspects of your life. You have a sweet family and you deserve all good things! I’m gonna keep reading no matter what. All the best.
amy says
I found you while planning a backyard wedding and I stuck around for the awesomeness! You both have been a tremendous help with my home renovation projects! So thank you so much for doing what you do! Now quit reading all these and go snuggle those babies!
Melanie says
“The most common lie is that which one lies to himself.” (Nietzsche) Congrats on being so honest with yourselves about who you are and what’s truly important. Been a reader for years and fewer posts will not change that for as long as your posting! Enjoy your family.
Colleen C says
You go girl! As for me, I’m not going anywhere away from reading your blogs!
Samantha says
As much as the OCD part of me will miss the frequent updates, the normal part of me is saying this is a wonderful move for your family! I’m glad we’ll still get to follow you on your journey, and hopefully your more relaxed pace will help to remind me to slow down as well! Sometime I get so caught up thinking about “what’s next” that I forget to enjoy the present! So good for you guys!! I hope you’re able to soak up all the love you can, both from your little family, and from your big internet-family too!
Emylee says
It’s bittersweet to hear this! I knew it was coming – I could smell it in the wind! You spoiled us with 2 posts a day everyday not that long ago! With all the progress you’ve made in this house I’ve wondered what we would do when it was all finished? With the pressure to be doing project after project I thought you’d be done in like 2 years or less! So this is good, I’m glad yore slowing down and pacing things out. I’d rather have a little bit of you guys for longer than a lot of you guys for only a year or so. Maybe this is like your side job now with your family being your big,full time job. Which is totes okay. Love and support you guys!
Patty says
Way to go! I’ll chime in with the rest of the world on how quickly these little ones grow up. We have a 4,3 and 1 yr old, and tryout some days seem long, they go Sooo quickly! Cherish these days, and I’ll still be reading!
Martha says
Enjoy your time!!! My kids are 7 and 10. Boy, are we busy and the time is flying by. It won’t be long before I deliver my oldest to college. : ( I also need to make some life changes to help us slow down and enjoy the time with the kids.
I love you guys and the blog – I will be here waiting for the next post when you are ready. You guys keep me inspired and up to date!! Thanks so much.
Tamryn says
Yay for YHL! I wouldnt dig you guys any less. Thank you for being real. Hugs Tam
Lisa says
Good for you guys! I must admit i think the posts were becoming too close in between! I am happy about this change.
Debi says
I must say guys way to go!!! It all goes by way too fast. I have 2 grown children and my baby girl is in Jr High and turning 13 in Sept. When did that happen!!! I must say I will miss the overload of posts but I’m not going anywhere. You guys are the very first Blog I ever followed!!
I would be lost without Ya! (Like we are best friends or something. lol)I will be here checking in everyday like always and so excited wehn you do post! Life is about change and this sounds like for you guys this is the right one!!! I will always love my YHL!
Holly says
That’s the best part of being self-employed, you get to dictate the pace! Enjoy your family, in the end it’s what’s most important!
Sarah says
Long time reader and first time commenter. I will miss your daily posts but am soooo happy that you will be spending more time with your little ones! You have inspired me to reevaluate my priorities as I have a 4 month old at home who I miss dearly while I am working a demanding career in public accounting. What am I working towards exactly??? :-) You guys rock!!!! and your loyal readers will always support you and look forward to ANY posts you choose to share with us!!
maureen says
This is a good decision. I have two sons, ages 32 and 27, and have always been a stay -at- homer, and there is never enough time, ever. I am not by any means anti-career, and I am certainly not anti-YOUR-career……I can hardly imagine anything more fun than what you’ve been doing. But it’s hard if not impossible to make a wrong decision, when you are making it in favor of more time with your children. NO ONE knows what the future will bring, all we ever have is THIS MOMENT. So live it with everything you’ve got. You’ll be fine. I wish you all the best.
Kim F says
Congrats on your wise choice. You guys have very loyal fans so it will all be just fine with us. Thanks so much for sharing as much as you do. We all feel like you guys are our good friends. I know that the best is yet to come for you. You both deserve all the success and happiness in the world!!!!
Laura Cowman says
Good for you!
Ally says
This post brought happy tears to my eyes! You’re an amazing family and I respect and admire your decision to slow it down and enjoy the most important things in life. We should all take a page out of your book! :)
Lindsay says
I selfishly am somewhat sad to read this but completely agree with your new venture..family! Family is the most important and these little moments should be cherished! Cheers you you all!
Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG says
…no explanations needed – do what is necessary for your family – your loyal followers will still be here following along – Congrats!
Summer says
Love this! I’m so happy for you and what this decision will mean for your family. It goes against the grain to scale back like this, and I admire that you are living your lives according to your priorities. Not everyone does. And congratulations on that sweet, sweet baby boy!
Emily says
Such a great decision and I’m sure it wasn’t an easy one..but we were reminded last night hanging out with a group of friends that we’re really all replaceable to everyone except our family! Love reading your blog and will continue to do so!!
Summer says
I’m so happy for y’all. I think that it’s awesome that you two are putting your family first. (totally thought you were anyways!)My daughter is already going into the 1st grade and it seems like just yesterday she entered this world. It goes by so fast! Savor the time you have with Clara and Teddy. :)Congrats again on your beautiful baby boy!
Kristin F says
So happy that you are doing what is best for your family since that is what matters most. I went PT when my oldest was 1 and stayed that way for 13+ years; it’s a decision we never regretted.Sure we drove older cars, and had less vacations and stuff, but my kids loved having me home with them every afternoon and volunteering for their school and activities.
I understand the blogging reduction, but does this also mean you’ll be taking on less off-blog projects as well, such as the Target and Homerama deals? Those seemed to have consumed an inordinate amount of your time, no less while pregnant! I always wondered how y’all managed on what had to be little sleep!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we’ll probably take on fewer of those things, but obviously will still be working on projects we’ve committed to (like the book and future collections, although they might come out later due to our new pace).
xo
s
Rebecca | the lil house that could says
Good for you guys! One of my favorite sayings has always been “work to live, don’t live to work”. Some people won’t understand it, and that’s okay. We all have different things that make us happy :)
Sandi says
Best of luck as you start this new chapter! I’ll miss “seeing”you every day, but I congratulate you on defining your priorities. And that photo is precious!
Danielle says
I started a blog a couple months ago and then I found yours. I remembered blogging about 12 years ago and thinking of how much things must have changed over time in the blogging world after seeing the blur-fast pace of your entries, the professional-photo quality of your pictures and the tireless completion of your projects. I (obviously) loved your blog at first sight and have returned here daily for my dose of YHL, but just thinking of the enormous effort it must take to keep this up is exhausting.
Your choice seems wise and your cushion seems.. cushiony! You’ve built up a lovely following of people who not only admire your design sense, but also like you as people and are routing for your family! Looking forward to seeing the changes and hearing about how you’re spending your off-time too!
brooke says
This is why I just love reading your blog and wished I knew you guys in real life! You guys are awesome people and really have your priorities straight! Go enjoy those little ones. I’ll still be a faithful follower no matter how many posts a week. Wishing your family the best!
Marci says
I just wanted to say that I used to read every single word of your posts and lately I find myself skimming them more and more. I realize now that you’ve tried to eliminate the family and personal element from them. I miss that and am so glad that you will be returning to your old format. Enjoy the extra time with your family and returning to a normal work week instead of working 24/7.
Elizabeth says
Good for you! I was join you guys would do this! I just made the same decision and cut back my work schedule to be around more for my kids and I have to say it was the best decision ever! I didn’t realize how stressed I was till I walked away and began feeling like myself for this first time in years! I hope the same is true for you and I hope you are cuddling with those cutie pies rather than reading this comment!
Jennifer says
BRAVO!!! Standing O!
Jenny says
Amazing outlook. I wish more people had it. Enjoy your family and your time!
Jennifer says
Well done.
Heather says
It’s always good to go with your guts and do what is best for your family. Kids seem to grow up so quickly and there’s nothing more important than family. Enjoy the extra time!
sherry says
So very glad to read that you have chosen to make your family life a priority. You have been so busy this past year it actually made my head spin. I could not imagine how you could keep going at that pace. Congrats on choosing a life well lived!
Jeanie De Melo says
I am so, so, so proud (is that the right word?) of you guys for making this decision. We found out, the day Teddy was born actually, that our almost-three-year-old will be getting a sibling! WITH that, we decided to fully take the plunge and leave (the very expensive) NJ for Brazil, my husband’s home country. We have a few houses and a support system there, and that gives me the opportunity to stay home with our children and for us to generally slow down and spend more time together as a family. We don’t expect it to be easy and we’ll be giving up a lot of “things,” but “things” aren’t what we’re after. :)