Lifestyle, Mommy Musings
How Well Do I Know You?
If everything was to go according to plan, you should have been reading an inspiring interview today being the first Tuesday of the month. But things seldom go according to plan. Your first boyfriend, the one whose name you tattooed on your arm, does not end up being your happily ever after. Like the pious girl you’ve been raised to be, you hold off sex until you say I DO but then you end up having your periods on your wedding day. You prepare for your strategy session weeks in advance, putting together a captivating Powerpoint presentation complete with cool graphics and powerful quotes but your computer crashes on the morning of the session and you wish you would have crashed in its place. Such is life. February has been a roller coaster of a month and this is the ugly face of a woman who is trying to have it all.
It is 11.26pm as I type this. I should have been in bed by 8.30pm to enable me wake up at 03.00am to study for my upcoming exams. However, I recently enrolled in Engage Masterclass to enhance my public speaking skills and our first class was held this evening. Our first assignment had been sent to us a week ahead of today’s class. I was hoping to work on it over lunch hour but I had several work assignments that were due, and only started working on it at 5.30pm, half an hour to class.
I was exhausted and found myself questioning my decisions in life. Why do I bite more than I can chew? It was too late to turn back though so I summoned all the stoicism I could master, quickly did my assignment and rushed to class. It turned out to be the best decision ever (the class, not the last-minute attempt on the assignment), something I will discuss in detail another day.
My key take-out from today’s session was that to speak effectively, you need to have your audience in mind. Only by knowing and understanding your audience can you personalise your message which helps you command your audience’s attention. Which left me wondering, after three years of running this platform, do I fully understand my audience? Who are you and what do you come here for? Are you a young mother who just wants to compare notes on how to raise toddlers, or are you in your twenties and just looking for a sneak peak into parenthood? Are you a hands on guy with a young family who seeks to know where your young family can hang out over the weekends? Or are you simply here for Xena’s funny anecdotes? Could you be in the corporate world and hoping to get ideas on work life balance from someone who is obviously struggling with it? Or are you a teenager who is only looking for creative non fiction writing ideas? Thanks to google analytics, I know the bulk of my readers are from Kenya, USA, Belgium, Australia, UAE, UK and Uganda, in that order. Occasionally, I’ll get a few readers from Norway, Somalia and Rwanda. But that’s pretty much about it.
If you could honour me with a one line comment on yourself and your expectations, it would go a long way in making conversations around here more meaningful. You can use a pseudonym if you like and you don’t need to leave your email address.
It’s midnight now and if all goes according to plan, I will wake up at 4.00am and read for an hour, head out for a 10km run at 5.00am and attend an economic forum at 7.00am. But your guess is as good as mine on how most of this plan will pan out!
Ohh, I probably should mention that google analytics also tells me that 54.0% of my blog readers are male, something that continues to baffle me.
I first became your fan via Instagram where I used to read all your captions were just impeccable, plus the stories very intriguing that’s when I decided to be camping here and I have learnt and still learning a lot especially on matters raising kids and communication.God BLESS.
Karibu ?
am late ..hihihi am always late one because i re fuse to be notified with google (those pop ups aaaargh )second i love reading three to two of your post at ago ..this answers why am here right? am here cause of your writing ..you could write about your day in bed but i would still be in aweee your english, grammar ,wording… (do you know you made me download a dictionary just to keep up) .it does help that zenna adds all the funniness/cutness to your post .ooo i almost forgot the ‘mister’ writing here once in a while… Read more »
Hahahaha do I use that many vocabularies really? Thanks for your faith in my writing Mercy!
I started reading your blog way back & I love keeping up with Xena’s adventures and the kids’ fashion.
Am not yet a parent but I look forward to being one and you inspire me from the way you balance career and family and the fact that you are candid about the highs and lows of life
If you ever plan on writing a book I’ll totally buy and promote it
I might just consider writing a book in my forties Doris 🙂
Hey Joy, i come here seeking inspiration and motivation on matters fitness and raising holistic children. the first time i bumped into this blog was sometime last year and i was drawn to the fitness segment and read every post. I also wonder how you have 36hours out of 24 hours to do all the things you do… You inspire me a lot.. keep writing!
The struggle is real, Eunice!! That balance is hard to come by but when you are deliberate, the stars eventually align.
Am here to learn more on travel and how to travel more for less. I wait for the day you expound on that. Also, Xena anecdotes are to die for, I love your babies. Keep going girl
I have actually missed doing travel posts and i can’t wait to get back to them, Kanyi! I can smell one coming soon 🙂
Well, I am here for everything. I love your writing skills. I love how you fashionably dress your girls. Your solo travel diaries. Inspiration. I love how you give your all to everything you purpose to pursue like career, family, intentional parenting, self love,fitness, writing. I simply love you.
Awww and I love you too for being here for it all Nelly!
I am here for the inspiring random stories, baby fashionistas pics and escapades, to admire your superb writing skills and for solo travel inspiration. You go girl/s!
I shall continue covering all those aspects. Thanks for your detailed feedback, Rosey.
I am here to explore words with you and experience the magic of story telling. I love that you are amazingly real with your posts, in a generation of make-believe, your honesty and truthfulness in sharing your stories is a definite plus for me. And yes am part of your younger audience, a teenager who is thrilled to get their creative juices up and running. Thank you for inspiring me a lot!!!
Thank you, Wanjiru!! I hope you are kicking ass while living your best life!
I came here and stayed first because your writing is impeccable… And also little miss escapades are to die for.
Thank you for staying, Mercy!
I am here to be inspired by your growth career wise,and also work life balance!
And I shall share more of that, Selina.
I came here from a post on fb about your daughter. Then I learned you studied in Chiromo doing the same course that I did so I decided to stay. Plus your writing skills are A++.
Donna! How have I not bumped into you since 2008? Is Nairobi that big? Thank you for being here 🙂
I read for the surprise, I don’t know what the write up is about when I click! That said, Xena has made a lot of my days so for her I keep coming back.
Hahaha this validates all those random stories that I have coined a few hours to the deadline! I will give you more of Xena, Ciru. Thanks.
I am here to see photos of your extremely beautiful daughters..?
And photos you shall see, Angie!
I want it all, the uncensored version..
And raw it shall get 🙂
With all honesty Xena escapades take the cup. No matter how much I know I can be influenced by other topics you write on. I am 100% here for anything that cracks me up. Anything with Xena always delivers on this.
All said and done the reason why I discovered this platform was your interview on Ebru some years back.
Wow, Ebru was way way back! We should get her back on TV soon 🙂
It started out as keeping up with Xena then now its for tips on parenthood. I admire the kind of confidence that Xena has.
I wish I could have half her confidence too, Aisha!
I discovered your blog after learning that successful people read.I stick here because in my early twenties what I want for my future is your life.You’ve empowered me so much.Keep at it Joy.
Wow, this is humbling. All the best with your pursuits Ciru!
I love reading and writing so at first i came here because your writing skills are impeccable, then it became about checking out different travel destinations and restaurants and lastly for a good hearty laugh form the little lady
I have a restaurant review I have been sitting on for a while now, wondering if anyone really cares for restaurants around here. But thanks to you Mercy, I will share it next week 🙂
At first it was purely for Xena. but now I am just here because I enjoy your adventures with your family and your travels. You have a way with words and humour. Also, I am in my twenties and I want to be a career mum. I have grown up in a family where women gave up careers to be mums but you are a clear picture that those two don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
It is possible to have it all, Becky. Let no one tell you otherwise. The caveat though is that you have to work extra hard and make extra sacrifices to achieve the things that are most important to you.
Literally everything, but Xena a little more ☺️
Xena for the win haha
You are a beautiful woman inside and out! And a strong one at that! Having said that, I follow your posts because I struggle with two kids and most people aren’t as candid about their experience. They mostly share seemingly perfect lives, birthdays, etc which can often leave one feeling like maybe they aren’t parenting right. But with you I feel you keep it real. And most of the times I will say as much. At times it feels like you are living my life. And when one sees someone else go through life’s struggles particularly parenthood, you feel like… Read more »
You are too kind Rachel!!
But really,I am those people who wear their emotions on their sleeves and the day I stop telling it as it is you will all know I am faking it! Thanks for the elaborate feedback.
I love the diversity of the blog (travel,fitness,features and parenthood) and your way with words.
And you shall get all of that and more 🙂
Balancing between corporate work and parenting. I am a working mom , I have two toddlers and an infant. And of course It’s interesting to read your work..so so real.
I shall share more about work life balance. Thanks Kelly 🙂
I am your official stalker and I look up to you..so anything you write wear say is gold to me!
Hahahah you clown! Nakupenda 🙂
Firstly it was because of Xena…ohhh it was love at first sight with that munchkin!! And as time goes by, I draw so much inspiration from your blog from your impeccable writing skills, to various insights surrounding healthy lifestyle, travelling, and work life balance. Thanks to you, waking up at 3am is slowly but surely becoming a thing to me. Keep inspiring Joy! And greetings from the cold NO 🙂
I have recruited you to team 3.00am?? My work on earth is done 🙂
Pole for the cold.
Well everything can’t really point out to something specific, parenting, your workout routine, progressing my career, traveling destinations … And I love how articulate you are in your writing.
Thank you Violet!
I read your blog for tips for friendly places to my daughter and also because I can relate to the struggle of balancing work, school and home.
Baba Zuri, we shall conquer this masomo ya ngumbaru soon!
Well. Joy. Your blog is the best there is in Kenya. Your writing is impeccable. Reminds me of Biko’s. In the beginning I used to come here for Xena’s anecdotes. But now I’m more draw to you. How you manage to keep working at your fitness lifestyle while juggling being a wife, a mother and a woman. I simply come here for inspiration. I admire you alot. I have two daughters same age as yours and I relate to your kids articles. Anyway. I’m your forever subbie.
Awwww I hope we shall meet some day Nasra!
I show up here to get a daily dose of inspiration to boost my running. That, and also because your drive in life is nothing short of admirable. But if I am being honest, that is only a tiny-weeny part of it. Here’s the real deal; I began reading your blog after being referred by a friend. Your writing style and that of another iconic Kenyan writer- one we know too well- but won’t mention here, gave me the kick I needed to gather my thoughts and launch my blog. http://www.ownyourspark.com So my real reason for stalking you on this… Read more »
Congratulations on launching your blog, Leah. Much love from Kenya 🙂
I like reading your articles, the inspiring interviews you have been doing of very successful career women ,may be you can incorporate men too , now that 55 % of your readers are men . I like reading your parenting journey to the gals,and I also follow for the giveaways which i hope to win some day .I love learning how you balance work, parenting and relationships .Keep it up .Good job
Thank you for being here, Leah. And yes, I shall interview men too.
I come here to be captivated by various ideas on parenting, travel destinations and also about lifes’ little surprises. Your blog is so real and interesting that it just spices my day and gives me insight to new and interesting life hacks.
Thank you Cindy!!
Thanks for always being so consistent and giving some of us something to always look forward to on Tuesdays. I’ve followed your journey from way back when it was just Xena and content was mostly kids fashion. I still on your platform for content on raising toddlers, work-life-gym balance (I still insist you are GOALS, I don’t know how you do it all), reading inspiring stories from other women and of course a good laugh. With the baby on the way, trust me I’ll be coming to you for tips…I’ve warned you LOL.
Eve, you are such a darling. I should bring back kids fashion, just for you!
I come here for most of the reasons you have mentioned; raising toddlers, child friendly restaurants, travel destinations and off course have a good laugh
Well summarised Wanjiku.
I come here mostly for three things. For a good laugh, a well-crafted read, and to catch up with all the things you are up because I think you do so much. In that order.
The mister thinks I should slow down, Keren. It gets overwhelming sometimes, but I want it all.
Well i found you on Instagram and clicked your link after a few reads I had to subscribe.Waiting for your blogs every time you post has been a highlight. Plus by the time I receive an email it’s already 12am can we push an hour behind? ??.. I am always intrigued about everything you write. You capture my attention and I do feel I can be your daughter’s best friend even if we are years apart. Her curiosity and her mind is amazing plus all the questions she just really gets you off guard. Plus can we have mister write… Read more »
I found you after Google directed me to your page (I was looking for mummy blogs?) just after giving birth to my now two year old. I am in the corporate world, so I enjoy the pieces you do related to work. But mostly, I am a girl in love with words, and you write beautifully.
Thank you, Regina. I will work towards writing even better 🙂
I’ll sweet talk the mister to step in soon 🙂
Where are you reading from Zippiey?