February 27, 2015
These past several months, I have found that life has filled up with so much acitivity and busy-ness that my time here has dwindled. I feel far busier than ever homeschooling three kids, often while my husband is away for work. We have a small farm and big gardens. Our kids are busy living full lives, engaged in activities that are finding us spending more time away from home for a few days of the week.
It is good…and full.
Sunshine searching for emerging snowdrops
Which translates into less time in cyberland. My evenings are spent knitting and spinning wool, looking at gardening books, or hanging out with my husband.
My postings are more sporadic now, and I hadn’t visited my blog in a few weeks. And then something happened which has rocked my world and forced me, uncomfortably, to take a good hard look at cyberland.
After a brief time away, I logged onto my blog and casually checked the traffic log and noticed one of my children (who goes by an alias…they all do and always have) was being searched a lot. When I clicked to see where the traffic was coming from, I was shocked. In a google search engine, two of my children’s photos appeared with other children and women under a disgusting topic.
As soon as I could, I shut down my blog. Sadly, some images have been stolen and are forever floating around the internet. As soon as I discovered the theft, I didn’t hesitate to block people from taking anymore photos from my site. Until I sift through over 500 posts and delete frontal shots or portraits, they will remain private. One day I’d like to re-open the blog and share the acitivities and crafts and everything else, but not until I edit out some photos.
When I began blogging, I was nervous to share with the world. I didn’t consider how far-reaching my blog would become. I gave aliases to my kids, I don’t share where we live…but it wasn’t enough.
I feel awful. I feel like I have trespassed against my children, trusting that only good people would cometo my blog. The world has some dark corners, ones that I choose not to think too much about.
To all of you blogging friends out there, please learn from my experience. There are some very sick people out there. Protect your children ~ don’t share close-up shots of their faces unless it is a side view or a very unidentifiable photo. Trust me. Seeing your child listed under a despicable site meant for disgusting purposes is a violation to both you and your child. Their innocence is meant to be protected.
damming up our creek
I could choose to not blog anymore, to turn my back on it all. My husband and I discussed it and agreed that is not the best answer because I enjoy it so much and get so much out of all the kindred spirits I meet, the opportunities that have found me, and the inspiration from others. I reached out to some other mamas in blogland, those that have been doing this for a long while and receive a lot of traffic. Their kindness and help was so appreciated yesterday when I was flailing. Thank you so much to those three wise mamas. I went to bed feeling ever so much lighter.
Some may question why I will continue to blog. I don’t think blogging is the problem, nor abstaining is the solution. It is a very delicate balance to share and to hold back. Like everything, I think moderation and being diligent are the key.
At the end of the day, it comes down to refraining from posting photos that can easily identify my children. It is that simple.
Please.
Thanks for reading,
xo Jules
(Until I have weeded through all 500+ posts and taken down the photos that could be used in an unsavoury way, most of my blog is temporarily private. I hope to work on this over the next few weeks.)
Hello out there, I'm happy you stopped by! My name is Jules and I am grateful to share my family's homegrown adventures here...from homeschooling to homesteading.
This space is my own reminder to savour the beauty amidst the chaos and messes of motherhood...to see the extraordinary in the everyday ordinary. Thank you for joining me.
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25 Comments
I am so sorry to hear this.. I have been a long time reader , and I think a zero time commenter. I do not write a blog yet as my reality ( working full-time outside the home) and my wish for reality ,as well as trying to cram it all in , leaves very little time at best. I have always loved your blog and others like yours as it gives me encouragement and inspiration to keep journeying towards the life I desire to give my children. I love the peacefulness and beauty in your blog and the fact that you write about true , hard things which every person experiences in some way throughout life. Your blog allows me a connection to “my kind of tribe” albeit by being an anonymous reader. I thought that I should come out of the woodwork and tell you that there are good people that read , just for joy and commonality. I hope that my few words will give you back a teeny tiny sense of goodness in blog land back.:) Melissa
Hi Jules, it’s a hard decision to make, to stop or continue writing, it scares me too. But I think you made the right decision. To follow our heart is the best, isn’t it? : ) Our family really enjoy your blog. Sending love you way. xoxo Marie and family, from Winnipeg.
I am so incredibly sorry this has happened to you and your sweet children. I held my breath while reading what you had written, sure that you would be ending your blog.I am so very glad that is not the case. I enjoy it so much. Your whole lifestyle is just what I have always dreamed about (while living in a big city). It is sad and shocking what goes on in the world today. Sending love and encouragement your way.
Hi Jules,
I have been a long time reader and I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy reading your posts about you and your family’s adventures, especially since I am another homeschooling Mama in BC. Over the years I have also be concerned with how many photo’s are posted on the internet of my own daughters. I am really grateful that you have made the decision to continue blogging and I hold your family in my heart during this time.
Oh, thank you for your encouraging words, Melissa! I am so pleased to meet another one of “our tribe”. Truly, the community I’ve found here has helped me through many a time, from personal crises to regular, mundane exhaustion. I am so happy you came out of the woodwork…indeed, your words and spirit speak volumes. There is so much goodness…yes! And isn’t that what we are trying to instill in our children? To persevere and look for the beauty in our lives? Thank you, so much, for your comment.
xo Jules
Hello Marie,
Yes, following our heart and intuition in the face of challenge is an ongoing lesson for me. Sometimes it can be so wearisome, but in the end, I am always ~ always ~ grateful to trust and believe. I am touched that you and your family enjoy my blog. I love that you are a fellow Canuck! Yay!
xo Jules
Dear Susan,
Oh yes, it was a big decision, and for now, I remain. Thank you for your love and encouragement, as always. Our whole lifestyle does seem dreamy, I admit. It is definitely not the whole picture, though, but merely a slice of our life that I share. Amongst all the beauty and smiles, there are the challenges. But you know that…you have been with me for a long time, and for that I am glad. I’m sending you some good thoughts right back to you!
xo Jules
Hello Jillian! So happy you reached out! I do wonder where you live in BC…we are so very fortunate to live in this province as homeschoolers. I posted all this to encourage other people who, like me, have been so trusting of the internet. Knowledge is so very empowering. Thank you for thinking of our family…we will be fine. It is definitely shocking and yuck! But it could have been far worse! I hope to stay connected!
xo Jules
Hi from the other side of the pond! I found your blog through ravelry by adding you to my friend list. I have been reading for a while and I am so sad to hear what has happened 🙁 I have been blogging on and off over the past seven years, but seldom link my blog if I comment on others blogs. I know it is strange as I blog publicly, but somehow I feel hesitant about “spreading” my blog around, afraid of nasty people using my blog/pics as has happened to you. It is so terrible and from now on I will think twice about what I post, it is difficult as I blog about our everyday life and the kids are a big part of this. Anyway, you can probably find my blog if you google my email, or drop me a line if you are curious about who is visiting you 🙂 All the best to your family!
I am not sure I have commented before. I am a mamma of several children trying to live the simple life in this busy life. I at time like to surf and get inspiration from other mammas like you but find myself very limited in my time to respond to them all. I like to keep my cyber land visit to a minimum as there is much to do with active boys at home. I do not have a blog at the present time but do have a facebook and I am always concerned about how many pictures I post of my boys…so I fully understand your concern. May you find the balance your looking for in this crazy world we live it. I have truly enjoyed your blog and thank you for that. Sincerely Nadine
Hi over there! Thank you, Victoria, for sharing your thoughts. It is a slippery slope in blogland…as soon as you press the share button, everything can go anywhere. In theory it was hard for me to fathom the consequences, but when it became reality, it was terrifying. I do indeed hope to visit your blog later today, thank you for sharing with me.
xo Jules
Thank you, Nadine. Yes, it is indeed a crazy world. I rarely post photos on Facebook, but the few that were there, I took down. It is certainly not a safe haven either. I am really happy you enjoy my blog, that means so much to me.
xo Jules
I’m so sorry to hear that this has happened to you. I’ve been a reader for a little while now. In addition to the steps you are taking there are ways to have your child’s images removed from that website. You can report the site as an infringement of your copyright because they are using your images without permission. More information about that process can be found here: https://nppa.org/page/5617
Secondly you can report the site content to the domain name registar and website host. If the content is illegal then there is a good chance that they will suspend the site. Information on how to find who hosts the websites can be found here: https://www.webhostinghero.com/who-is-hosting/
Finally, it may be worth reporting any sites of this nature to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children: http://www.missingkids.com/home
Thank you for your post. Over the last year I have reduced the number of photos I’ve been posting of my child on my blog. After this I’ll be rethinking that as well.
Hi. I do love to read your blog–I am a homeschooling mother in the Western North Carolina Mountains–my children are of ages with yours, and I get inspired from your blog. How totally horrifying to discover that pictures of your sweet children were used so nefariously. Selfishly, I hope you keep blogging, but I understand either way. I did want to mention that I haven’t had trouble viewing your old posts, so I don’t know if the private setting is working. Anyway, thank you for posting. I did keep a blog for a while, but I couldn’t manage to keep it up. I am impressed with all you do.
HI Jules! I am SO sorry to hear about this… a friend of mine recently found out that pictures of her children were also stolen from her facebook and used for disgusting purposes!! Like you, I try to avoid the dark corners of the world but sometimes it seems impossible to do so…I am also a blogger and wonder how I can protect myself and my children against such happening? Could I contact you in private/email? I can’t remember how I came across your blog, but I am a Northern BC mama and love reading about the way your family lives… I hope to have the privilege to keep reading about your family for a long time to come granted it is your wish!
Hi Jules,
You may remember me, I’m the Austrian mother of 2 boys, now living in the USA. I have been an enthusiastic reader of your blog for a while now. I really enjoy perusing your posts about you and your lovely family’s little adventures.
I think you are an incredible Mama of such beautiful children. I don’t know how you manage to run a farm and a garden at the same time as well! And you do it with such grace and calmness! And, by the way, you do take absolutely stunning photographs!
I started to become a homeschooling Mama recently as well and enjoy the closeness that it brings to my children very much, too. You are a great inspiration to me! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
It saddens me enormously that there are people out there who would want to turn something so beautiful into ugliness. It shows their weakness and incapability to create meaning and beauty in their own life.
I agree with your decision not to let the foul have the upper hand but to let beauty and the noble win in the end.
I am grateful that you will continue blogging! I am sending you strength and encouragement!
Warmly,
Angelika
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for your thoughtful suggestions. I am looking into them. Publishing my experience was with the intention of letting other mamas know what may happen.
xo Jules
Hello Grace,
Thanks for reaching out! It means so much to me to hear from people who have found this little space and who enjoy what I share. 🙂 For now, I will keep blogging. I have found I have less time lately to be here, but that may change. Just like when my kids were babies, as soon as I got used to one stage, it changed! I am curious if you can still view old posts? I have just one other one at the moment. I’m so interested if you can see anything else…I hadn’t thought you could.
Thanks so much,
xo Jules
Hello Julie,
Thank you so much for your lovely comments! And you are also in BC!!! It seems there are quite a few of us in this part of the world…
I had a lot of advice from some other more seasoned mama bloggers. They seem much more computer savvy than me, that’s for sure. I am still trying to work out some issues. Ginny at Small Things mentioned you can do some sort of photo protection… https://wordpress.org/plugins/no-right-click-images-plugin/ but I use Typepad so I still have to look into it.
I look forward to visiting your blog when I have a good, quiet moment.
xo Jules
Dear Angelika,
Reading your words tonight really warmed my heart. Thank you so much for all your generous and kind thoughts.
And you are homeschooling now, too! I hope it is going well. It can some days be such an enormous and daunting task, but for the most part, I love it so much!
Here’s to focusing on the Light and Beauty,
xo Jules
I’m very sad to hear about your experience Jules. At times, these dark corners of the world are so unbelievable. Through developing wonderful relationships with our children and encouraging them to make healthy choices I hope we can shine a light on those places of shadow.
I have sure appreciated keeping up with you and your family through reading your blog over the years. You offer such an inspiration to so many homeschooling families!
Much love to you all!
My heart hurts that someone has violate you and your family. I am so sorry this has affected you and the safety you feel in your life.
I am sending happy uplifting thoughts your way today.
No, now I can’t. Or maybe I was just confused. Though I am sad to see them go, I totally understand. Hope things are going well, and look forward to your posts when you can!
Oh wow, that is just so sad, and scary. I am so sorry that happened. So very sorry. Its hard to even guess how to fully protect yourself and kids because a normal person just doesn’t think that way and can’t imagine all the crazy stuff and people out there. So don’t be too hard on yourself. I’m glad you will still be blogging. I so enjoy your posts.
This is such a horrible and shocking thing. I cannot recall which blog it was, but I do recall one where there were no front shots of the kids. It was beautiful, not evasive. I took my kids pics of FB a whIle back. I asked my friends to remove pics of my kids, too. Some understood but some never took them down.blessings to you as you find your new way.