It takes a lot of time to promote a blog and create solid blog content. There are a small percentage of bloggers that blog full time and earn a living from it. The vast majority of bloggers have day jobs and blog at night and on the weekends. If you are married or have a significant other, this could cause some issues and tension in the relationship. In this post, I wanted to share a little about my personal situation and I also want to open it up in the comments and see if anyone else has similar issues and perhaps some suggestions on how to strike a balance.
I work a typical workday, Monday through Friday 8-5. My blogging routine starts at around 8:00 pm, I will lay in bed with my laptop and watch TV while talking with my wife and doing some blog related activity. I have always been good at multi-tasking so this routine seems to work well for me. More times than not, my wife will fall asleep around 8:30. She blames me for not being engaging and not talking to her for the reason that she goes to bed early. On the weekends, I like to spend more time with my blog and last weekend my wife was very angry because in her opinion I was spending too much time on the computer. I feel that my wife does not truly understand blogging and how much I enjoy it. When I try to share some success stories with her, I feel that she does not really care and just humors me by saying good job.
I realize that there has be a balance but I guess I am having a hard time getting my wife to undestand what blogging is and what it means to me.
I really wish that she would get off that stupid Facebook and spend her time starting a blog, but I doubt that will happen as she thinks blogging is stupid.
I am a full time blogger and I blog days, nights and on weekends! I have tried to engage my wife on my blogs more than once but she don’t find her self in blogging, so I stopped asking her, but only before I post something that I am not sure of I ask her to take a look and tell me what she think!
She support me actually 100%, she complains sometimes but regret the next minute!
If she is not supporting me, you will not find me here
Hesham @ FamousBloggers´s last blog ..Single Bloggers VS Married Bloggers
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Tycoon Blogger from promote your blog (38 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
@Hesham @ FamousBloggers, I am glad your are getting that kind of support and that is probably partly why you are doing so well.
Tycoon Blogger @promote your blog´s last blog ..Does your wife/husband support your blogging?
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My wife used to get frustrated when I spend so many late nights blogging, until she started her own. Now she runs a music company blog, a music classified site (running on wordpress) and her personal cooking blog. Since she started blogging I get no flak at all when I stay up blogging, because 1/2 the time I am blogging on my computer while she is blogging on hers.
Dragon Blogger´s last blog ..Finding and Choosing Pay Per Click (PPC) Programs
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Tycoon Blogger from promote your blog (38 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
@Dragon Blogger, That is cool that your wife started her own. I will keep trying to convince mine to do the same.
Tycoon Blogger @promote your blog´s last blog ..Does your wife/husband support your blogging?
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What plug-in do you use that shows how many comments you have left on the site next to your name in (paren) that is pretty neat.
Dragon Blogger´s last blog ..Finding and Choosing Pay Per Click (PPC) Programs
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
@Dragon Blogger, Justin, It is called Wordpress Thread Comment.
Tycoon Blogger @promote your blog´s last blog ..Does your wife/husband support your blogging?
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My spouse doesn’t support my blogging as much as I’d like – she calls it “working,” but all bloggers know it is far from that – it’s relaxing or just plain fun.
What I’ve learned is to think ahead throughout the day and blog fast when you get that chance each day.
itauditsecurity´s last blog ..Pain of Letting (Auditors) Go
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
@itauditsecurity, I am in the same boat with you there. For me this is my relaxation time as well, especially know that I stopped drinking…
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My wife supports me 100% but that was only after we set ground rules. I support her 100% on her blog as well. We do not let our blogs control our lifes or interfere with work, ing clients, social life and family time. We both agree if we can make money and quit our full time work then we will talk about it then. But right now neither of us are even close to that.
element321´s last blog ..Blogging Tips – Starting a New Blog
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
@element321, That’s cool, It definitely seems to help if your wife blogs too.
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no! I just do by myself. My wife don’t care about my blog. she has her own blog. however, she just do blog for fun.
Calendar´s last blog ..Options Calendar: Futures Expiration Calendar: Commodity Calendar 2010 by CommodityCalendar.com
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
@Calendar, Good stuff, another blogging couple.
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My partner is a sought after graphic artist and spends his life in front of the computer. He also earns good money so it’s okay for me to be a wannabe blogger. We share the same office and are actually quite amazingly happy when we’re all involved in our individual projects.
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
@Claudia, That sounds like a good set up you have going
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I am new at blogging. I am a stay-at-home mom, and have a 16 year old boy and 6 month old boy/girl twins. My husband is a teacher.
Since I am new at blogging, it is taking me some time to figure it all out. I try to work on it while the babies nap and a couple of hours in the evening when he gets home.
I am working on an additional website/blog and trying to research how to get my blog noticed. He seems to be fine with what I am doing because he is hoping that I will earn an income in addition to his. It is a little tight with twins and only one income.
I made a little so far from Google Adsense. The more I make the better he feels about it.
It wouldn’t pay me to get a 9-5 job because I would work to pay daycare. It is my goal to make enough income from my blogs and website to make up for my lack of income. I know that as long as I do that, he will not mind me spending so much time on it.
I would like to offer some advice to the blogger whose wife won’t get off Facebook…
Tell her that she could promote her blog on Facebook. It is where I get most of my traffic so far since I am not ranked yet. She could even start a fan club on there. I love Facebook too! It is nice to get feedback about my blog from my friends.
Thanks Tycoon blogger, for your awesome blog!
amandafedisson@Twin Talk´s last blog ..The 19th Week (I found out the sex of the babies)
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
@amandafedisson@Twin Talk, Thanks for your comment and that is a great idea you bring up about promoting her blog through Facebook. I will bring it up and see what happens..
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I guess I am one of the lucky ones. Me and the good lady both now work full time as IM’ers. Certainly beats going to work for a living.
Dave´s last blog ..Get Paid To Take Paid Surveys Online
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
@Dave, lucky!
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My wife left me over blogging! Just kidding, I am single but I was married when I started my first blog, and she did not get it, until money started coming in….
Keith´s last blog ..Link Roundup 1-29-10
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
@Keith, I always make sure to tell my wife every single time I make money and especially when the Google check arrives each month, that does seem to help a bit.
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paula from offer in compromise (2 comments) Reply:
January 30th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Yeah me too, it’s the same I use with my wife!!!
and it works every single time!
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paula from marriage counseling (1 comments) Reply:
January 30th, 2010 at 8:07 am
Yeah me too, it’s the same I use with my wife!!!
and it works every single time!
paula@marriage counseling´s last blog ..Prevent Divorce with Christian Marriage Counseling
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Me and my husband are full time bloggers. We make money through blogging and doing SEO. We work together, so it’s fun!!!
Teena@V8 Supercars´s last blog ..Sydney Seaplanes – Scenic Flight, Sydney Highlights
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
@Teena@V8 Supercars, I am jealous..that does sound like fun
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Dan,
Thanks for your candor in bringing up this topic. I’ve often wondered about this myself.
Warning: I shall now proceed to be quite a chatterbox compared to you guys.
I have a wordpress blog but I don’t update it. I can’t figure out when to do it and not cut into time with husband and kids. At night if I get started on something, I’ll be up too late and have screen-induced insomnia. In the early morning I try to do a little bit of exercise, so that’s out too.
I’ve been thinking about trying posterous. I’m looking for a blog experience that’s more like Twitter, which is where my passion lies.
On that subject, Twitter is the point of contention for my husband and I. He doesn’t understand why I’m typing into my phone at random times throughout the day. I’ve tried to explain how helpful it is (not to mention fun) to have a loose network of folks with whom to exchange info. Example I gave him: at the grocery there are way too many apple choices and I never knew what to buy. One day I tweeted from the produce section asking for recos, got four answers and discovered honey crisp, the best apple ever.
Husband merely rolled his eyes that I would need help buying apples. Sigh. It’s kind of funny. We try to keep a sense of humor about our Twitter disagreement.
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
@Karen, Interesting story and I loooovvveeeee Honey crisps! A sense of humor definitely helps.
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woman never get blogging, mine hates me doing it but loves the money.
David Hobson´s last blog ..Simplicity is the key with the Vodafone 340
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
@David Hobson, My wife doesn’t mind the money part either. Some women get it though, there a lots of mommy bloggers out there.
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Lee Ka Hoong from How To Blog (7 comments) Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 8:29 am
@David Hobson, lol! You said my word, they love money but don’t like what we’re doing. What I figured out was they just want us to give them more time, to accompany them, to have a chat with them, and etc. So now you know blogging is very time consuming if you’re addicted.
Anyway, I enjoy doing it.
Cheers,
Lee
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yes, 100% my husband supports me for he is web designer. In fact, he is the one who encourages me to engage in blogging.
burn´s last blog ..Manhattan Job for my Aunt
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
@burn, It seems that if the significant other works in a web related field they are more in tume with blogging.
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Work and spouses. Separate always!!
will@laser hair removal´s last blog ..Is Laser Hair Removal Too Expensive? The Lowdown on the Price of Laser Hair Removal
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
@will@laser hair removal, agree.
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hello, I just want to thank you for being kind in sponsoring a contest. I am one of the winners of BOH. I won the second place.
2000 EC – http://tycoonblogger.com/.
thanks again.
burn078´s last blog ..What do people think about Beauty?
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
@burn078, Congrats, email your ec info when you get a chance
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He supports me all the way for he is the one who encourage me to be a blogger.
burn´s last blog ..Manhattan Job for my Aunt
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It’s maybe a little ironic that you wish she would spend less time on “stupid” Facebook and start a blog, but she thinks blogging is stupid.
I mean, if you don’t really accept her Facebook time or think it’s stupid, then how do you expect her to accept your blog time and not think it’s stupid?
Maybe you could try to explain some of the similarities between blogging and Facebook, like the social networking aspects, interacting with people who have similar interests, and other benefits you both enjoy. She might understand it better if she sees the similarities between what you both do.
You might even try to get her involved with your blog on Facebook, like helping to promote your blog on Facebook, working on a Facebook page for your blog, etc. She might start to like it and help you out by working together.
My wife used to get more upset with all of the time I spent on my blog, but I think it was more related to the time I spent “ignoring” her, and not necessarily that it was related to blogging. I could have been in the backyard planting herb gardens all day on weekends and she probably would have been upset, so it’s not necessarily against blogging.
I guess we just have to try to reach a balance between all of our relationships and pursuits.
Great article by the way, I though I was the only one.
Max@Maximizing Money´s last blog ..Free Magazine Subscriptions and Free TradePub Magazines
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
@Max@Maximizing Money, I here you, but if she could make money with Facebook, I would be all for it.
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Yeah, my wife supports it. She spends a lot of time on Facebook as well, and I think that she could parlay a lot of that interaction into blogging as well, but I don’t think she quite “gets it” either.
I’ve had to pull back quite a few times and make room for regular life, and it’s not always easy, and yes it does still happen. One thing that I’ve learned though. Blogging may be time intensive, but it’s not THAT bad. If you’re spending a lot of time with your blogging, then maybe you’re not using your time as wisely as you could be.
Trey – Swollen Thumb Entertainment´s last blog ..Where To Take Things This Year?
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
January 29th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
@Trey – Swollen Thumb Entertainment, I always think about the money that my wife could make if she blogged instead of facebooked. I like to think I am quite efficient with my blogging, the thing is a maintain several blogs in addition to this one,
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My girlfriend and my family definitely support my blogging, when I make money, they happy. But sometimes my gf would angry of me because I didn’t spend much time with her, so I’ll try to plan for my time and spend more time with her as well.
My gf is a facebook lover, especially games in facebook, but I don’t think she is really get into blogging.
Regards,
Lee
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If affects the both of you, then how important is it to the other person. Example: my husband was involved in a music business on the side of his regular job, which supported his music hobby. He loved his music, and it was something that was very important to him. I knew that – which was why, because I loved him, I didn’t mind taking on a bigger role taking care of the house and kid, even though I would not have made the same choice that he did.
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A bit funny post but I think having the support of your family member is crucial in achieving success.
Melvin´s last blog ..What is Problogging & A Look at Some Pro Bloggers
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I am not married but have relatively no support from family; they just don’t get the whole online thing…I do mine, they do theirs.
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..The Time Has Come. The Deal Is Done. It’s Time To Move!!
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My husband supports me in everything I do and encourages me. We both are active online, but we also know how to balance our lives and make time for each other.
Sometimes life gets so hectic and we spend so much time online that we don’t realize that we are neglecting those we love.
Spending quality time with your wife is important for your marriage.
Maybe you need to set aside some time for her. Communication is the key to any relationship.
Rose´s last blog ..How to setup a 301 Redirect in Wordpress
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Well said. I post this comment on a Sunday…while my GF is sleeping. I have to get my stuff done before she wakes up because she does not understand that sometimes I need to work on Sundays!
Richard@How To Videos´s last blog ..How To Make Money On Amazon With the Amazon Affiliate Program
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Very little support from the wife. Since I’m a IT geek by trade I spend a lot of time online learning about the newest enterprise technologies. Blogging like others have said is down time. The wife sees it as more computer time.
benwaynet´s last blog ..Installing SharePoint 2010
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This is an interesting topic and I can relate to it so much…I´ll share a bit of my story which probably is one of the less positive ones.
I blog both in English and Portuguese, my mother tong.
My ex-husband didn´t get it at all. He used to complain about the time I used to spend in my blogging activities instead of being with him…quietly watching TV (getting bored to death). I used to make all home related activities and while he was snoring I would blog, stealing some of my own sleeping time. I never thought blogging could interfere so much in our relationship.
My blogging sessions would start every night, after cleaning the kitchen, until late hours. Next day I didn´t had to wake up early like he did because at that time I was studying and working part-time. He even made fun of me when I showed him my modest earnings. He used to say “blogging doesn´t pay you a living” like my job does. He couldn´t understand how I could feel so happy blogging. We had several discussions over the topic and my blogging activities were part of the problems that led us to divorce.
Blogging won! Yah!
Although I lost my 15 years marriage, and it hurts, I can now blog in peace and I don´t regret having started my simple blogs.
Regards, Mizé.
Mizé´s last blog ..Supermarket Shopping
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Wow, the responses are amazing. I’m single and I guess not many people understand blogging and might never understand. They will only understand when they start to blog.
I can say that one definitely needs to strike a balance with life and blogging. Never neglect otherwise you will regret.
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Same with George, I was amazed with the response you got for this post.
My husband is active online too and actually, he’s the one who suggested I start blogging. Smart guy eh? That way I won’t be nagging him for not spending enough time with me. lol..
Hopefully you get to sort things out with your wife soon. Balance is hard, all bloggers need to struggle with that; but somehow we all have own ways to make it work, right?
All the best in blogging & family too.
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker
Ching Ya´s last blog ..6 Points To Ponder Before Using Automatic Status Updates
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I’m not married but i use to have girlfriend but she left me for the top commentator. So now all i do is blog and blog, trying to get her back.
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This post it too funny. It sounds a bit like my house except the Facebook part. Other than email my wife does not really use the computer. I have a few blogs, but where I get in trouble is the time I spend on my forum. I end up trying to spend the evening with her and then get up after she falls asleep to take care of my blogs and forums. I am tired but she is happier.
Matt McGuire @ Oracle DBA´s last blog ..How to export with data pump
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dankeller (149 comments) Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 7:45 pm
@Matt McGuire @ Oracle DBA, Funny!
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I am the bachelor but near future if my wife would be interested in the blogging then surely i will support her.
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Everybody is needed Money to run the life. So I dont think that my wife would be any problem from my blogging .
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hehehe… I dont have wife yet..
but my mom and my sister cant understand why I spending a lots of my time in front of my computer..
tonca´s last blog ..Tips to remove the hair feet
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All we can hope for is that his supporters will get the word out and that through word of mouth, yards signs, etc. that his support will grow. Certainly, main stream media will do everything possible to prevent that.
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In as much as Blogging is your passion, remember she’s your wife and she comes first. She might be spending more time on facebook because she needs soemwhere to wile away time while you’re busy “romancing” your laptop computer, blogging.
Udegbunam Chukwudi´s last blog ..Hostgator Reseller Hosting Plans Uber-Revamped
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Take this to next level and does your family support or understand your blogging.,.lol
I have tried many many times to explain blogging to my parents.. they just dont get it.
John Paul@Make Money Every Day´s last blog ..Just Released: New Twitter Dummy Guide
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ya! She always working on my blog….
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My boyfriend used to think I was wasting my time with a blog. But after he saw that Google is actually sending me a check every month, plus other affiliate earning payments coming into my PayPal account, he is whistling a different tune. Now he wants me to show him how he can make money online with a blog.
Diane@Master Cleanse´s last blog ..Lemonade Diet Cleanse Tips
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I’m unattached, but I can tell you that my family wouldn’t understand the whole blogging/online thing I’m doing if I tried explaining it to them. For them, the more traditional the vocation, the better because for them it means consistent predictable income. I could also do without the confusion/potential putdown from a loved one so I simply do not go there with them.
MissEb@Surveyosity´s last blog ..Happy with GlobalTestMarket. Not Happy with GlobalTestMarket.
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My wife also spends a lot of time on Facebook and playing games so I just try to do much of my computer work when she is on. I will also get up early and simply get less sleep. I try not to let blogging interfere too much with family, but at times I wonder if it does take away some time.
Kidgas´s last blog ..Blogging Part-Time
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I get her involved in the blog by asking her opinion on layout changes and ask her if she could proofread stuff. Also if images or videos are posted I show her them as she finds them at least remotely interesting
.
Adam Silver´s last blog ..Acer S243HL now available in Acer Monitors shop
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Just like you, I get nagged on, well sort of, about the time I spend on the PC.
I do this full time, and love it. I gave up a decorative concrete business that I was running for 5 years to get back online full time.
I have no regrets about doing it. Working online in my mind is way less stressful that the other business I was running, and I love spending all the time I can at home, not to mention all the free time I have in the summer to do things I love doing.
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