It’s time for another experiment in the culture of parenting blogs. The last group writing project Babylune hosted was a great success in terms of quality of posts and entertainment value. I’ve also been inspired by the parenting GWPs run by Weary Parent and MamaBlogga.

The Theme:

This time, write a post about a family vacation that you have taken as a parent or as a child. What are your memories of the main event, your favorite parts, the successes, the advice for others, the fun factor and/or the mishaps?

The Rules:

All posts must link back to this post announcing the GWP. Once you’ve written your post, leave a comment below in case your trackback URL ends up in the spam filter.

While I relaxed on this point last time, this time normal Group Writing Project rules, as defined by Problogger, apply. All posts must be written especially for this contest. Only one post per blog or blogger (if you write 20 blogs, you can still only submit 1 post) will be accepted. The contest is now open and posts will be accepted until 11:59 PM on 31 August 2007. As usual, I reserve the right to declare any post I deem to be unsuitable for a family audience (or any other audience) as ineligible. Final results will be posted on 1 September 2007.

The Prize:

I thought we’d try something a little different this time. At the end of the GWP, there will be a cash prize payable via PayPal. The prize will total $1 per eligible entry up to $100.

That means, if 100, or more, worthwhile, eligible posts are submitted from 100 different blogs written by 100 different people, the prize will be $100. If there are only 98 entries, the prize will be $98 and so on down to just one entry in the contest with a $1 prize.

A little legalese:

The winner will be entirely responsible for paying any taxes and duties on the prize as required (or not) by their respective places of residence. This contest is valid only where legal and participants are responsible for determining legality before entering.

A Second Experiment:

Partly as an experiment and partly to protect my income, I am not going to promote this GWP. I am not going to email the other parenting bloggers I know, I am not going to announce it to any lists, forums or post it on any social networking sites. You’re the ones with the interest in driving up the prize amount, so it seems fair that you should be the one to tell other bloggers about the GWP. I’ll let you know how traffic is affected by this strategy.Updated on 21 August, based on day one stats, this was obviously just a horrible idea. I’ll promote it now.
The Third Experiment

Random draws usually determine the prize winner in a GWP. Winning a draw is about luck while writing a successful blog is about writing well. Therefore, I am going to choose the entry that I think makes for the most entertaining, though/provoking and interesting reading. In the event of a tie, two blogs will split the cash prize.

Post from: Babylune

Opposites Attract

Life Sciences

Before & After

Monetize Me

Post from: Babylune

I just did the first tip and I think it is something I am going to be able to manage. Is there anyone who wants to do it with me? I thought we could keep tabs on each other and inspire each other to keep going through the month of August.

Post from: Babylune

This is the knowledge that helps me sleep at night and have christened these certainties the three pillows of wisdom. I think these truths make everyone a little more comfortable, so I would like to pass them along to everyone, especially my children.

The three things I want my kids to know are these:

1. Just because things don’t turn out the way you plan, doesn’t mean things can’t be OK.

Be ambitious, work hard and do your best, but leave a little room for life to intrude, for your mind to change and fate to make a little magic. Even in the darkest periods, there is room for the light of hope and to make it shine more brightly, all you have to do is keep breathing.

2. Humor really is the best medicine.

It is impossible to overdose.

3. Love might not conquer all, but if you do it properly, it is the strongest force known to us.

Use love wisely. Use it indiscriminantly. It does not matter which. The more you do it, the more there is. Make it big, leave it out in the universe. Beware of making it too singular, too direct. Love is not a target to be reached, but an energy to be generated.

This entry was inspired by the always inspirational Mama Blogga who is hosting another group writing project this week. Be sure to enter so I can find out what three things you’d like your kids to…

Post from: Babylune

Here is the complete list of entries and the announcement of the winner:

1. Mama Zen was the first to come in with a post in entitled Mistakes…I’ve Made a Few about making “mistakes” that had great benefits for her child. A heart-warming piece that reinforces the idea that mothers are always right.
2. Jenny was in second with Mistakes by Mom about teaching her son to love his neighbor. Warning: If you meet Mini Buff, don’t touch his cars.
3. So Sioux Me sent this post about setting a good example for her daughters and how they treat themselves.
4. My post is up for inspiration purposes.
5. The Mad Cropper is in via a scrapbook page that says something all of us need to hear every once in a while. I’ve been there too Christine. More often than I care to admit.
6. Hamelife submits this personal regret over the six months they lost to the dictates of parenting convention.
7. Jeanie in Paradise describes how she became a dictator. Warning: Jeanie’s very scary description of the banshee wail hits the memory centers hard!
8. The Doc is In! And boy, are the F-bombs flying. So is the parental pride. I understand you, Doc, your shame, your pride, and your f****** temper.
9. Husbandhood has both been in the eye of the storm of a temper tantrum and found the perfect solution for preventing tantrums.
10. This post came from the male half of Marriage Actually about recognizing the individuality of his three children. You may want to strap on an adult diaper before you read it.
11. A Mama’s Rant came in with her post about almost sending her son into the care of a suspected child abuser.
12. The Weary Parent went beyond the call of duty and wrote about one mistake she’s made with each child.
13. Free From Gluten committed a cereal crime.
14. My Name is Mommy made it in with this list of things you should do differently than she did.

I am now putting slips of paper on which the numbers 1 to 3 and 5 to 14 (eliminating number 4, my own post) have been written into my daughter’s pink sun hat.

I am now going into the other room to explain to the baby that she should take just one slip of paper out of the hat.

I am back from the living room.

It didn’t work the way I expected, but it worked. She bunched up about 3 slips in her little fist, took them out of the hat and then took one from her fist with her other hand. She then handed me the number 12.

Congratulations to Weary Parent! Please send me a message to let me know if you would like a $24.95 Amazon Gift Certificate or $24.95 in cash via Pay Pal.

Post from: Babylune

Post from: Babylune

Ever worry that you’ve been spending too much time writing a parenting blog rather than parenting?

Here are the top five signs.

5. If you’re late for your walk, your baby crawls to the door and starts pounding on it.

4. Your baby crawls to you with his or her shoes.

3. Your baby crawls to the laundry basket and chooses a weather appropriate outfit.

2. Your baby attempts to dress him or herself.
1. Your baby learns to stand and immediately pushes the power button on the computer off.

Post from: Babylune

Post from: Babylune