Behind every blog is a blogger’s story. This is mine.

I planned to go back to work after my first child was born, but when the time came I just couldn’t.

I sat at the kitchen table on a cold January evening, staring into the bouncer that held my sleeping infant son, and sobbed. All the desire I had to go back to a job I really, truly loved was gone. It killed me to think of the projects I was reneging on and the people I had grown to love so much who I would disappoint, but in that moment I knew I couldn’t go back.

At the exact same time, I had no idea how I would survive the life of a stay-at-home mom. Still, I knew the choice I needed to make. With my husband’s blessing and support we made some drastic changes. I quit my job. We packed up our house and moved to be near family so Mike could go back to school and I could stay home with our son. It was exactly what we wanted.

But it wasn’t long before I discovered how difficult and isolating mothering can be.

No one ever really tells you about this piece – probably because it’s a bit of a downer – but it’s super-real. Even though I loved being a mom and staying home was the right choice for me, it wasn’t without it’s challenges. I struggled to make sense of the woman who had career dreams and goals, and the mother who wanted the day-in and day-out kind of living with her kids, who always seemed to be at odds. There was a certain tension I could never quite work out that only grew stronger, the longer I kept trying to ignore it.

And then there was that pesky question of what I would do when it was time to renter the workforce, or if something catastrophic happened to my family that forced me to go back to work earlier than I had planned. How would I translate years of mothering into marketable skills to help contribute financially to my family? Where would I find my fit years down the road?

Even though I was living the life I wanted, I was still missing something.

Facebook became a huge outlet for me to connect with my friends and family in those early days of mothering. Reading all my mom posts, a friend suggested I start a blog. I had never read a blog before, but it intrigued me because I had always loved to write, and blogging sounded like a really practical way for me to fill a creative void I had been missing as a new mom. In the final days of 2009 I published my first post on Grateful for a Coffee Break and all of a sudden those needs for connection and creative expression were, in part, being met. That tension I struggled with every day lessened just a little, and I was hooked.

I’ve been blogging a little over seven years now and that thing I knew nothing about has become a really important piece of who I am.

Through blogging I’ve been on an incredible journey of self-discovery, unlocking new passions in my heart, and recovering ones I’d forgotten along the way. I’ve made new friends and have found connections I never would have if I hadn’t started my blog.

At some point I decided I wanted to pursue blogging as more than I hobby. I moved to a new site and started sharing drama resources. I wrote a devotional. I published a Christmas service. And now in addition to staying home and homeschooling my three boys, I get to work from home in my spare time doing something I really love.

I’m certainly not at the place that I’d have Mike quit his day job, but the skills I’ve learned as a blogger, and the experience I’ve gained as a self-published author, give me confidence that I will be able to continue on this path for many years down the road. And when my boys are less dependent and I have some additional time at my disposal I can see how I will be able to increase my financial contribution to this family.

Much of that foundation and confidence has come from the training I’ve received through Elite Blog Academy.

Elite Blog Academy is a phenomenal step-by-step course designed to help bloggers succeed at what they do best. I love that the course comes with a life-time membership allowing me the freedom to evolve as a blogger as the class evolves to keep up with changing internet trends. I love that I can take it at my own pace (hello baby! hello homeschool! hello book writing!) and I love that this course has given me a solid foundation from which to launch my writing/blogging career from.

I’ve heard so many success stories from fellow classmates – men and women who have been able to quit their jobs to work exclusively from home as a blogger. I applaud them. And I know that when my littles get bigger, and my husband is done with school, and there is more time and space for me to focus on my little corner of the internet, it’ll be my turn. Because slowly and carefully I’ve been working hard to give myself that chance.

Maybe you can relate.

You love blogging because it means something to you period, but you wonder if maybe it could be something more. Take advantage of the free resources I’ve outlined below, and take a moment to consider if the paid ones might help you take that next step in your journey.

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6 FREE resources to help you on your blogging journey

Ruth Soukup is the founder of Elite Blog Academy and several other blogging resources. I’m a huge fan of her teaching, and she has very generously made the following six resources available for FREE. Make sure to sign up and take advantage of these incredible tools (some are only available for a limited time)!

[1] EBA Blogging Assessment

Do you remember taking a relationship assessment with your fiancé in premarital counseling? (Or was that just us?!) The EBA Blogging Assessment is like that for you and your blog. After completing a short series of questions, you’ll be given a personalized review of eight essential blogging mindset categories with specific tips and resources to help you on your journey.

[2] 7 Ways to Boost Your Blog Income Overnight

Who doesn’t want to make a few extra bucks doing something they love? This ebook is a quick read and packed with practical tips to help you maximize revenue from the audience you already have.

[3] EBA Blog Structure Blueprint

Organization is a key component to your blog’s success. The Blog Structure Blueprint is a simple template to help you organize your blog in a way that your readers can easily find the content they’re looking for at your online home.

[4] Goal Setting Workbook for Bloggers

Blogging can be really time consuming. The Goal Setting Workbook for Bloggers is a tool to help you worker smarter to maximize your time and influence.

[5] Elite Blog Academy Blog

This is a no-brainer. If you’re a blogger, you follow other blogs, and this is one you really need to read. Browse through the archives and be watching for a new post every Tuesday morning.

[6] Blogging Made Simple

In this three-part video series Ruth talks about eliminating overwhelm and focusing on the tasks that will help you make the biggest impact through your blog. Register before 2/21/17 to take advantage of this free training.

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2 additional resources (if you have some time and money to invest)

How to Blog for Profit: Without Selling Your Soul

Ruth’s book was one of the first I read on blogging, and it has had a tremendous influence on my craft. At less than $14 on Amazon, this is a small investment that can make a big difference in your blogging.

Elite Blog Academy

I mentioned earlier I joined EBA in 2014. I would absolutely do it again today.

EBA is a costly investment. It takes time (think college level coursework), it’s expensive, and it’s just not a fit for everyone. If you’re interested in transitioning your blog from a hobby to an income generating revenue source, and you have the time and resources to invest, I would strongly recommend checking this class out.

Please note open enrollment for 2017 is only 5 days!

Even if you’re not sure you can pull the trigger this year, sign up for the wait list HERE to be notified of yearly open enrollment. This year’s class will be available to purchase at 7AM EST 2/27/17 through 11:59PM PST  3/3/2017.

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While I am a student of EBA I am also a class affiliate (as well as an Amazon Affiliate). Should you choose to register for EBA through one of the links in this post I will receive a commission. Purchases made through contextual affiliate links do not affect the product cost to you, but help support this site and keep content free. Thank you in advance for your support!