Like, how much is too much for me to share for strangers to not feel like they know my kids? 

I wish I could wave a magic wand for people to know how to draw the line and not act like they know my kids in public because of their mother. You know? Instead of just calling their names, ask like you just met them because in reality you just met them. Don't leave the child confused as to why "this person is so excited to see me, I don't even know them"

It's been a hard hurdle to cross and it made me draw into my shell. I know that was not the basis for my blog in the first place. 

It's a place of authenticity, vulnerability and truth about my motherhood journey and how can I share my motherhood journey without oversharing details about my children's lives? That's been where I don't know how to balance it but I will try again. 

I still share about our Homeschool and while that is impactful, I still want to write for the me in motherhood, me that doesn't have friends that they text all the time about what's happening on their journey, me that still relies on Google, me that feels like it's a burden to ask people for anything. I want to still write for her, let her know she's not alone and I'm just trying to find a balance. 

One thing I've kept up though, is my blog goals. I have documented my journey of growing my blog income and I took some time to review my goals for last year. If I tell you that this year was the easiest to review why? 

Lol. I didn't set any goals.

See I was TIRED!!! Mentally, physically and emotionally. I think it's because I had a baby and I still went went went, I was drowning in anxiety and I just wanted it to be over and it was rest that finally did it for me. 

I still made some money. I never in my wildest dream thought that it was possible. I even predicted that in my yearly post and I am grateful for it and it showed me that anything is possible. 

This was what I wrote last year, let's see how I did;

1. I am not traveling with the kids this year (except I get a sponsorship) I didn't travel to anywhere, I didn't get any sponsorship.
2. I am not paying for any course or product to help me "grow" and definitely no more ads class.  I paid o, I paid but I didn't do any Facebook ads class. Hallelujah!
3. I am not pursuing any ambition for this business.  Honestly didn't and I am glad.
4. I will do whatever I want to do at my pace in terms of products and webinars that I really want to create. I created one product and did 2 Webinars. 
5. Above all trusting God with everything. Leaned on him totally

What was I able to achieve this year,

• Instagram grew to 18k Followers
• I was interviewed by BBC News for the 2nd time in my career. 
• I was on the radio 3 times
• Interviewed by Ikeja Records & Lagos Mums
• Spoke at 6 events 
• Trademarked my business 
• Grew our community to 100+ people 
• Add 3 more products 

This year, I want to set some goals only to keep me motivated but I don't want to set goals that will make me anxious and draw me back to the place of "hustling". I will work hard but that hustling mindset, phew! I don't want it again. 

1. Have 1 post that is more vulnerable every month.
2. Visit and review 50 - 60 places with the kids
3. Increase my revenue by marketing the products we already have.
4. Grow my Instagram to 20k - 25k
5. Organize Homeschooling Conversations 
6. Work with 5 major brands within my niche 

Review of my 2023 goals: Here's what I did with my goals for 2023

I am grateful for the goals unmet and the ones met. The reason they were unmet was I am still but one person and running a business, homeschooling, and trying to be a decent human is not for the faint of hearts. 

This brings me to what my goal for 2024 will be REST! Like I am not setting any goals for 2024 honestly. I will rest from all my toiling, anxiety about making more money, trying to grow this business, and having an ambition. 2023 was really rough in that regard, emotionally and running to the next thing or trying to work on making the business work and then juggling that with Homeschooling phew, it was a lot. 

How am I choosing to rest this year;

1. I am not traveling with the kids this year (except I get a sponsorship) 
2. I am not paying for any course or product to help me "grow" and definitely no more ads class.
3. I am not pursuing any ambition for this business. 
4. I will do whatever I want to do at my pace in terms of products and webinars that I really want to create. 
5. Above all trusting God with everything.

2023 Income report 

Selar (Digital Products): N1.2Million

Ads: 30,000 I didn't actually keep track of what I made with ads but it wasn't alot. 

2 things I did differently this year were run Facebook ads, the second thing I did was take a loan so I could use it as capital for my business. I didn't spend it all though, it wasn't a lot that I couldn't pay back so it was a good investment even if what I wanted to use it for didn't pan out like I wanted. 

I would most likely make less money this 2024 because I don't want to grind but don't let me underestimate God. Lol. Anyhoos that's it, 

I really do hope that my journey inspires someone out there. 

P.S:

If you would like to work with me this year, either to review your product, advertise your product to my audience, review your kid's play place or your family-friendly country, etc. please send an email to thecuddleblog@gmail.com with the subject "Request for Media Kit"

It's the end of the year and that time where I do a review of the goals I had for the blog at the beginning of the year.

We all know 2020 was different and I am not even going to beat myself up over not achieving my goals. I would say I had a good year growing the community "Cuddle Blog" and interacting with more mums which has been amazing. It might have not been one of my goals but it was the greatest things I achieved on this blog and I am super grateful for that. 

Here is the list of goal I hoped to achieve at the beginning of 2020 and let's review how I did. 

• Write more blog posts - 4 Posts a Month - That would have been a total of 48 Posts but I only have 38 articles on this blog but I have quite a number in draft. Does that count? Lol
•       Collaborate with brands; I did collaborate with about 3 brands but not on the level I really hoped it would be but I don't take it for granted
•       Do reviews of products and places; I did at the beginning of the year when we could go out but that came to a halt since March
•       Organize our 2nd edition of homeschooling conversations; Yay! We were able to achieve this
•       Do outings for our Homeschooling support group; Unfortunately, we couldn't do this at all
•       Grow and do offline events for our stay at home mums support group; We grew and had one offline event
•       Create resources for homeschooling and sahm mums; Created resources for homeschooling mums but not so much for stay at home mums. 

Top Post with over 300 Views in 2020 

Blog income report

Cheers to 2021!! I would be sharing my blog goals for 2021 in a couple of days but in the mean time, share with me your little win in 2020 below