Why does someone start a blog? Many begin to promote a person, product, service, or brand. Others start because they allow a person the opportunity to express his/her opinion. Some probably initiate a blog just because it sounds like fun. The beauty of this model of communication is there is no one right reason for everyone.
While there is no precise answer as to why one should start a blog, perhaps there is no more noble reason than one designed to help others. Such is the case with the blog of Melanie Stewart https://leavingthedooropen.com/. That is the primary reason I am nominating Melanie’s blog for the Liebster Award. (Please see the explanation below if you are unfamiliar with this award.)
Melanie’s blog deals with the critical topic of aging parents. People are living longer for a variety of reasons. While this can be a source of blessing, it also may create a host of other unforeseen problems. My mom passed away two years ago at the age of ninety-two, and those were hard times for me. Much of that experience was still fresh on my mind when I discovered Melanie’s blog.
Part of what makes Melanie’s story so compelling is her journey to get to this point. She began as a freelance writer for a local paper in suburban Chicago writing about a wide variety of things. She then went to work for Legacy.com. https://www.legacy.com/ (Many will recognize this as an online obituary source). It must have been challenging and rewarding for her to help people through such a trying and emotional time.
Now, Melanie is providing a helpful resource to others with the advent of her blog. https://leavingthedooropen.com/ She shares her own experiences navigating the aging parent years. These times are challenging for anyone, especially when dealing with a loved one. Melanie provides informational links and helpful tips. She also is welcoming of others to share their personal stories. (I’m working on one right now to submit to Melanie.)
The Liebster Award is an award given by bloggers to other bloggers. The idea behind the award is to help promote newer bloggers who the rest of the blogging world may not know yet. Since I love everything about Melanie’s blog and the reasons behind her starting it, I’m nominating her.
I was nominated for my blog https://petespringerauthor.wordpress.com/ by fellow educator, Katharine Everson. Katharine is a dedicated special education teacher. Her blog https://teachezwell.me/ primarily focuses on education-related items, but everything she writes about has elements of humor. Katharine asked me to nominate two people, and Melanie is my first nominee.
The winner of the Liebster Award has two jobs: (1) Answer the six questions posed by the nominator. (2) Nominate two other new bloggers for this award. I permit you to choose one, Melanie, because as a new blogger, you probably are following more established blogs.
Congratulations to Melanie Stewart on her helpful and informative blog.
My Questions for Melanie
- What is the hardest challenge you have faced with an aging parent?
- What is your best advice to someone in a similar situation with an aging loved one?
- Have there also been happy and memorable times with your aging loved one? Please elaborate.
- Do you have any suggestions for people who are still working full time and need to offer their loved one support?
- What has been something you discovered about yourself in this process?
- What do you most enjoy about blogging?
Pete Springer 
Congratulations on your nomination, Pete.. Melanie is a good choice for a recipitent. Here families look after their parents and most very well.. Age is, respected here it doesn’t seem to be the case as much in western countries which is a shame.
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I’ve never traveled much abroad, but interacting with many families as a teacher, this is what I found: (1) Many other cultures (as you point out) have greater respect for their elders. It is one of the things that Americans should be most embarrassed about. (2) Most of the parents I dealt with from other cultures treat education/teachers with reverence and respect. That was not always the case with parents from western cultures.
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I agree, Pete.. Teachers are much respected here also and that is as it should be they teach the future generations. To me that is most important and should be respected x
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A lovely nomination Pete and I am sure Melanie is thrilled. And congratulations on your own nomination..well deserved.. x
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I appreciate it, Sally. I’m just happy to recognize someone who is doing something worthwhile.
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I look forward to reading Melanie’s answers. We all need to deal with aging in one way or the other – parents or relatives or friends. My mom is 95 and still alive, but deep into dementia. She was placed in hospice two years ago, and then kicked out a year later because she started to thrive – as much as someone can thrive while losing all of their memory and most of their personality. Sometimes it seems so difficult to deal with; thus, we need good people with Melanie who help us out.
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I have heard of the bounce-back phenomenon that happens to some. My mother-in-law is in the middle of another Renaissance these days. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
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Great nomination Pete. I follow Melanie’s blog too after being introduced to her by Sally of course, just the same way you and I connected. I enjoy her blog too, not because I have aging parents, as they are long gone, but because of my aging husband, so relatable 🙂
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It’s one of those topics most people avoid, but don’t you think it’s wiser to deal with the situation? I can procrastinate about some things, but my wife is much better about tackling matters head-on. I think she’s finally worn me down.🤣🤣🤣
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That’s the sign of a good wife! Lol 🙂
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Well done on the award nom, Pete! 🙂
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It is very kind of Melanie to have a blog on such a challenging problem that many others will experience.
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Sadly, all of our parents are gone. I suspect that the next aging parents will be me and my husband.
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I’ve never been hung on age ever, but when I hit sixty, I started thinking about it for the first time. What gives me comfort is knowing that we’ve raised an incredible son who we are incredibly proud of.
We’ve also been good about marking off some of the things on our Bucket List. I’m determined to enjoy life to the fullest. No sitting around feeling depressed and sorry for myself. Nope, not going to happen!
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Our church has all ages, and I am encouraged by the ones in their 80’s and 90’s who are going strong.
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I just read one of Melanie’ posts and I think it will be a great resource for people who are dealing with the same issues.
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Absolutely! There are resources available that most of us aren’t aware of. Until one has gone through this with a loved one, it’s hard to understand how challenging it can be.
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This is the loveliest nomination post I have ever read, Pete. I can be very difficult dealing with aging parents who become infirm and can’t hear and see well anymore. Fortunately, my mom is pretty active for her 81 years despite having had chemotherapy and other treatments for cancer in 2014. The worst time of my life.
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Melanie’s blog can help a lot of people, which is why I wanted to recognize it. I can completely relate to your feelings, Robbie. My mom went through chemotherapy when I was a young man, and it was hard to think about anything else. But, she beat her cancer and continued to touch so many other people’s lives.
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Congratulations on the award and on the great post
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There is such a reverence and respect for prior generations in so many other cultures that I don’t see with Americans. I feel like we should be doing more, and Melanie’s blog is going to offer people support.
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These should be interesting answers, Pete.
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From reading about Melanie, she has had quite an interesting life.
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