You can call me Barmy
While I do blog anonymously, it seems a bit unfair that I get to call you by name (real or otherwise) and you all have to stumble around calling me things like, “Mr. My Parents” or “IBMP” or “You lousy, no good, sorry excuse for a parent”.
So I thought it would be a good idea to at least let you know who you’re talking to and give you a name you can use when we’re chatting here on the blog or when you’re whining about me to your friends.
My name is Barmy Rootstock. But you can call me Barmy. And I’ll let you in on a little secret: that’s not my real name. I know, right?
Now it should be much easier to personalize your remarks (e.g., “Barmy, you lousy, no good, sorry excuse for a parent.”), and that’s just way more civilized.
Why am I being anonymous?
Identity withheld to protect the innocent…and the guilty.
Trust me, I’m a blogger, I want to be famous. I want to be “discovered” and have my blog turned into a global best-seller and quit my day job. I want my book to become a sitcom, then a movie, blah, blah, blah.
But not at the expense of my child.
I talk about things that are funny and meaningful to me and hopefully that others enjoy. I believe that the fact that the stories and ideas are real makes them honest, funny and more heartfelt. But I’m also well aware of the damage that can be caused when anything potentially embarrassing online can be linked to a specific child–now or in the future.
I have no problem creating laughs at my own expense and, while my folks have given this blog their blessing–anonymous or not, I’d probably still write it if they didn’t. But my son’s a different story.
My son knows about this blog. We talk about many of the posts; I let him read some. I ask his permission when he says something and I want to quote it. I have withheld posting things that made him uncomfortable. And I do everything I can to remain anonymous because kids can be cruel and no humor is worth exposing him to that.
Whether or not I identify myself (and therefore my son) will be his decision when he’s old enough to make it. In the mean time, I hope that readers are OK with a nameless, faceless blogger and understand the reasons for it.
If that’s just not good enough, feel free to contact me directly. Unless you’re a spammer, in which case, get lost; if I was that worried about the size of my penis, I’d have compensated with a Hummer a long time ago.
And yes, that is me in the lederhosen.
Now back to your regularly-scheduled blog posts…
I've become my parents 
Things You Realize After You Get Married
June 29, 2011
Great idea for a blog! And when your blog does become a book, movie or sitcom, people will pay big bucks to find out who this “faceless blogger” is! 😉
I too prefer to remain anonymous on my blog given the material I write about—my husband knows what I write and is cool with it and I NEVER use it as an outlet for venting…I try to keep things positive! 🙂
I've Become My Parents
July 8, 2011
Thanks for that! I’ve been enjoying your blog as well.
dizidaisy
June 29, 2011
Ha! anonymity all the way – it’s the best thing – wish I had managed it lol x
I've Become My Parents
July 8, 2011
Thanks…and can I call you Dizi?
Appreciate the comment!
rtik13
June 29, 2011
New father here, and I absolutely love your blog! Congrats on getting Freshly Pressed today!
I've Become My Parents
July 8, 2011
Thanks, and congratulations on the new fatherhood!
Daniel
June 29, 2011
I was a new dad once, and also a diarist in my teens. Soon I think I will defrost my old blog, encouraged by your example. Cheers, sir!
I've Become My Parents
July 8, 2011
Thanks, Daniel. I hope you do dust off the blog!
Bri Barbieri
June 29, 2011
I love this-so clever!
I've Become My Parents
July 8, 2011
Thanks, Bri!
amiasleep
June 30, 2011
It is really cool that u thot of yor son. i like being anonymous too.
I've Become My Parents
July 8, 2011
I’m realizing that there are a lot of anonymous bloggers out there. Thanks for reading and commenting!
MichaelEdits
June 30, 2011
“Unless you’re a spammer, in which case, get lost; if I was that worried about the size of my penis, I’d have compensated with a Hummer a long time ago.” It is soooo hard not to steal that, but I won’t.
I've Become My Parents
July 8, 2011
Well that would be the greatest compliment.
Thanks for reading, Michael!
domesticbubblewriter
June 30, 2011
Yeah, anonymity…how many times have I had a few glasses of wine at a party and blabbed about my ‘anonymous’ blog. Really enjoying reading yours.
I've Become My Parents
July 8, 2011
Guilty! OK, I won’t rat on you if you don’t rat on me. Deal?
My Parents Are Crazier Than Yours
July 8, 2011
Love your blog.
I've Become My Parents
July 8, 2011
Thanks. I love your title…I’ll be over to ave a look.
JSD
September 11, 2011
Just found you blog…it’s great. I especially like the fact that you’re protecting your son. I just started mine and am doing the same with my children and grandchildren…no names, no pictures.
I've Become My Parents
September 11, 2011
Welcome to my slightly dishevelled part of the bloggosphere. Glad you’re here. I’ll pop over and check out Undercoversurfer.
tokyo5
October 22, 2011
I don’t reveal personal information on my blog either…for the same reason as you.
Your writing style is excellent, by the way.
I've Become My Parents
October 25, 2011
Thanks for that!
Cynthia Bee (@photogsunited)
November 4, 2011
Haha. This is so wonderful. I’ve favorited this already.
I've Become My Parents
November 4, 2011
Thanks Cynthia! Glad to meet you!
striderme
November 5, 2011
I was too. Love your style, both literary and morally.
Arpit Rathi
November 5, 2011
interesting
asoulwalker
November 5, 2011
Good on ya.
I've Become My Parents
November 5, 2011
Thanks.
Nour
November 5, 2011
Nice work! Love your writing style. Congrats of being FP!
I've Become My Parents
November 7, 2011
Thanks Nour! I really appreciate you coming by!
Textkind
November 5, 2011
I really love your style….reading your posts is soooo true and sooo fun. Great job! 🙂 Germany is reading you 😉
I've Become My Parents
November 7, 2011
Woohoo! Thanks for coming all the way here from there 😉
exemployee
November 5, 2011
I have needed to laugh for the last week….thank you for sharing your reality….
I've Become My Parents
November 7, 2011
Well I hope it’s helped. Thanks for coming by!
Best Knickers Always
November 6, 2011
Brilliant blog, just discovered you today being freshly pressed. I also admire your decision to remain anonymous. I write a personal blog about being a midlife woman, my children are teenagers and older and have given their blessing, yet I do appreciate that if I was anonymous I’d be much more free with my writing.
Thank you, it’s wonderful to read!
Rebecca
I've Become My Parents
November 7, 2011
Thanks Rebecca. I hope to be able to poke out from behind the curtain at some point down the road.
Appreciate you coming by!
peterwebsense
November 7, 2011
Thanks for sharing 🙂
I've Become My Parents
November 7, 2011
🙂
jenmabee
November 7, 2011
First time on wordpress and your blog was the first I’d read. I had just set up my account but am rethinking the fact that I used my name for my blog name….lol
I've Become My Parents
November 7, 2011
Well, I suspect you’ll be fine either way. Welcome to the blogging world!
Val
November 7, 2011
If I had kids, I’d feel the same way. I’ve just subscribed to your blog, by the way. It looks fun! 🙂
I've Become My Parents
November 7, 2011
Cool! Thanks for subscribing, Val. I look forward to seeing you around here!
penman
November 7, 2011
Aww, it was really sweet what you did with and for your son. He has an amazing Dad. Anyway, even if you keep yourself anonymous, this blog is bound to be famous, just look at the international best-seller material 🙂 I just clicked the subscribe button. Your way to deliver daily life is so amusing, makes me want to read more. I’m learning a lot from your experience 🙂 Thanks 4 sharing.
I've Become My Parents
November 8, 2011
What nice things to say! You’ve just become my new BFF 🙂
It really is great to know people are enjoying it.
GOF
November 10, 2011
So happy that I “accidentally” discovered your blog today. Thoroughly entertaining reading.
Now I’ll go back and add Barmy Rootstock to my blogroll.
I've Become My Parents
November 11, 2011
Woohoo! I’m glad you dropped in. Thanks.
Karl Bastian
December 28, 2011
Love your blog! Was surprised your book was only .99 in amazon and not the 2.99 I read on the blog – but I’d rather get a PDF I can read on my iPad in Books, as I dont like Kindle, any chance of paying via paypal? Heck, I’d pay DOUBLE the amazon rate! LOL DM at @kidologist Keep up the great humor and writing!
Barmy Rootstock (IBMP)
December 29, 2011
Thanks so much Karl. The book’s at $.99 this week for Boxing Week. Stand by for an email…
kazualkreative
January 3, 2012
You have my vote for the Versatile Blogger Award 🙂
Barmy Rootstock (IBMP)
January 4, 2012
Hey thanks! It’s nice to know IBMP is appreciated. Thanks for reading and taking the time to nominate IBMP! I’m not too good at keeping those things going so I try and add blogs to my Blog and Twitter Roll often and point people there for recommendations. 🙂
Sonel
February 29, 2012
Well Barmy, you have a wonderful sense of humour and in the end, that’s all that counts! Your blog is fascinating. 🙂
Barmy Rootstock (IBMP)
March 1, 2012
Thanks so much, Sonel!
Tony
March 6, 2012
your blog is awesome. I don’t even know how I got here, but I’m glad I did. I try to write, but my blog is nothing compared to yours. I think that being anonymous is great. I find myself holding back becuase now I know family and co-workers are reading my stuff. I’m going to add you to my favorites and wish you all the best. Keep up the good work
Barmy Rootstock (IBMP)
March 7, 2012
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Tony. Actually, I popped over to your blog and loved the most recent post about the lady and the fork!
My folks actually know I’m writing this blog, as do my wife and son, so I do still sometimes second-guess their response to my writing. But I really try not to alter my words because of it. The people I really don’t want to know who’s writing it are my son’s schoolmates–not until he says he’s ready.
I hope you keep up the writing as well!
Tony
March 12, 2012
thanks for checking out my blog and for the positive feedback. I read other people’s blogs and think “wow, I wish I could write like that” – that’s the feeling I got when I read yours. You’re a good writer and I hope to continue reading your posts for a long time.
Cindy Dwyer
June 27, 2012
I really respect your attitude toward your son. I write a lot about my family and I always make sure to have approval before posting sensitive things. Yes, I’ve had some posts vetoed!
One trick I use is to write down the funny incident when it happens, but let it age appropriately before sharing it. What a boy of seven might find embarrassing, the same boy at fifteen might remember fondly.
Barmy Rootstock (IBMP)
June 27, 2012
A very good strategy indeed.
Thanks for your comment, Cindy!
Christopher Battles (@christophermust)
August 27, 2012
Now I know about this person (kind of) that I have been following on the Twitter.
Good stuff.
K, bye
itsnotjustmeright
May 21, 2013
http://itsnotjustmeright.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/versatile-blogger-award/
This is for you – Bang – Nominated!
Barmy Rootstock (IBMP)
May 27, 2013
Hey, thanks! Mighty awesome of you 🙂
itsnotjustmeright
May 27, 2013
Pleasure! Love reading your blog!
The Waiting
May 21, 2013
I love your policy about posting stuff about your son. Those are some admirable boundaries. ;D
Barmy Rootstock (IBMP)
May 27, 2013
I appreciate that. They’re not easy boundaries to keep, but it’s working so far!
swedenole13
June 4, 2013
Just landed on your blog site! It is GREAT! LOL, I can identify. Thankfully mine have all now passed through teen-dom! Oh wait, now their kids are entering this special age…..Great job on your blog. I’ll enjoy reading it.
Barmy Rootstock (IBMP)
June 4, 2013
Thanks! Wait…you mean we have to go through it again, only once-removed? Nooooooooo……
swedenole13
June 4, 2013
Yeah, but…..your kids now get pay back time! Life is good. Heh, heh, heh!
Nighttime Daydreams of a New Mumma
July 14, 2013
I kind of love you already just from your about. Look forward to reading your posts!
mentalmom02
July 17, 2013
Hi there!! I’ve nominated you for the WordPress family award. It’s under my posting titled WordPress family award. If you’re not sure of the rules, all you do is post a pic of your award, thank the person who awarded you and a link to their page, then nominate a few of your own favorites. Happy Wednesday!! 🙂
Simple Mum
July 31, 2013
Hi Barmy, I have nominated you in the Versatile Blogger award. Check it out at my post link here: http://kidsrsimple.com/2013/07/31/my-very-first-blogging-award-the-versatile-blogger/ ,Cheers!
Barmy Rootstock (IBMP)
August 2, 2013
Thanks so much for the recognition, Christy! It makes my day when someone takes the time to acknowledge my blog and I really appreciate it. Here’s to the simple things in life!
anntogether.com
March 2, 2014
In our family we often refer to our parents as Frank and Marie Barone…Coming from a large tight Italian family with a tough patriarch named (you guessed it) Vito and a 78 years young mom named (you guess that one too) Carmella who still plays tennis though there are many days she secretly imagines hitting Vito over the head with the racket, I deeply appreciate your blog. I think I’m a lot of both of my folks – yells a lot then runs around with a racket. I try to maintain the sanity by making sure neither part sees too much action though I absolutely adore my mom and dad.
I too went back and forth with the name thing but decided to go with my name and not use the kiddies info. It is challenging – the balancing act of wanting to do it all. It’s nice to know you write with both style and humor. Thank you for that… and you must be a hell of a great parent…
AnnMarie
newbie blogger
phanuel1
July 26, 2014
Hey there , I have nominated you as the very inspiring blogger reward.
Thanks for being awesome :
http://asilentashout.wordpress.com/
Karen
August 1, 2014
Oh, for the love of — you’ve already been nominated for this award. This very week, in fact. Whoops!
Well, undaunted by duplication, I shall continue on my quest to nominate you myself, because of your talent and humor. Not sure you’re into the whole award thing, but awards are certainly into you. Or something. So here’s another Very Inspiring Blogger Award, because who says you can only inspire one person?
Eydie
August 13, 2015
I enjoy reading your blog, and your lederhosen fits you so well!
Nightwriter11
October 13, 2015
Very entertaining. Love your blog and its name. Don’t we all become our parents?
thelonelyauthorblog.