Four years ago, August 2018, I posted my first blog on InchstonesByKC.com. I realized this week that is longer than Adelaide was alive. Proof, I guess, of the power of legacy… or at least that’s what I’m going with because I’m not ready to dive into that wormhole yet. ANYWAY, 186 blogs later, I’m still going strong. I’m not sure what I expected when I started. I had all these thoughts swimming around in my head and it was getting loud and crowded and hot in there. Like when you’re at a concert or a bar and you just need to step outside for fresh air. That, for me, was the blog: a place where I could air out my sweaty brain mush. I also knew that I wanted to paint a picture of the medically complex life for the people who had no idea what that looked like and to provide a meeting place for the people who did. 

Blog #1 was written sitting on our back deck in Chicago while Nurse A cared for Adelaide inside the apartment. I had hoped that manifesting a neutral and Zen environment would allow the words to flow, but it was so freaking hot that I didn’t last long out there. I quickly learned that my physical surroundings mattered little and all I truly needed was quiet and freedom from distractions. So, a majority of the blogs that first year were written from our living room couch at around 9pm on Thursday evening once both kids had been put to bed. Who am I kidding? That’s still when most of the blogs are written.

There have been weeks when the topics came naturally – the content prepped and fed directly into my laptop like a ready-made meal. Other weeks have been a struggle, a laborious meat grinder where I’m not sure what’s going to come out until I let my mind wander and let the free writing commence. Those blogs feel amorphous and messy but are often the most well-received. Go figure. When it comes to content, I guess it’s sort of convenient that our family’s path has been strewn with major life upheavals – you know, in a super backhanded sort of way. My anxiety would disagree, but she’s rather contrary by nature so we don’t let her have a vote anymore.

Some of you have been with me since the beginning, others folded in along the way. Regardless, your love and support have meant so much to me. This page has brought me numerous friendships – and not just online ones – real life in person ones too! It also helped me secure a book deal for a manuscript that is due to my editor NEXT Thursday. I’m feeling grateful for the opportunity, surprisingly optimistic about what I've written so far and also generally nervous AF. But the wait until November 2023 for it to hit store shelves has got to be the most excruciating. 

All this to say, thank you. Thank you to everyone who has sat in the dark alongside me, celebrated various inchstones with me and joined me on this epic tightrope walk of life through everything in between. It has me feeling humbled and wanting to give back.

Over the years, I have asked people close to me to write guest blog posts, sometimes to get varied perspectives and other times because I just needed a week off. So, consider this your invite to release your own sweaty brain mush and I will post it on my website, newsletter and all the socials. Now, don’t anyone worry, I’m not going anywhere and will continue to write. I'm just sharing the microphone, or keyboard, if you will. 

The details: I try to keep the blogs to no more than 800 words, but I like to write an intro for guest bloggers, so let’s say 600-700 words. Content should have an open and honest nature, because that’s what this space is all about. Make it personal. I don’t need to know the date of your last menstrual cycle, unless that’s imperative to the story you're telling, but I want it to be about your experiences and what you took from them. Topics covering all forms of parenting, caregiving, grief, loss, family, health care, and mental health are welcome. Questions, pitches and posts can be sent to: info@kellycervantes.com. 

The disclaimer: I have zero professional editing experience and have never managed anything like this before, so I may be getting in over my head. Still, I think it’s worth the risks because I’m pretty proud of this small but mighty platform and would love to give others the chance to write and share without having to establish their own time-consuming blog. 

Could this be a disaster with no one expressing interest? Absolutely. But I also know I’m just not that special. If I had 186 blogs (and counting) worth of content taking a steam bath in my head AND could figure out how to do this writing thing, then I’m pretty sure others can to. Maybe you just needed an invitation. So here it is, signed, sealed, delivered.

… And hopefully, I’m yours for 186 blogs more.