<p>Momsdream - my daughter doesn’t currently live at home. I stopped reading the blog when she asked me to, but I started reading it again when she went overseas. I know my daughter well enough to easily sort out the fact from fantasy – most of the made-up stuff is pretty silly or over-the-top anyway - and it gives me insight into how she is feeling and what issues and problems she might be having. Since she is not at home, there is no other way for me to know. For example, one time she wrote that she had a very tough week at school and broke down crying in frustration, and didn’t have the words in her host language to explain to anyone why was upset. That was a good signal to me that it was about time for me to give her a phone call and offer encouraging words – after all, the blog made clear that she wanted and needed someone to talk to. </p>
<p>When she’s home I usually don’t read the blog, but I think if she seemed upset or withdrawn and I didn’t know why, then I’d definitely check the blog to see if there was something she was holding back from me.</p>