I still write in my about me section of any of my bios…
“Three years ago my friend thought it would be a great idea to start a blog together. With a deep breath and fear that all the weirdos in the world would start stalking me or come to my house and kidnap my children we started blogging together and Laverne was born…”
That single moment when I took a deep breath and hit the publish key as Laverne for the first time still brings back a flood of deep emotion. Looking back and remembering becoming Laverne, the memories of stories shared in this space and the discovery of words and the voice they have given me brings tears to my eyes. Being Laverne gave me an anonymity that I needed as a I met new people, built my confidence and eventually found a voice I never knew I had. As many of my long time friends in this space know, over the past six months that voice and your support also gave me the courage to start a second blog as me the Special Education teacher and change from sharing just as Laverne on social media to sharing as Carrie, teacher, mom, wife and just me.
Knowing all this….it is with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes (yes I am a blubbering mess) that I am sharing this with you today. Today marks the end of Laverne. The end of this amazing journey behind this name that has for three years given me the much needed anonymity I have needed to share and find my voice. This will be my last post as Laverne. The last time a post is seen under the header of akaLaverne. From this point forward as I meet people in the blogging world or twittersphere there will be only a few close dear friends that will ever remember me as Laverne and remember my journey.
{blubbering mess here}
It is with a heavy heart and tons and tons and tons of indecisiveness and lots and lots and lots of conversations with Abby (god bless her for her ability to text and chat incessantly about this topic as I spew and ramble on and on about this change) and my husband (this amazing man rallies behind me and supports my decisions and choices, helps me see the good choices and the ooooo thats not such a good idea ideas) most of all they both said it’s time….
GO FOR IT!!!!
{anyone got a tissue….still blubbering here}
soooooo it is with a heavy heart that today I say good by to akaLaverne.
BUT saying good bye to Laverne does not mean you are saying good bye to me!
Starting next week (what!? a girl needs some time to get her new place ready) I am joining my two passions. I am joining my love for writing, drawing, creating and sharing with my passion for Special education, learning, empowering students and showing others what children can do when we think differently! Next week all of this will become….
carriebaughcum.com
I can not wait to share with all of you this new space.
I can not wait to have one fantastic space to share all of my passions.
I can’t wait for this new adventure to begin!!!
Just when I thought not in a million gazzillion years would I ever blog. Just when I thought not in a million gazzillion years would I ever have the courage to blog by myself without my friend…on my very own blog. Just when I thought not in a gazzillion million years would I ever ever ever share anything about being a teacher or write about what I do in my classroom. Just when I thought not in a million gazillion years would I ever be me…the real me on social media and just when I thought not in a million gazzillion years would I ever step out from behind the name Laverne and write as me….me Carrie….
I can suddenly say see…
Pigs do fly….sometimes they really do!!!!
YAHOO!!!
SOOO incredibly PROUD of you!
Your new place will be amazing- just like you!
xoxo
Kelly recently posted..A New Chapter of Back to School
KELLY!!!! I am so happy to see you here!! Thank you so much for stopping by! I am proud and incredibly terrifiednervous. I still look back and remember the Just Be Enough days and how terrified I was that someone would figure out who I was or know it was me. I was so protected and guarded and what I really needed was time and a chance to gain confidence. You and the other woman at Just Be Enough were such an incredibly huge gigantic unforgettable amazing influential part of me getting to this place!!! XOXOXOXO Thank You!!
I must tell you firstly that I can tell this is liberating for you and I have no doubt you will succeed no matter what your name is. Secondly, Laverne was what initially drew me to you – I mean, who doesn’t love Laverne and Shirley? I am excited for you and can’t wait to see all you have to share!
Coffee Lovin Mom recently posted..What we did this Summer
It is HUGE for me! I have used my anonymity as a shield for sometime, scared to share the real who I am. Your support and confidence means so very much!!! I will miss Laverne too. I like to think that for those of my bloggy friends that have been with me since the beginning we will never forget the Laverne part of me and we will always remember that part of my journey. Laverne isn’t really going away. It has always been me….just the name is changing!!!
How exciting. Although I will miss Laverne 🙁
Stasha I will too!! I try to remember she will always be a part of me. She will always be something that all my blogging friends from back in the day will still remember me as, reminisce about and never forget about me. They know where I came from, my journey and you are soooooo much apart of that group and helping me get to this part in my journey. Thank you sooooo much for stopping by and here it to Laverne!
Goodbye, Laverne! You will be missed. But not much, because HELLO, CARRIE!!
Greta recently posted..Crying Over Bad Manners. And Coffee. #iPPP
Awwwwwww Greta!! XOXXO
I will miss Laverne but you are right HELLO ME!! There is a lot of awesomeness there, right?!!! I need to own it! Thank you so much for stopping by. I feel so lucky to have you here to support me and this new and make me want to puke step off the cliff with out a parachute leap new adventure!
Congratulations!! Taking a huge leap but it will be amazing and rewarding and you’ll love it!!
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Jackie it is so huge. I am excited and every time I get scared or start to talk myself out of things I remember just what you said…it’s going to be amazing and I am going to love it. It means a ton to have your encouragement and support. Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting again!
Well, it’s about time! 😉 I think we all start something new when we feel we can. I think of it like Vygotsky’s ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development) – we do it when we’re ready. I’m so glad you feel empowered enough for people to know the real you, Carrie! (I’m glad I know you in person!) Take care of yourself!
Thank you Joy! Thank you for visiting…thank you for the duh kick in the rear. I am excited and nearvous. My anonymity has become my safety net but it is time. I am ready though…I know I am! Thank you so much for your support, your kind words and for being the first person ever to use the word Vygotsky on my blog and thank you for explaining what it was 😉 I am glad I know you in person too!!!!
I initially blogged anonymously. I can relate to the “coming out” moment. It’s going to be great, and I can’t wait to follow you at your new home.
Naked Girl in a Dress recently posted..What is Love, Revisited
Yes, “coming out” has taken my breath away a bit. It is one of those I am “terrified” to do it things but it is that “terrified” you know that if you can just summon the guts to jump it is going to be great! I can not even tell you how giddy I am to have you here visiting my space and reading my words. Thank you so much for stopping by!!!
I’m just so proud of you. And happy for you. And always more than thrilled to be your sounding board and creativity pal. I just know the next leg of your journey is going to be filled with excitement, new opportunities, and so much fun. Congrats, Carrie!!
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I think this is spectacular…and I think you are incredible. You exude CONFIDENCE, LOVE, SUPPORT and Creativity and I know that your new space is going to be a homage to all the wonderful parts of you.
thank you for sharing yourself, anonymously and now as Carrie. I love BOTH of you.
xoxoo
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I am SO proud of you. Meeting you in the space has given me so much support and encouragement, you have helped me through some serious depression and been a friend when I needed one. I will follow you where ever you go because I’m a stalker like that.
Love you. xo
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