Why start a YouTube channel? I used to wonder why many of the mommy blogs I followed also had videos embedded in the content. It was almost identical information in the video and in the text, so it seemed a little redundant to have two mediums within the same webpage.

It wasn’t until my mother had to tell me–for the millionth time–that I should start a YouTube channel that highlights my journey of motherhood that I even considered doing it. I’m an avid reader and I almost prefer reading someone’s blog over watching their video and mentally rushing them to get to the point. But I do understand that many people prefer to watch someone they consider an online friend. Hearing their voice, getting used to their mannerisms, and being invited into a stranger’s home is a unique experience for our generation. However; if I’m going to take on a project, I like to do it well, so the thought of taking on yet another task by choice was almost laughable.

My mom kept encouraging me because I am indeed an actress and being on screen often is a way to build my brand, work with sponsors, and get paid for my advice that I’m more than willing to give away at no cost. (You’re welcome.) With the useful ways that YouTube handles its marketing, and because I’m in no way a big name yet where I can sell ad space on my website, it made business sense to give it a try.

The more I prayed about it and watched other mommies on YouTube with their own adventures of parenthood, the more excited I was to join the community. Sharing my story online has been something I’ve done for almost a decade, so it’s not a foreign concept to me. I just had to wrap my head around the logistics of filming, editing, and getting my family on board. Now that I’ve gotten my first episode out there (Yay!), and have almost ten more in the queue being edited or about to be edited, it’s almost exciting to think of ideas to film and what conversations I can have on camera that people would be interested in.

Another mental hurdle to leap over is the fact that I no longer post photos or videos of my daughter on social media like Facebook and Instagram. It’s been almost a year since I’ve done so (give or take a very special post). I’ll write in depth about that later, but it came to a point when my daughter was born that I spouted out pictures of our family in hopes of gaining attention in a life that was getting to be overwhelmingly isolated. I knew that if I posted a cute picture, I would immediately have conversations starting and people ‘Oooh-ing and Aaah-ing” over her. Once I stopped, I’ve really had no temptation to tell the world much about her other than a mommy blog post here and there. No longer relying on her pictures forced me to share the story of “Kytia” and what she’s up to these days instead of digging for compliments on my daughter’s behalf.

That being said, this YouTube channel is making me think differently on what it means to share my life. My life now involves two other people, and if I keep in mind that I’m offering advice, inspiring someone, or becoming someone’s mommy friend if only through the internets, it seems less like I’m being over-exposed.

There you have it, my take on a new season of life. Let me know your thoughts on our pilot episode, and offer up topics you’d like to hear more about.

So, that’s that for now.  Be blessed and take time to make your dreams into your reality.

-Kytia L’amour