Bauhaus Buff
That’s the name of the color of paint that covers most of the walls in my house.
We have lived in this house for eleven years. In those eleven years I have gone to the paint store to buy gallons of Bauhaus Buff 5 times. Every time I touch up the paint, I add more walls to this paint color. It’s just easier to use one paint when Mr. Clean touch up pads no longer take the smudges out.
From kids. Dogs. Fingerprints. Greasy fingerprints. “I ate red icing and didn’t wash my hands” fingerprints. Fingerprints from hands testing the highest point they can reach.
Bauhaus Buff. I don’t think I will ever forget the name after purchasing it so many times. Kind of like “Camel in the Mist.” I’ll never forget that name either. When I was a kid my friends and I sat around to read the colors from a JC Penny catalogue for laughs. “Camel in the Mist” for a towel color took the laughter cake.
(And YES – that is how we entertained ourselves when I was a kid).
Last week when I was touching up the paint all over the house for another time, my mind wandered.
One of my posts was shared on Facebook. And I got the most views I had ever gotten in one day.
Not only that, the post continued to be of interest – and was shared and shared again.
In my three years of blogging, that has never happened.
In my three years of blogging, a few of my posts have been of interest.
That post over there –>” Introversion Vs. Autism” has been viewed over 4,000 times.
“Stubborn or Inflexible? High Function Autism” and “10 Tips for the Autism Time Out” have been viewed over 3,500 times each.
There’s a couple of other contenders that have been of continual interest.
But, here’s the thing. No one has ever SHARED any of those posts. No big deal, I haven’t either. Those posts are just the ones that I guess spark people’s interest.
So, when I saw that one of my posts was shared on Facebook – that I had received the most views I had ever received in one day. That the post was seen over 500 times from a Facebook share, well, I got nervous.
Why would I get nervous?
Fake news.
Now, hear me out. I don’t have a political bone in my body and have no interest in talking politics.
But I thought I had created fake news.
The negative kind of news that people exploit. Positive, feel good information doesn’t get a lot of attention. It seems to me if something is going to get a lot of attention, it’s usually because it is extremely controversial or seen from a negative perspective.
So, I walked around the house, painting walls Bauhaus Buff wondering what irked someone about the post.
I am also not very technical. If you have read my blog for a while you know I have tried to add pages or make updates and have accidentally deleted my whole blog before. TWICE.
Then one morning before I got my paint can out, I figured out what I had to do to find the source. I discovered a site shared the post with a comment – “I can totally relate…can you?”
Turns out others could. And shared, and shared, and shared.
I started this blog to share our story.
And I can see that parts of our story REALLY DO connect with others. That feels very rewarding. And makes blogging worthwhile to me.
Two more walls got changed to Bauhaus Buff this past go around. Pretty soon this whole house is going to be one easy color to touch up.
In the meantime, I will continue to share our story. Because it appears some posts really connect with people.
Oh, the post? It was this one – The Parts of Autism Only the Family Sees
I’m glad you realized that your post was shared because it was important to a lot of people…
Thank you so much!
Love this post, Robyn! And glad your posts have shared….they should be!! Also think you are right in that positive posts don’t get as much attention as negative or controversial posts. What gets people back though to your blog, just my opinion, is your open, real, honest, and sometimes humorous, posts, but yet each one illustrates, demonstrates and educates about the day to day life of autism!! Keep up the good work!!
Thank you so much, Jeff! I really appreciate your feedback. Thank you!!
I would rather believe that it was shared because it was honest as all your posts are. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much!
You are welcome.
Your posts are so worth sharing. Maybe someday you will share something to my new (in process) website/blog – conversationsaboutautism.com. My hope is to share many stories to help parents and to spread awareness.
Thank you so much, Debbie! You bet. Just let me know when!
Bahaus Buff, interesting name for paint! I’m glad you found your post had been shared because sometimes it can take something like that to realise that what you say carries weight; you touch the lives of others with your post, and I think you do a brilliant job sharing your story and that gives comfort, ideas, a sense of relatability to those that read your blog.
Caz xx
Thank you so much, Caz! Yes, it was so good to see a story touched so many people. It really helped me mentally to say, “Okay, yes – what I am doing is good and relatable.” And that helps me to know as much as for others reading. Thanks again! xx
You bet they connect with people! You’re doing a great thing. I love your blog and your posts, Robyn, and I’m so glad to be in contact with someone who’s on an autism journey as well. Please keep up the good work, as your words clearly resonate with folk all over the globe. And that matters. 🙂 <3
That is so kind! Thank you so much, Alli! 🙂 <3
All true… 🙂 <3
I can understand why you got worried. There are definitely battled going on in social media around autism. I’m always nervous when I comment but I do it anyway. There IS a part that only family sees and there ARE children and adults who require 24/7 care and support.
I’m glad it was a friendly share. That’s the kind of attention your blog deserves because that’s the way it’s written. Congrats!👏💌
Yes! Honestly I thought it was shared as some shot towards me the parent as I mentioned the meltdowns were hard – like I was trying to garner attention for myself. And when I couldn’t locate the source I was so close to just deleting the post. But the meltdowns weren’t the point of the story and others could relate. Was so nice to see such a friendly share go so far. Thank you so much!! 🙂
Now do you believe me when I say you could write a great book sharing your experiences. You would be helping so many people who are struggling. You already have the material in the posts you have written. 🙄🤲🏻😁
Thank you, Elaine – maybe I’ll put it all together soon 🙂
Wonderful. Community is so important. People just want to know that they’re not alone.
That’s true – thank you, Jay!
That’s fantastic. Many families are looking for personal stories on autism, and yes we can relate to them. I see myself nodding when reading your posts.
That is so nice to hear – thank you, Susie!
My pleasure
That’s great! I’m happy you’re story is getting out there more! You’re posts are really well written and you share a lot of valuable information!
Thank you so much, Dee! Hope all is well!
Thanks! Things are going great! Making progress on several projects and enjoying the summer with the kids. 🙂
Oh good! I haven’t seen you around blogger town and was hoping all was well. Good to hear! Take care! 🙂
I love your posts. So honest and real.
Thank you, Michelle!
I have found your posts to be very interesting and informative. I had only a very small understanding of autism and how it might affect a family and your posts have been real eye openers for me. I am so happy to hear that Facebook was a vehicle to get the word out to others. When Facebook readers share something on I have found it means the topic has a genuine and large appeal.
Thank you so much, Anne!
Your posts really do connect with me. It’s real life as far away from fake land as possible. I seem to get most of my parenting ideas from you. Our house is covered in magnolia paint. Makes it easy apart from every time I go into the hardware shop I can never remember the name so I have to go through all the plant paint names
Thank you so much! I get some ideas from you too. So nice to have connections for ideas and support here – really is a special community I treasure!
I don’t get anywhere near the views or interactions that you do so I remember the surprise, but mostly trepidation when I saw I was getting astronomical views–from evidently a bot. Initially, I kept wondering, ut-oh, what did I do? It’s so nice to know that your posts are reaching people who can understand and who can relate and that you’re a voice for so many. It’s a beautiful thing!
Thank you so much, Sascha! I have had a couple of blurbs like that too. One was in the beginning of the year and the posts getting the attention were so random. It was weird! It was a bot, huh? That makes sense. This one was nice to see that so many connected with it. Really made me feel good. Thank you so much!
Robyn, I love your posts. Your blog is about real life and real feelings. Oh by the way, when I was a child, it was the Montgomery Wards Christmas edition catalog.
Thank you so much, Jerry! I know I have heard that name before but for me – we were handed the Sears and JC Penny catalogues to pick out our Christmas gifts. Such fun memories 🙂
It was shared because you are touching many people lives, some people maybe have the same experience as you but there’s no one that they can talk too about it and your blog helps them, some are inspired and some learns a lot from it. Thank you for being brave to share your life with us readers.
That is so kind – thank you so much!
I love the weaving together of the physical activity, painting your walls with this familiar color, and contemplating the purpose and function of your writing. I often write my heart out and then wonder if I overdid it again… But then someone will tell me I made a difference in their life and it all becomes worthwhile. Bravo for telling your truth so it may resonate in the hearts of others who don’t have the words.
Thank you so much!