When I was nine years old, I took a train from Kingston, Ontario to Montreal, Quebec by myself. I went to visit my grandparents for my birthday and to attend my first NHL hockey game. Nothing bad happened. So, why was I shocked this week when my parents sent me a last-minute email wondering if my son would like to go and visit them next week on a flight by himself?

Hell hath no fury like mom bloggers on a warpath, as Calgary DJ and blogger Buzz Bishop learned when he mentioned he has a favourite child. I am not going to bother too much weighing in on the response. What it does highlight is the minefield that personal and parental blogging can be. Words can hurt so every time I think about a new topic for my blog, I wonder: Am I strong enough to take the heat from those that may disagree with me? Controversy might give you lots of hits, but are you tough enough?