An online friend that I have much respect and admiration for, Joel Postman, posted a blog article about
"Mommy Bloggers".It's a wonderfully written piece discussing his findings on how other people view the term. Seems there is a sort of split amongst people as to whether or not the term itself takes away, or adds to, the value of the blogger/content/following group. I encourage you all to read it, and give him your thoughts on it.
Myself, I don't like the term. I do love reading many of the blogs produced by these self proclaimed 'mommy bloggers' (and 'daddy bloggers' as well, for that matter'), but I guess when I have discussed blogging in the past with various people, the 'mommy blogger' blogs have been sort of poo-poo'd by the people I was discussing with. As if maybe they thought 'mommy bloggers' could only blog about things like play groups, craft projects and diapers. They didn't count that group of bloggers as valid, intelligent, professional women who had something to say that was worth reading. Or, perhaps they feel the important and fine art of raising children today is not worth sharing and writing about. Now, if it had been only one conversation I'd had where this sentiment was present, I'd have written it off, but there have been more, despite my efforts to defend them. Was I taken seriously? After all, I AM A MOMMY.
Then I got to thinking, "dang, could I even be considered a "mommy blogger"? I mean, my kids are all in college. My 'mommy' time is spent more in guiding them and building adult relationships with them and steering them to independence financially/physically/spiritually/socially. And paying for things. And biting my tongue when tattoos and facial piercing and revolts again structure and authority happen. And moving them from place to place. That part is flippin exhausting. In addition to my kids being in that twilight zone of grown-yet-not-quite-independant state, I spend a significant, if not major, portion of my time caring for the needs of my parents, who do not live in the same place and have unique needs, and my husbands great aunt in a nursing home near us. This is in addition to trying to establish myself in a relatively new career for me. And I only 'sort of' blog. I blog here in my personal blog more, because it's from my head and my heart, and who could possibly know more about either of those than me. I rarely blog for work, mostly because I have it in my head, after reading other blogs, that one must be an expert or authority on something to blog.
So, I've decided that if titles to categories of bloggers must be given, mine would be a Sandwich Blogger. That's my role. Somewhere in the middle. I'm a mommy, but not in the conventional 'have little kids at home' way. I'm a blogger, but more of a blogger wanna-be. And my focus, for better or worse, seems to be caring for the elderly as well as the young and broken in my clan.
Comments (3)
I wouldn't list yours as a "Mommy Blog." not only are you not in the throws of raising little ones, but raising young adults, you also don't always blog about your kids and all the cute things they do. I think of mommy blogs as particularly being filled with hearts and images of their little baby or kids all over. Nothing wrong with that at all but usually those types of blogs are only going to attract those who already knows one's kids. These are good for keeping up with family members and the like.
I like to blog so that I can meet and get to know new people I would never otherwise meet. I like to stretch beyond my 4 walls of my current state with a rather homogenized mindset--even one I often agree with. another reason to blog, as you know, is just for the love of writing. Rarely do we get opportunities to write anymore and blogging gives us such chances to keep our language at the forefront of our minds.
Anyway, I love your blog. you are such a good writer. I'm glad I get to enjoy it every now and then and get to know a little in the process.
Sorry to learn of your parents...and your brother. Man, life is hard, isn't it? Thank God for our faith in Christ in the midst of such struggles...he is our rock when all else shakes and falters around us.
Thanks for your encouragement on my blog, Michael. I appreciate it very much! And you are right, I blog for the love of writing, the 'therapy' it provides me, and the relationships formed with the people I am meeting. I am so glad you enjoy it.
BTW, is it OK for me to change my link to your blog to here, instead of the bridge from blogspot? I did that but want to make sure you are fine with that. Let me know. It's good to get to know you a little bit and all from a quick email on Shelfari. What a strange, crazy, odd but sometimes wonderful world the internet has become!