About Mommy Bloggers

I’m going to go out on a limb here about blogging in general and Mommy blogging in particular.  I haven’t until now because, to be honest, deep down I was scared people wouldn’t like me if I ventured out against the stream. Fitting in isn’t something I’m particularly good at to start off with, so hey, here goes.

I have spent a long time thinking about why I blog and how this blog fits into the blogging community, and how much I hate being labelled a Mommy blogger.  This blog started out as a diary for my kids, much as many Mommy (shudder) blogs start out, and has evolved over the 4.5 years it has been going into something bigger.

So what is it now?  Just a blog.  Call it what you want.

I’ve tried shrugging the label off as unimportant because the blog isn’t monetized and will stay that way. I also refuse to take pledges about how I’m meant to and not meant to be blogging.  Life is simple: either read what I write and leave a welcome comment, or don’t read.  The choice is completely yours; I’m not holding a gun to your head.

The whole topic of ‘mommy blogging’ has been blogged about ad nauseam, mostly by mommy bloggers themselves.  Do I find it insulting that people talk about Mommy Blogs?  You bet.  No-one talks about Daddy Blogs, do they? Because that would be insulting and belittling dads.  So why should women bloggers be labelled as such?

If there is, however, one thing that makes me roll my eyes heavenward it is the Smug Self-proclaimed Media Type Mommy Blogger.  I keep telling myself that they are probably hiding behind terrible insecurities and then I want to rush out and write a post about how things will get better and you will, someday, have uninterrupted sleep again and not be such a complete moron and stop thinking you are better than the rest of us mere illiterate-non-media-type-mortals that write substandard drivel and have never heard of a full stop.  Yes, I did that on purpose.

But mostly I want to slap them with a wet eel.

When did blogging become such a mutually exclusive little club?

I’m really lucky that I’m not one of those Media Types. You know the type.  They huddle together in sycophantic circles on Twitter.

“I love you!”

“NO, I love YOU”

“NO!  I love you MORE!” *sprinkles fairy dust*

They’re arch enemies one day and BFFs the next, only to gloss over their differences in an equally sycophantic post.

Get. A. Grip.

You aren’t better than the rest of us mere mortals. You don’t belong to some exclusive club.  We are all parents, we all have shit (sometimes even actual brown stuff) to deal with.  We all worry about money and schools and crime. We all want to raise the best people we can raise without fucking them up, and to be better than we are.

Life’s too short for falseness and on-line politics.  You either like someone and engage with them or you don’t.

Simple.

ps: I had this sitting in my drafts and wasn’t sure if I was going to be brave enough to post it, but then I saw this post today on “How not to be an asshole blogger” and decided to go ahead and post.

pps: It’s ok, I’ve been called a bitch before, I just choose not to react. So go right ahead.

11 thoughts on “About Mommy Bloggers”

  1. This is brave. You are going to get a lot of shit. But not because you’ve said anything terribly untrue. There are people in the MB community who are exactly as you describe, just as there are those who are inclusive and divine and generous. It really depends who you choose to see and hear. But a big pat on the back for rescuing this piece from drafts and putting it out there. P’raps this needed to be said.

  2. Fantastic post. And I agree fully. I can’t stand all the falseness out there. I don’t really give a shit what label my blog has. It’s primarily for me. And one day, for my kids. If other people read it, great, if not, no great loss to me.

  3. A-freaking-men!
    You’ve known for a while how I feel about it all. And you’ve expressed it very well.
    You’re 100% correct on it. It often feels like high school and a popularity contest.

    PS. I love you, but you know that 😛
    PPS. If anyone gives you too much grief, just shout.

  4. I love it that you say it as it is and just put it out there. I have questioned why I blog many times. It all started as a crafty blog and then evolved because I just can’t manage to keep my life in nice neat compartments. I blog to remember the happy and the sad that is all part of thea journey we call life. A few days ago I went back to posts I did in 2010 (the shittiest year of my life) and I was moved to tears just remembering and reading about our trauma and triumpths. The lows and the highs…and survival through it all. I was also deeply touched once again aboutmthe love and the care we experice in this cyber world we live in.

    It is important to remember that you don’t blog tqo please others…you blog for you and for the sake of memory kaeeping for your family.

  5. I couldn’t agree more … I am not a mommy blogger but I will not allow Zenith … My space … And me, to be pigeon wholed … Completely agree …

    Do what you want to!

    Warm regards
    Collette @ zenith

  6. HA!! I actually drafted a post similar to this last week but then it sounded all wrong!

    I had a good giggle at the “I love you more” thing. I honestly do not mind the mommy blogger label to be honest – it doesn’t bug me at all. I get invited to media events and sent stuff etc BUT I am by no means part of some exclusive club – certainly not the “I love you” girls because I find it very tiring to try and be someone I am not! I am too busy making sure Kiara doesn’t shave her brothers eye brows off and that Jack doesn’t eat the dogs food!

  7. Ah so I guess Im also a “mommy blogger’ but I wouldnt be in the ‘club’ of “I love you’ bloggers.
    My blog is to keep a record for my girls of their lives and happenings,because I found the older I get the shitter my memory and I dont want my ‘laat lammetjie’ not to have a record of her older sisters.
    I admit to my parenting failures and highs and dont think I judge?
    Great post

  8. I’ve given up blogging all together and I’m close to cancelling my twitter accounts too. I’ve never really been part of any online bitchiness (well, none that I am aware of lol) but I’ve most certainly been exposed to lies & deceit and that gets my goat. I’ve met “online” people in person and they are so totally not the same person as they make themselves out to be on “twitter”. A bit of a let down actually, there I was expecting a vibrant, confident person and ended up meeting a total douche bag BUT on the other hand Darren lol, I have met some truly amazing people and made awesome friends.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *