I think the article focused too much on blogs that are “popular.” I really don’t have any other readers than a few dedicated friends, and I don’t think I am the only one. There are thousands of mommyblogs out there that are more like mine than like the ones mentioned in the article. And I didn’t like the inference that mommybloggers are make a whack load of cash. The Dooce is definitely an anomoly.

As to what I think about the privacy issue, I don’t know yet. I guess it is something that I should start to consider. I do agree with many of you, thinking it would have been fun to have some sort of documentation of my own childhood. I haven’t put a time frame on the length of my blog. I figured I would do it until I didn’t think it was fun anymore. And you know what, talking about some of the most dificult and funny moments in my life and then reading about another mom that has the same moments makes me feel like I am not alone, I’m doing something right, and there is a community out there for me.

Long live Mommy Bloggers!

And as bloggers, we are free to go as far (or near) as we feel comfortable with. Ads/pictures/real names are a decision we each have to make, and should be left to do it without judgement.

The question I have for mommy bloggers is why they want to go a step further than a written journal and post these memories/anecdotes online for the world to see. Is it for attention? Is it because they are isolated? Dani, in a recent post you eloquently described feeling socially awkward in playgroup settings (as we all have at one point or another!)…so is it partially a matter of it being easier to connect to people when it’s not face-to-face?

Dani, do you ever worry about the personal security issues? I think that’s what has held me back from starting my own blog.

Thank you for commenting on this story…I read it last week and thought of you! I don’t think the Globe article presented a thorough enough look at the issue.

Do my posts about my kids change as they grow? I think so. At the beginning I talked a bit more about my stepson, but as time has gone on not so much. And that is mostly because he is a teenager and really, would he want me to share his life on the internet? I don’t think so. Unless of course I became famous, then he probably wouldn’t mind.

As for J and Apple, well they are both young but even though I prefer to share fun stories and things we do rather than the cracked nipples and painful feeds. It helps me to find my happy place each and every day. Once in a while I have splatta posts, you know, the ones where you just splat out all your thoughts but for the most part, I try not to.

And heck if someone wanted to pay me $40K to blog, I would share a lot more, that’s for sure.

The only thing that I try not to do, is be insensitve or air really dirty laundry – partly because of the privacy issue – and partly because the very dirt I want to blog about will read my blog and know it is them. I would love to use this forum as my own personal bitch slap – but if I risk hurting someone close to me…it is not worth it.

A blog is instant gratification for a frustrated writer. I find it cathartic.
Better to let it all out in a constructive way then to write some memoir of distant truths sometime in the future.

http://www.swirlgirlspearls.blogspot.com

But then I did provide that information about the ways little girls choose little boys and you could tell your boys… It’ll be like breaking a covenant.

Tralee (the G&M reporter) did not seem to have any sort of agenda when she talked to me (it’s the second time she’s interviewed me and never did I get the sense that she was trying to back me into a corner of say something I did not want to say). In light of the babble guy’s decision to hang up his hat, she wanted to know what I had left mommy blogging. I had a lot of reasons, most of which were personal (kids are older, privacy is more critical, less time in front of computer since they do not have WiFi in the parks, new opportunities have opened up for me because of blogging like the Cori Howard book), and some of which were systemic (the ad infiltration of my email box asking if I wanted free baby stuff was ridiculous. If you are going to offer me free stuff, make it good!)

I was surprised at the direction the piece took but a controversial quote or two will do that. I only wished that the $40,000/month stat was debunked. Come tax time, I bet we’re all getting audits!

All in all, I think that she (and her little sister) will enjoy reading the stories when she’s grown, the way she likes to look at the photo albums and see what she was like as a baby and toddler. If it wasn’t for the blog – yours, mine, all the others – think how many stories would be lost, stories that will be told over and over again, because they were written down and remembered.

captcha: one comic

I blog. I’ve chosen not to ‘mommy blog’ (I want an escape from mommyland when I blog…) I write what I’m up to in other area’s, but even if I’ve avoided ‘mommy blogging’ per sey – it still spills over into my blog from time to time. We are moms, it’s what we DO! I guess if we can’t blog about our kids -we should probably be banned from talking about them, or photographing them, or videotaping them….cuz you wouldn’t want to EXPLOIT them….would you?!?! (sorry – getting on a wee sarcastic rant there…..some people will do anything to make a big deal out of stuff…..to sensationalize things….uggg!)

As for you, Dani, I’m sure I can speak for most people on here when I say how much we love it when you bare all!!! I’m not sure how many birth stories are as well recorded as yours are….and if people don’t like it – they can quit reading!!! They are very rare moments when people get a chance to see a glimpse inside another person’s world! It’s a good thing! Keep it up girl! It’s a privilege to read about your life – mostly cuz it makes things in mine (and others I’m sure) seem so valid, so NORMAL! And normal is GOOD! It’s those descriptions of normal, everyday occurrences, that hook so many readers….it’s life’s juice…..

Pat yourself on the back and keep on writing girl!!

My son is only a year and a half, so I can’t speak for how he feels about being my favourite blog subject. I can say that I would love to have a blog written by my own mother for my childhood. So many moments get lost in the shuffle of life. Blogging just acts as a back-up memory bank.

As my boy grows, I’d love to have a blogging buddy like Rebecca has with her son. Hopefully my blog will mature and change as my family does.

Captcha oracle: man fined

I think *most* of us fall on the scrapbooking side. I’m sure there is a very small minority who do it in hopes of noteriety, a book deal, money, whatever. But I think most moms think like I do… it’s a great way to record your children’s lives and to share bits with far away family and friends. But then I’m not a “heavy-hitter” an never will be.

As for changes as the kids get older, I don’t see that as a factor for me, considering my older child is almost 12, and has in fact, guest blogged for me. As long as I respect his privacy in certain issues (and I have, and will continue to), then he doesn’t mind, for the most part. He enjoys seeing what I’ve said, and enjoys reading most of the (few) comments we get. So I guess I could say he’s a bit involved, and I’m not doing anything without his feelings in mind… so it’s not a problem.

That whole globe article… I just don’t think it speaks of the majority. Not even close.

As for whether I want my child(ren) to read my blog when they’re teenagers? I think that could be a whole other post. More importantly, would THEY want to read it? (Probably not!)

I don’t make any money off my blog, except for the people who buy my pictures, and then I only make half the money and feed it back into my photography. The other half is donated. Still, I don’t sell pictures of Swee’pea, and I’m self-consciously aware that other people’s kids are in the photos I do sell. I’m not sure that’s strictly ethical, but other people’s kids seem much more anonymous.