It’s a Party–Celebrating the Evolution of Mom Blogs!
October marks my official 4-year anniversary in the blogosphere. On a whim, I started my personal blog Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck on MSN Spaces in October 2005. None of my friends of family understood what it was.
“A blob? Why would you want to start a blob?”
Or “don’t you think it’s a bit narcissistic to think people will want to read about your life?”
From Day 1, I obsessed over what should I write. I carried a notebook with me as everything (and everyone) in my life became blog fodder.
And then I got my first comment. From a stranger. I was initially confused. Why would this fellow blogger care about my little corner of the world? Slowly, I got it. This corner was part of a growing community of fellow freaks who shared their intimate details online.
And then I became hooked.
The following year, I switched over to a more personalized site at Blogger and a true “mommy blogger” was born. I had my little community of mamas in North America. They came to my blog, I went to theirs. It was legalized stalking and vicarious living at its best. My posse and I *got* each other. There was no sugar-coating motherhood like I had endured at countless playdates. We told it like it was as we laughed and cried together, all the while recording our family’s history.
But I yearned to make local connections as well. Two years ago, I founded Mile High Mamas for The Denver Post. Aimee, Catherine, Annie, Julie, Mitch were the original pioneers and we were all a bit ahead of our time.
Things are changing in the blogosphere. Just recently, mom bloggers are getting noticed by marketers and are getting thrust into the spotlight. Two weeks ago, I was asked to speak to a room of 70 publicists on why so many big brands are vying for our attention.
Things have changed. Much of it is good, some of it is bad.
The intimacy is pretty much gone. Micro-blogging communities like Twitter and Facebook have not only become avenues for connections but also self-promotion. Blogs aren’t just about our family’s lives but some have an agenda. Promoting products. Offering giveaways. Talking about the latest all-expense-paid blogger summit.
It’s not all bad. We are finding a new way to make a living. We are pushing boundaries. For so many years, stay-at-home moms were The Forgotten Ones. We served in the PTA and quietly built our family’s lives. Suddenly, all moms matter and big brands are becoming the listeners, not the talkers.
Some bloggers are handling this new attention with grace. Others are not. It’s all part of growing up.
When I started on MSN Spaces, I never dreamed blogs would become an avenue that would give moms a powerful new voice. It’s a road that has not always been smooth, but a journey I am proud to on.
How long have you been blogging? If you’re not a blogger, when did you first start reading blogs?
May 2005 on MSN Spaces. I like Blogger better.
I sure don’t get anywhere near the readership that you do, but I still write away. Mostly for myself. But I still find it cool that people far away take an interest in what i have to say about things and the ‘friends’ that we meet are something special.
Well, I’ve been reading you for a long time (since MSN Spaces). I can tell you have inspired me to keep going. I check you almost every day and you already know when I read your blog I know I will find good entertainment.
Congratulations!!!
Fabiola
I have been blogging for 2 years – seriously for 18 months. I find myself wondering if and when my blog will take me to new heights of popularity and stardom but do you know? I am quite happy with being the little blogging mama who doesn’t get paid, who is serving in the PTA, and not speaking to rooms of executives about what makes me click. That is fine for those who want it, but I just enjoy being a blogger who can record her thoughts and feelings about being a mom without the pressure of writing what other people want to hear. I’m glad there are those, like you, who like to be the more public voice for mothers, but I prefer to just be me in my little corner of the blogosphere. I am happy with being the little fish in the big pond, for now at least….
I started blogging two years ago. I started at a time when I was struggling with a few issues and it was a way for me to record my thoughts. The comments of others and reading other’s blogs helped me through a tough time.
I still love blogging. I love reading what other people are doing and I think it is exciting to see how blogging has evolved. I love to read about the experiences you are having because of your blog.
BTW, no matter what anyone thinks–MOM’S MATTERS. The hand that rocks that cradle truly does rule the world!!!!!
Amen ladies. There are so many fish in the pond that have different voices. Some are sharing their family’s experiences. Some are working with big companies. And somehow it all comes together!
I have read blogs for over 4 years, but I only started one for my self a year and a half ago. I mostly did it to connect with family- now it is a record of family with a side order of voicing my opinion.
I started blogging in 2004 when I got elected to my local town council and kept hearing ‘what I said’ around town so I started a website so the townspeople would know what I REALLY said versus what people were saying I said. Did that make sense? lol
A year and a half ago I left a (ahem, ‘real’) job as a regional magazine editor to start the blog I have now (http://www.pajamasandcoffee.com/ wink!) and I love it. Even though i am not making money yet, it’s the perfect meduim for me. Had editors for 15 years, and was done being edited!
Yippee for blogging!
Amber,
Been bloggin’ about a year… and finding it a great way to “connect” with people without having to fix my hair or make sure my legs are shaved. Wait, did I just say that? Anyways… congratulations to you for your four year anniversary. Your blog rocks and gets me thinking about current issues.(which I am great at avoiding)
Rosey
Happy anniversary!
Wow, we’ve been blogging close to the same amount of time (my 4 yr is next April). When I started, I was shy and didn’t really interact with other people but as time passed, I ‘got it’ too.
Now my only issue is blogging *too much*.
It’s interesting to hear how long you have been blogging, why you started and what keeps you doing it.
There is definitely a freedom in blogging that I love as well. Of course sometimes that “freedom of speech” has resulted in hate mail.
Happy Blogoversary!
I started reading blogs when I was suffering from terrible morning sickness, back in 2005. I stumbled upon Dooce’s website (dooce.com) after doing a search online for information (it was really a plea to the internet gods to stop my morning sickness…) and found her website. From there, I read blogs of her commenters, and the blogs of their commenters, and so on. I was hooked.
I’ve been blogging for about 2.5 years now at The Casual Perfectionist. I love it. I’ll never forget the first comment I got from “a stranger.” It was awesome realizing that people in the outside world were really reading what I had to say.
I started blogging as a way to chronicle my daughter’s life and our forays into parenthood. I include all aspects of our lives, from home improvement projects to travel. When I started, I needed a creative outlet and something to give me some semblance of sanity. (I was working from home at the time with my baby by my side.) In March of 2008, I was able to quit “my real job” and focus on my writing and my daughter, and I’ve not looked back!
“It was legalized stalking and vicarious living at its best.” Love that.
4.5 years blogging, but the first 2 years were in a small corner of the blogoverse that no one else ever found.
Blogging has changed the way I view the world, the way I move through my days. An image, a small event, a sentence — I think in terms of posts now.
LOL–everything in our lives is now deemed “blog fodder!”
I have been a blogger for just over a year. I started to stay in touch with family and friends. Then I realized all the amazing people out there, like you, and I was hooked on learning through others. Even though I don’t have children yet I still read mom blogs because they incorporate everything not just parenting.
Amber,
Congratulations – you are an inspiration to all of us.
Also, thank YOU for bringing together Colorado moms to share their stories. Everyday I laugh, cry and learn with the moms on this site.
As a blogger – http://bcdcideas.wordpress.com – I’m inspired by your honesty.
As a communications pro for the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition I enjoy getting to know real moms and learning about your concerns and questions.
As a social media maven I truly appricate what you said – “Suddenly, all moms matter and big brands are becoming the listeners, not the talkers.” This is what is powerful about mom bloggers.
Keep on talking ladies – you are so awesome!!!
Mesmerized … by cupcake photo….
Oh, um, what were you saying? Blogging. Yes! Way to go on celebrating your success. I know I sure look up to you as a blogger. And an adventurista. I started a personal site on AOL waaaaaay back when. Waaaaay before easy content management of sites when I hand-coded my own HTML. Dinosaur days.
I really and truly love blogging…it has given me a voice…but it also stresses me out at times. I worry that my posting will go the way of my scrapbooking and I will get so overwhelmed that I will walk away because I feel like I can’t catch up. Ultimately, I blog to provide extended family details about our lives and to create a family history. I enjoy reading blogs more than anything in print. I think it is because, truthfully, I am a nosy person…hopefully not in an intrusive way…but people fascinate me and I appreciate and admire how well other people can write.
Happy Blog Anniversary!!
Congratulations, Amber! You’ve grown so much and created a great site for moms.
I’m a relative newbie blogger and love the connections I’m making with other moms. I am so looking forward to making more mom connections as I start my new column with Mile High Mamas.
I’m going on 3 years this November! It has been weird to see how blogging has changed… how I’ve changed because of it! Happy 4 year blogaversary
i’ve been blogging on my current blog, ‘sunshine on my shoulders’ for two and a half years. but before that i had a couple of blogs before that – one was strictly a family update place and the other was where i wrote anonymously. not sure if these started in 2005 or 06 and my current blog is a combination of the first two blogs plus so much more.
it’s been fun to watch the blogging world change. i think twitter and facebook has taken away some bloggers from the commitment of writing posts on a regular basis. that’s one of the biggest changes i’ve seen.
congratulations on 4 years. i love both of your blogs!
Ha! I guess we’re some of the old timers around Ye Olde Internetz. I started around the same time as you, except the dawning of my era began in an even more embarrassing place: Myspace. Originally, it was just to entertain my man and his brothers, but oh, how the comments and banter just made me want to write more.
You are an inspiration to us all, my friend. Keep on a keepin’ on.
Congrats on your blogday! I sure am glad I found you!!!
Just found your site and love it! I’m a newbie blogger as I just left the military to stay home with my two little boys. I couldn’t find any information on moms like me, so decided to blog about my big career change. I still have so much to learn. Thanks for all of your informative posts and congrats on your “anniversary”