Last night a local news station ran a story about mommy bloggers, featuring us. Me. and Sarah. Momalom. She was shown unloading the (my!) dishwasher. I was shown painting with my daughter. We were shown together leaning over a computer. It was strange to see us on TV. And to see the clips chosen for the piece, the few seconds selected from among the hour the reporter spent in my home two Wednesdays ago. It was strange that what we saw on screen was not anything like the conversations that Sarah and I have daily. I mean, we each were interviewed. Separately.
Sarah hasn’t seen the piece yet. She wasn’t able to get away from home last night to drive the hour north to my hovel. I did my best to describe it to her this morning, and I do, of course, have it on VHS tape. We’ll both watch it together at some point. Life. It’s busy.
And that’s why we started this blog. To connect with each other. And to share our constant conversations with others. Little did we know we’d find all of you. Find a momentum that has pulled us forward. Even when it seems necessary to quit.
Momalom was for US first. Before anything else. We started it so that we would have a place to talk with each other, to document our thoughts, feelings and experiences and to WRITE. We have managed to fulfill our original intents, I think. And we have gained a community we couldn’t have predicted or even hoped for.
We tried to convey this to the reporter. I think we did. But she was assigned a story about the new FTC regulations. Which, right now, don’t apply to us. To Momalom. Because we don’t accept advertising, and because we haven’t received products from companies or reviewed products. There’s a disconnect between what Sarah and I felt and the job of the reporter. But the story turned out fine. We answered her questions, our conversations were edited, and the piece ran. I’ve already heard from some folks who saw it. And I feel much like I did when we first started blogging. A little uncomfortable. A little defensive. A bit of an urge to EXPLAIN what I meant when I said that the blogging community offers more support than the moms on the playground after school.
We didn’t intend to get into the FTC debate. But since it’s out there, since we agreed to do this story, we had to think about it. And, Sarah and I agree, if the right offer came along, from an advertiser or from a company whose products we believe in, we wouldn’t automatically turn it down. It’s no secret to anyone close to me that I would be thrilled to be able to write what I want to write and support my family doing so. Whether it’s blogging or jumping back into my fiction writing. And I’ve decided, I’m not going to apologize or be defensive for finally recognizing my dreams and doing something to begin making them a reality.
Last night, when we were on TV, Colum McCann was accepting the National Book Award for his novel Let the Great World Spin. In his acceptance speech he said, “We have to enter the anonymous corners of human experience to make that little corner right.” I haven’t read his book, but I might. Because I know what he is saying here. And I feel like Sarah and I, perhaps naively but with great rewards, have entered the anonymous corners of motherhood. And we’re doing our best to make them known. And right.
*Addition: We found the CLIP of the NEWS STORY online. Oh dear.
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This is a great post and congrats on the interview! I am with you on the advertising bit. I feel it is so important to be unbiased and trust-worthy when it comes to speaking to our readers. But, like you, I would love to make a living doing this. I think it just requires serious consideration and thought. Heck, right now I am just thrilled that people are actually taking the time to read my thoughts. WHAT AN HONOR!!!! I didn’t write for so long because I couldn’t give myself enough credit to think that I might have something worthwhile to say. Thank you for helping me find courage!!
Crystal
Crystal. Thank you for reading! I love your gravatar. :)
Keep writing. It’s so worthwhile. Worthwhile to have a way to express yourself. Worthwhile just to take the time. Worthwhile to hear what others think.
I think what you girls have found is that those corners aren’t so anonymous after all – that they are peopled by smart, funny, insightful women who are fighting the same battles as you two, sometimes winning, sometimes losing, and often in a draw. And that it’s all OK. OK to have a messy house, or yell at your kids, or feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of daily have-tos. You have pulled back the curtain, and are shedding a very bright light in those corners, to the benefit of yourselves, and everyone else who stops by and reads and connects.
Bravo on your bravery. And bravo on the news story. Any chance you can make a copy and send it on Thursday with Sarah? Inquiring mothers need to see.
Oh girls, girls. How proud can a mom get?
It is weird to see yourself on tape. Everytime I see myself, I see my sister. I sound like her, move like her, look like her. It’s truly creepy. And the next creepy thing is, every time I look in the mirror these days, I see my mother looking back. Now that truly, truly is creepy. Shared clothes, shared family, shared genes – but different lives. although my mother sometimes tells me that I’ve lived her life over (which makes me VERY mad). And there’s a post unto itself. Also the statement that she “knows everything about me”. Whoa. OK, enough random ramblings. Congratulations, my fine-feathered daughters. You are truly, truly, truly not creepy. You are magnificent!
Aw, thanks, Mom. It’s so nice to have you here.
I would love to see that interview! Blogging is a misunderstood form of communication. That’s right communication. I write to see my thoughts on screen. People comment to further help me in my quest for enjoying the moments. We get to know each other through this give and take.
When I tried to explain what I have gained through the blogging community to my MIL, I fumbled over my words. She looked at me with a confused expression and said “That’s nice.” I know what you meant by the support, but most people would not understand.
Really, to echo Crystal Gold, you two have made me braver in my writing. Thanks!
Yes to communication. And I know what you mean about trying to explain the blogging life and community to those who aren’t familiar. It’s very challenging. Because it is a new-ish form of communication. And one that, I think, is generally misunderstood. But keep going! Do it for yourself. (And for us!)
Do we get the local channel that the interview is on? Chances are we can all watch it as we ALL want to, you know? My local station has most of these types of stories online. I am always posting them on Facebook or my blog.
On the blogger/mommy blogger and product issue, I think the issue is more education. I do some product reviews and some book reviews on my blog. Some of each are for companies and some of each are just because I fell in love with a product or book. (Oops, stopped mid-thought for a business call. Now to get the thought back) I do tend to tell people why I am blogging about a product or book. I also tend to be slightly selective in what I blog about. Whether the FTC tells you to divulge you received money or a free product, it is good to tell your readers.
My problem with the FTC ruling/regulation is enforcement. I truly believe that enforcement will cost more than any money a corporation is making off bloggers/mommy bloggers. How do you enforce this without a full-time, multi-person task force to constantly montior blogs? On top of that, there are so many and so many new ones popping up daily, consistent, fair across the board enforcement is going to be totally a fallacy.
Nicki, Thank you for bringing up the enforcement issue. I agree. How can this possibly be done? And is it worth the resources it would take to do it right? I think this is an issue that we will be hearing more about. We’ll count on you for more guidance!
You were so cute and smart in the interview! Great job!
I am so tired of this “Mommy Blogger” name, debate, etc. It’s so much more complex than is ever given airtime. The rampant consumerism of our culture, the commoditization of EVERYTHING, the implosion of the publishing industry, the erosion between any kind of public speech and marketing/advertising, the destruction of journalism, the isolation and devaluing of mothers and our voices–it’s just too complex. Let’s just make a cutesy-poo soundbite like Mommy Bloggers and sum it all up in 30 seconds.
(I am tired and bitter today. I hosted 6 seven year olds for a tea party yesterday and clearly have not recovered.)
It is such a huge relief to me to find the few blogs where women are writing with skill and insight and courage and with the goals of greater honesty and connection.
I read recently in a writing book that all professionals do apprenticeships, and writers usually do theirs for free. I think of my blog as unpaid practice, an internship of sorts. And I also think it’s fine for women, and artists in general, to find ways to fund their work. And I also hate consumer culture. I don’t think these positions are at odds with one another, and if I was less tired I could probably deftly explain why.
You speak of writers and journalists. (Something I can relate to.) Yes, there is marketing in everything (there always was, but we gave it other words, more comfortable for the context).
I, too, rant at the issues over “mommy blogging” (in fact I loathe the term and find it demeaning). I rant at the demise of journalism, at our reading-ADD when it comes to online snippets and soundbites, our harried and hurried attempts to catch someone’s attention with a headline. Where are facts? Where is the verification of fact, that is essential to authentic journalism and demanded when publishing in print? Where is the pleasure of the “good read,” of language for its music, its provocation, its nuance, its power to influence, to inspire, to delight?
Writers, generally speaking, make little money unless they hit the big time. Many (like myself) are freelance, which means they never know a true writing-home, no safety net. Today, job posts for writers care less about your ability to write than they do your mastery of html or Illustrator or Photoshop or SEO or any number of other areas of competency that have little to do with writing skill, and everything to do with marketing + writing, or graphic design, or programming.
Marketing + graphics + writing can be a good thing, a great thing even. We all depend heavily on our online worlds. The ease. The immediacy. The dilemma is in the price we pay, and the relative priorities that we give to “real” reading, other sorts of writing, and the lack of value that our society places on the arts. And writing is both profession and art. At least, it used to be.
“Where are facts? Where is the verification of fact, that is essential to authentic journalism and demanded when publishing in print? Where is the pleasure of the “good read,” of language for its music, its provocation, its nuance, its power to influence, to inspire, to delight?”
These questions are the same I often pose to my husband. I am astounded by the careless reporting that is often done. I have almost given up hope for worthwhile reporting. However, you and other writers have changed that opinion. Thank you for bringing back integrity!
I consider myself a writer who blogs. A mother who blogs. (NOT a mommy blogger.) (Wait, is blog a verb??)
And thank you for this: “It is such a huge relief to me to find the few blogs where women are writing with skill and insight and courage and with the goals of greater honesty and connection.”
And yes, writers and artists should be able to support themselves writing and creating. If we band together, it can only feel more possible, I think.
Oh, and, thanks for watching, neighbor!
Wonderful that this was shared with the community!
Extraordinary, isn’t it – this interconnecting. You two began writing for each other; I began writing for myself. We each begin, in this strange place of strangers, for a variety of reasons. And we find each other. And our own voices.
Today, I hope we all put our voices, our whispers, our positive thoughts, our collective spirit and strength together for a woman and her family who need it. For Anissa, who’s been at this and sharing herself in community in ways we just begin to understand. It could be any one of us, at any time. So it is all of us together – for each other, and our loved ones. For every child. For every one who needs our strength. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/anissamayhew
BLW – I have tweeted about Anissa and am keeping her and her family and friends in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you, Wolf, for bringing attention to the fact that it can end at any moment. That we are all grateful for our writing and our connections. That we should cherish what we have.
Positive, indeed.
Hey, let’s post that video so we can all see it!!??
The thing that speaks most loudly to me in this post is:
And I’ve decided, I’m not going to apologize or be defensive for finally recognizing my dreams and doing something to begin making them a reality.
Congratulations. Seriously. That is a big thing. And I’m watching in awe and screwing up my courage to follow in your footsteps.
Lindsey,
Did you see the link Sarah posted? Yikes. It didn’t feel right NOT to share it, once I FOUND it online. So, keep the courage coming. I feel like I need a little more after that. We are OUT there, now. Know what I mean?
You write: “And I’ve decided, I’m not going to apologize or be defensive for finally recognizing my dreams and doing something to begin making them a reality.”
Absolutely. Yes. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately – finally finding a path to our own happiness, but then feeling like we have to navigate a maze of judgment from others along the way to getting there. Trying to find a community where others don’t feel diminished by our successes.
I hazard a guess that you have started to build a community like that here.
This seems to be the sentence that is resonating with people. And it was a difficult one to commit to, I’ll be the first to admit. But once it was down on paper (screen) I couldn’t hit delete. It didn’t feel honest to me to have written it and to not publish it. So I will forge ahead, with my dreams on my sleeve, grateful for all of you out there who are so generous to ask to hear more.
So well said. I have had moments where I’ve felt the need to defend blogging too–to other mothers I know–and it’s a squirmy place to be. I also write fiction, finishing my first full length novel last year, and I have had to defend that too, at times…why I’d spend so much time on it, why it’s important to me, etc. There are so many people not even attempting to do what they want to do with their lives that I refuse to defend my reach for this goal any longer. I’m glad you feel the same.
YES! There ARE people who aren’t even attempting to do what they want to do with their lives. And I don’t want to be one of those people. And I don’t want to defend myself to anyone.
Congrats on your novel. I have a few incomplete manuscripts awaiting my new commitment. It will happen. Sooner rather than later. But for now I’m mulling the fiction in my head and have found a new form of writing here. And it is MUCH more satisfying that I ever imagined!
I feel like I often am apologizing either internally or out loud about how or what I write. For not being consistent in my style. For being introspective or superficial or silly or snarky – or all of the above. And I’ve decided to just be me. And I’m all of these things so I need to stop apologizing for it! I love what I’ve found in this corner of my world. These friendships, these companions. And at the same time it saddens me how hard it is to explain to people outside of it what I love so much about it. Just yesterday I had a 30 minute discussion with my dad about it… he doesn’t get it, and doesn’t seem to want to. I’ll be posting about this sometime soon…
I made the choice not to do reviews or give aways because it’s not what I ENJOY writing about. It’s not personal enough to me, it’s not inside of me. But to be paid for this new found passion of mine, this writing thing, that would be a dream come true for me.
Congrats you guys on your exciting news story! You should be so proud. I wish I could see it!
Hi Becca. I started copying my favorite parts of your comment, and soon I had about 90% of it highlighted. I agree with so much of what you say here, and I’m so glad to have found like-minded writers with whom to share not only my writing but my EXPERIENCES of writing. Thank you.
How exciting to be interviewed! I have been loving clicking on all the other reader who comment regularly. Nice to see the same faces(screen names?!)
My whole inlaw family blogs and we stay in contact that way, which is nice! My mom tries but facebook is overwhelming enough for her =)
I love that you have a family of bloggers and that it is a way for your family to stay involved. How fun! And Sarah and I are truly dumbfounded by the commitment that all of you have given not only to Five for Ten, but to each other’s work. It is amazing, and we talk about it every day.
How exciting that you were on the news. I just love what you two are doing with Momalom. It’s only been 24 hours since I first read your blog and I feel like I have stumbled upon the kind of blogging community I knew existed somewhere, but I had no idea where. So now I’m going to take a deep breath, sit down, and stay for a while.
Erin, I’m so glad to see you here at Momalom!
Hi Erin! So glad you found us. I went to your blog today briefly and I know I’ve been there before, a while ago. It’s so nice to have found you, and I hope soon to have time to dig deeper. Were we in a class at UMass together? (I started at three different grad programs … but am wondering where our paths may have crossed. And Yay to a Western Mass presence at Momalom!
I first started a yahoo blog years ago as a way to keep up with my family who all live a long distance away from me. It served its purpose well and eventually I moved to blogger, got more readers, and began to blog as an outlet to write creatively. But the bottom line is, I blog for myself.
Congrats on the publicity ;)
Yes. Blog for yourself. Yes. I think this is a very strong statement, and one that not enough of us can say with confidence. Thank you!
I described your comments the other day as an event unto themselves. Take THAT anonymous corners!
You mean THIS? Over at Ranting Mommy?
Kelly says:
November 18, 2009 at 8:08 pm
“Five for Ten is not only genius, it’s inspiring. The comments are an event unto themselves.”
I.WAS.FLOORED.
And honored.
And I’m pretty sure it’s one of the FIRST things I sent to Jen today in our IM/email correspondence.
And none of it would have happened if people hadn’t joined in and started responding the way that they have. Community? I feel it. Through and through.
Thank you, Kelly.
Take THAT!
I love this! I’ve been thinking about what you’ve created here with Five for Ten…what if each of your commenters did the same? (Not all the same ten days, I hope. Because we need to eat and sleep and talk to our kids in between comments.)
It would be exponential connection between and among us. It would be an explosion of community!
Look what you’ve done!
“And I feel like Sarah and I, perhaps naively but with great rewards, have entered the anonymous corners of motherhood. And we’re doing our best to make them known. And right.”
And what a glorious entrance it has been. I love the humility in this post, laced through these words. Never ever apologize for dreaming, for being yourself, for doing what you need to do to make your dreams a reality and your heart full. Oh, and keep writing. And exploring these inscrutable and invigorating corners.
Thanks for bringing up the humility. It’s not something I consciously put in there, but it’s there. Definitely. And I think that’s OK. When I was coaching, I used to tell my athletes that having a little humility was a good thing. Difficult to get across in the competitive world of athletics. But writing can be competitive, too. And blogging. And I think it’s so important for us all to step back and realize that this is a community. And that we all have something to learn. What wonderful people Sarah and I have found to learn from.
Great post and great blog! You are a wonderful writers. Congratulations on the interview. I found you over at Bored Mommy and I love connecting with other moms and bloggers.
Hi Sandy! Nice to have you here. I’m glad you found us. Yes, making real connections through this is wonderful!
You definitely have built up a supportive community here–and I think part of that is owed to your willingness to be honest, to share the good moments and also the sticky, black, insecure ones. There’s an honesty about you both that I certainly don’t find on my neighborhood playground…although I wish I did.
Congrats on the interview–I wish I’d been a fly on the wall!
Thank you. Truly. That playground comment (wait, have you seen the link yet?) made me cringe. But it IS true. Thus the cringe, I guess. There just isn’t time or opportunity to get into a real conversation with someone while also supervising crazed children on the playground. And, um, it’s a playground. We’re there for the KIDS, people. So, here we are, at night, with the kids in bed, finding, with great surprise and greater glee, this wonderful community. YOU. Yay. (But, I’d be happy to hang out on the playground with you any day. With or without kids.)
PS: Lynne Marie: 6 seven year olds at your house? You deserve to be bitter. For at least a couple of days!
Thank you, Kitchen Witch. I didn’t expect to get any sympathy here–Sarah’s going to have six kids ALL WEEKEND! But I am clearly not cut out for multiple children. I am constantly surprised that I have a spouse–nay, even a pet–let alone a single child. And I did not know that seven year old girls scream. Mine does not. Really. She sits on the sofa and reads middle school novels. So I have a VERY strange experience of parenting. The scales are off my eyes now, for sure.
Were you as local as local news gets? Shitballs how did I not know this was on? Now you need PR girl. Spin that shit. Get out of a limo pantiless and flash that shit, have a secret affair with an D list reality star and join the church of Tom Cruisery.
OK. OK. So did you see the link? I found it online. Entered the century, or something. Whaddya think?
For all of you marvelous people who have commented already, I have a notification. We have found the clip of the referenced News Story and have added it to the post. But since I didn’t want you to miss it…
http://www.wggb.com/Global/story.asp?s=11537993
Oh goodness. Do I really sound like this? Oh dear oh dear oh dear.
Oh well. Thought you’d like to see.
So watch. Close browser. Move on.
And also, it could have been worse, right?
Can you tell we don’t so very much like spotlights? However dim?
Um. Wow. Here I go – clicking SUBMIT.
Sarah – you both did fantastic! It is hard to be on tape, especially when you know others, even those you may not know, will watch it. You two are great!!!
Thanks, Nicki. It’s SO weird to see ME. :)
Oh, I am so glad you posted this! I love putting a voice to your beautiful faces. I think you two did a marvelous job explaining your views.
Sarah, I totally hear you with the voice thing. I HATE my voice, too. At least you two are famous : ) . I promise, this clip definitely added to your blog.
They did GREAT, didn’t they? Stars in the making, I say! (And get your mom involved, too!)
You both did great!!
Thanks, Wolf. What a weird thing. And I’m a little freaky about sharing it with all of you. We only know each other through our words and a picture or two. And now you heard my Voice! And it sounds so obnoxious. I have ALWAYS hated my voice. And you’ve seen the hand gesturing. The hair. (I seriously need a new style, girlfriend!)
Anyway. Just weird. I hope it only adds – and does not take away – from the experience here.
:)
How frickin cool was that??? Loved it. It’s so cool to see people you think you know and use as household names in person (sorta). Congrats Momaloms. Hubby crowded around the computer with me too.
Yeah. Weird. I mean, good for us and good for the blog and good for the experience, but now you know what I look like! How I sound! How thin my lips really do appear on television…and I thought my hair was okay these days but…new style needed. Anonymous corners are difficult to stay in when you put yourself on tv. Heehheeehehheheeeehehheeeee.
Yay! My gravatar worked. (I didn’t even know what that was til like 4 minutes ago…)
There you are, you pretty glittering blondie!
Thanks. Momalomsmom gives you a gold star. (She prefers the gold star to the A+, so consider yourself GOLDEN.)
How exciting for you guys! I think I’d be too nervous to do that. I’m something of an introvert.
You know, Jillian, usually we are too. Or were. Or something like that. But motherhood has definitely made us both braver. Although, Jen still avoids calling the Pizza place for a large veggie supreme. I’m pretty sure the kids will be doing it for her soon enough.
Hi Jen-
Yes, it was a UMASS class I’m thinking of. Contemporary Fiction with Jack Something? I got my MFA there– finished just in the nick of time (defended my thesis when I was 6 month pregnant!)
First, I agree overwhelmingly with momalomsmom. The anonymous corner? Is where we all live. We all know it intimately, but we do not name it. Which leads to the second, which is why five for ten is so important. Naming our reality, sharing our reality… legitimizes our reality. And I think it’s very obvious from the responses you are getting that moms everywhere know how significant their anonymous corners are.
Oh. And it made me smile to see you.
Oh. And five? Isn’t quite long enough.
Ain’t that the truth? I’m spending waaaaay more than that. It’s too much fun to just read, respond and run in 5 . I have to see what all you are thinking and writing, so I check in all day long. And think about what you’ve written all day long. And I”m loving these days!
Momalom’s mom, you rock! I love reading your comments!
Legitimizing our reality.
Exactly.
Validating our time spent legitimizing that reality.
It’s why I’m doing Five for Ten. Sacrificing so much of my time to write, read, comment, reply, respond, etc. I need this. I enjoy it.
And yes It’s more like 15 for 10 isn’t it?
As a newbie to the blogging scene, I can weigh in from a ‘different’ position. I agree wholeheartedly that blogging for many of us is both an outlet and an outreach. That being said, for many many (read: non-bloggers, naive internet users, and the like), the internet is a gigantic pool of information. For many, it is difficult to distinguish editorial from paid advertisement/endorsement. I think that if anyone (mom or otherwise) wants to develop a blog with reviews or otherwise paid ‘endorsements’, good for them. I also think that they owe their readers an explicit statement within posts and within blogs. If left to police ourselves, I fear that might not always happen. It’s not that moms/bloggers are anymore devious, its just the nature of the consumerism beast.
I don’t know if that contributed one damn thing to the discussion here. Sorry! But, as always, I always love coming here to read everyone’s posts, opinions, etc. You help me grow as a blogger (and as a human too). Thanks all!
You help us all to grow, too!
I agree in the disclosure policy. In understanding the naivete out there. In making your blog fool-proof for fools.
If Jen and I were given an opportunity to make money here, and it did not conflict in any way from us, we just might. Hard to say. I wouldn’t be thrilled to see ads in the sidebars, unless I could control how they looked. Which I can’t. But if I got paid? Hmmm.
I know one thing. We won’t change. Ever. We will always be as honest as ever because I just don’t think there is any other way for us. There is no point in being here if I am not my true self.
If I want to attract good people to my life, and truth and love and all these connections, then dammit I have to be legitimate. And this is me! Standing on top of my box! Yelling it out for all to hear! I am honesty, people! You can count on that!
Stepping down.
Humbly.
I love what you two have done here…I have a sister who is 5 years younger than myself and often wish she and I could head out on this same journey together. Sadly she’s not a confident writer (note: I did NOT say competent as she is a fabulous writer in her own right, but lacks the confidence to believe so). Regardless, keep up the great work here. You have made many friends here and continue to pick up loyal followers (myself included!) – Thanks for having me a long on your journey(s) in Motherhood!
Thank you, Shana! For being here. It makes our words here more purposeful to receive comments like this.
Don’t lose hope for your sister. Maybe one day she, too, will develop a bit more courage and stick a big toe out into this world.
you guys looked great in that piece (you were on TV!! aren’t you secretly thrilled?). i’ll just bask in your reflected glow of local celebrity. which is funny, because i’m waaaaayy on the other side of the continent. but if i did live near you, i would brag about knowing you.
Thank, Foxie. Secretly thrilled? I don’t know. I still feel weird about how thin my damn lips look on tv? More so after my oral surgery this summer? IDK.
What I AM thrilled about is each new email and comment from you fine people. Even the ones across the continent. And what’s wrong with you anyway? Connecticut too good for you or something? There are houses ALL OVER THE PLACE for sale in the US. Didn’t you know that??? EH?
Funny, I didn’t really intend for anyone to ever see my blog either, though I didn’t really hide it, and yet I’ve made some amazing connections through it that made the scariness of strangers reading my thoughts totally worth it.
I haven’t seen the clip yet, but I’m sure you were both wonderful!
Yeah. The scariness of strangers. Not so very scary anymore. Amazing connections? Totally.
Sigh.
I lurve it.
I love that you two just started the blog as a way to communicate between each other and write and process motherhood.
I also love that you can have a following and not capitalize on it. While I enjoy reading blogs like dooce, there’s something more genuine and, for lack of a better, less overused word, organic about your blog.
And I HAVE to start using the word “shitballs” more often (thanks, Lady of the the Hizouse).
Well frickety frack! I don’t care if it’s overused, you can call me Organic anytime. What a compliment. In every way.
And yeah, she is a big fan of “shitballs,” and uses it much better than I ever could.
Aw yeah. You’re both fantastic on television. You should really do that more often. (vlogging, anyone?) I love how you both came across as honest (re: it’s hard to connect in the real world; blogging fosters community; blogging is also creative work, and there’s nothing wrong with being paid for it) and also not bitter (about having a hard time connecting on the playground) or crassly commercial (as I’ve seen other bloggers seem, in tv interviews). Well done you!
And well done, with illuminating the anonymous corners of motherhood that you find in your everyday lives. That’s what keeps us all coming back, isn’t it?
“I love how you both came across as honest”
I don’t think we could be anymore complimented. I don’t ever want to be seen as anything but. And if I ever do, I am counting on you to let me know and call me out on it.
Re: not bitter and not commercial: I think I would have to try much to hard to execute either. And I’m glad for that.
Anonymous corners of motherhood? Illumination? I love it. I love the metaphor. The language. All of it.
Uh… also, I certainly didn’t mean to imply that you *are* bitter or commercial– I just meant to favorably compare your tv appearance with others like this that I’ve seen. Because often they portray mommybloggers like that. Hope that was clear. I know, know, know neither of you is bitter or commercial. Of course!
No, no. We are very far from bitter or commercial. No explanations necessary, my friend!
And the term mommybloggers? Blech, right?
MotherWriters? Um. CrazyMothers. Whatever…I only allow my kids to call me Mommy, know what I mean?
I loved seeing you two! And hearing your voices!
I love that I can read this blog and kind of grasp what parenthood has to offer. And I love that you two are sharing all of the details with us out here in the vast field of cyberspace (dated term?? haha)! It’s very generous of you!
I’m also in love with the 5-for-10 rally.
(Even if I have been slacking. Ahem. Thanks for taking me back LOL!)