Who Gives a Shit About Mommy Blogs Anyway?

With all the crap about mommy blogs and the ladies that write them thrown around at this year's Blogher conference, I figured I had to hear what Ayun had to say about it. Sure, we felt the love, but there was a decent amount of shit going around - not necessarily from those sans-kids folks (although they did take a couple cracks at it), but also from some mommy bloggers themselves. *GASP*. Didn't you know? We're all really rabid animals with hormones shooting out of our asses vying for pole position.

You know what I think about it *cough UNDERMINING cough.* Disagreement is one thing, but trying to take one down like a bad middle school wrestling match is another.

Read on people. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Mommy Blogs.

All of them have value as a document of the child’s life, and of the mother’s life with the child. They’re also all viable creative outlets. There’s nothing like a pleasurable ongoing creative assignment to help a stressed-out mother keep her wig on straight. Like Mommy zines, which are sprouting like mushrooms, the majority hold little interest for those outside the immediate family, but so what?

A woman who I would describe as a friend-of-a-friend-whom-I-may-have-met-once-and-don’t-remember recently gave birth. Well before the actual event, she started sending out these sprawling email epistles, updates on the pregnancy, the sonogram, the color of the nursery walls…now she covers the baby’s sleep habits, dietary developments and visits to the pediatrician in exhaustive detail. She didn’t seek my permission before adding me to her subscriber list, and the few bulletins I’ve skimmed have proved less than captivating but SO WHAT? Of course it’s the biggest thing in her life and of course she assumes the whole world is interested! What would be the point in me telling her to shut up, that it’s boring, that I don’t even know her or her baby, so why would I care?

That’s really the only thing that bothers me about Mommy Blogs, the nasty comments they invariably attract. Ordinary citizens should not be pilloried for daring to celebrate or consider the impact of motherhood on their lives, especially when they offer their observations in a free medium that can be switched off, unread. I’m all for the First Amendment, but in this situation, I feel distressed that the Internet renders it so easy to exercise it without manners or the milk of human kindness.

Not surprisingly, the crème of the Mommy Blogs, the ones whose authors have such an idiosyncratic point of view, dedicated posting schedule and feature such an appealing cast of attract the most vicious comments. I guess that’s why they’re popular, but I couldn’t hack all that criticism, even if it wasn’t directed at me, but at other commenters/readers of the blog. And yet, I park my sorry carcass at D-listed when I’m supposed to be making dinner for my children. Go figure.

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And so, there you have it. The fabulous Ayun Halliday has made her presence known here at Motherhood Uncensored. I swear I'm never going to wash this blog again. If you want to read more from Ayun, check out the other blogs involved in her blog along. I'm flattered to be in such fine company.

Comments

[Amanda]

This post was also plagiarized: http://mommyoutnumbered.blogspot.com/2008/11/who-gives-shit-about-mommy-blogs-anyway.html

[Oricale174]

We all have mothers and we will forgive them just about anything. So if a new mom or even not so new, wants to blog about her experiences. Get over it.
Sometimes mothers need attention too.

[Justin]

My family and I care about them. We get great tips and ways in which to improve as a family, and we have fun too. Try this one, mommmytalk.com. It's like this site, but it has a way to build your own family webpage. That's pretty cool. And, it was free. Always a plus in our household.

[dianeinjapan]

Yeah--what she said. And what Mrs. Chicky said. Heck, what all you commenters said! This was a fun post on an intriguing topic.

[Girl con Queso]

Oh my gosh. You're the writingist Mcwriter around. I blink and all of a sudden there are so many posts to read here. I'm rich in my MU posts. So rich that I need to come back later because I have to go to blasted work now. So later dude. Thanks for the richness.

[Hänni]

Very well articulated. Kudos to Ayun and Kristen for hosting.

Mommybloggate was one hot mess, but I'll be damned if I didn't enjoy the ride.

[Lady M]

I look forward to reading more from Ayun. And bonus - so many extra cool posts today! Thanks for hosting.

[Lisa B]

I just read a blog where a woman complained about how she went to blogHer and all she heard about were the mommybloggers talking incessantly about their children. And she was um NOT very happy about them being there. And yikes. She got nailed in her comments section by mombloggers.

This Ayun chick IS pretty cool!

[Mayberry]

I have to say that I didn't much care for Big Rumpus when I read it a few years ago, but after all this I'm tempted to go back and give it another try. Thanks--this was fun!

[Her Bad Mother]

Bravo.

Perfectly said.

[Mom101]

This is just a fantastic post. I've always encouraged friends to write, whether or not they were writing for ME or whether it was (quote/unquote) readable. If the act of writing is cathartic or enjoyable, then amen.

[Melissa]

Dude, if she is a D lister, then I must be way down around the T list. Very cool post.

[mothergoosemouse]

I've loved all of the Ayun posts here - thanks K, and thanks Ayun.

This one is definitely my favorite though. It's easy to get on one's high horse about which blogs "have value" and which don't - but they all have value to their individual writers.

I do think Ayun is being extremely generous to tolerate the e-mails from a virtual stranger. But she's right - why burst that woman's bubble by asking to be removed from the list?

[mamatulip]

Excellent points, excellent way to look at it...excellent post.

[Mother]

"Ordinary citizens should not be pilloried for daring to celebrate or consider the impact of motherhood on their lives, especially when they offer their observations in a free medium that can be switched off, unread. I’m all for the First Amendment, but in this situation, I feel distressed that the Internet renders it so easy to exercise it without manners or the milk of human kindness."

Yeah. Totally brill.

[Mrs. Chicky]

I had to take a minute to let you know how much I'm enjoying these posts, and this one in particular. If it's so simple then why, oh why, is it so damn tough for people to follow the 'don't like it, don't read it' rule?

Once again, I'm enjoying everything here today. Carry on...

[crazedparent]

i dig her angle. her point about the comments is my hang up as well. i'm all for opinions but the nasty ones and the "comment battles" bum me out.

thanks for the introduction to ayun.

[Tony]

I like reading the mommy blogs - the fights on the comments, varied opinions, interesting POV's.

The Daddy blogs are always really goofy. (although I really like reading those too)

[Kristin]

This was a totally brilliant way to host Ayun, Kristen. Thanks.