The Real Mummy Bloggers

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I have a girl crush on Kerri Sackville. There I said it. And if you haven’t checked out her movie series, you just haven’t lived. So when I heard that she’d been featured in a Sunday Life article (now posted online here) like a good little stalker I headed over for a read.

It was all about mummy bloggers. Which I guess I am. Atlhough I tend to consider myself as a personal blogger, I know everyone else in the universe would probably think of me as a mummy blogger. Because, seriously, how many photos of Riley can I possibly post?

In the interview, Kerri talks about two categories of mummy bloggers the brutally honest kind and the happy happy, joy joy kind. Although I do have lots of photos, and I have occasionally posted a photo or two of a cupcake, I hope I err on the side of brutally honest. In fact there’s a whole thread on the Australian Mummy Bloggers forum all about keeping it real. Note to self. Ease up on the photos of cupcakes. But less about me, self obsessed person and back to the article. I love a good supermarket nightmare story because it makes me feel less alone in my own supermarket meltdowns and my developing phobia of shopping alone. It’s no secret that I’ve tricked the husband into doing the shopping on the weekend, with Riley. Which means that I avoid the dreaded shopping and I get time to myself. I’m highly manipulative that way.

Of course, no article on mummy blogging would be complete with a few nay-sayers. Assuring us that they would trust ‘real people’ to give them advice and wouldn’t deign to read a blog because all their free time is spent on reading books and newspapers. Now I’m as big of a fan of books as you’re likely to come across and I’m certainly not anti-newspaper unless we’re talking about The Daily Telegraph. My favourite bumper sticker is “Is that true? Or did you read it in the Telegraph.”

I’m allergic to snobbery – I think it’s a sign of a weak mind. So I agree with my fellow bloggers including Kerri, Lana and Karen when they talk about the community that blogging creates. And I assure you, that we are quite real, as is the friendship, wisdom, support and above all else shared joy and unimaginable frustration. If we weren’t real, I’m pretty sure I would never have received this awesome coffee. And I definitely wouldn’t have all manner of lovelies hold my hand through my trying to conceive journey who have redefined the depths of understanding and empathy.

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Tagged as: mommy bloggers, mummy bloggers, social media

http://bernmorley.blogspot.com Bern Morley

All I can say is I’m glad I know about blogs now but so wish they had been more accessible back when I had my first child.

So much information, so many situations I can identify with.

Don’t stop the cupcake pics, I hanker after these. x

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

My tongue was firmly planted in my cheek. I have every intention of continuing withe the cupcake love

http://www.ahthepossibilities.com Seraphim

Like Bern I wish I’d had a blog sooner. And I love your pictures x

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

Thanks Sarah!

http://www.blogger.com/profile/09152671021671760212 MMBB

but I love cupcakes!

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

The votes are in. The cupcakes stay!

http://www.lifeandothercrises.blogspot.com Kerri Sackville

Oh!!!! I’m so thrilled!!!! I love you too!
I hearby dedicate ‘The Meatball Song’ to you, and one day, we shall share a perfect cupcake together.
K xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

Thank you!! I imagine it to be a nutella cupcake.

http://lifeinapinkfibro.blogspot.com lifeinapinkfibro

Hear, hear! And more cupcakes.
http://www.mummy-mayhem.blogspot.com Jodie at Mummy Mayhem

Great post!

I’m with Bern too. I wish I’d known about blogs when I had my first son over 8yrs ago. To ‘hear’ of other’s experiences is so comforting. I always find that the posts I write about the not-so-great experiences are the ones that most people can relate to, and feel the need to share. That’s because we all need to know we’re not alone!

xx

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

I would have loved to have known about blogs when Riley was a newborn, would have been so helpful in that stage of oh-my-god-I’m-sure-I’m-doing-it-wrong-and-I’m-totally-freaked-out!

http://www.unlikelymama.net Amber

While, yes, blogging (reading and writing) take up a lot of my time, I find the information I get from reading other people’s accounts of their daily lives much more helpful than an article written by someone who may or may not be a parent.

I too fall into the brutally honest category, sometimes I think a little too much (someday I’ll post something happy again!), but I do have many friends who are all cupcakes and happy faces. I think it makes me a healthier person to have the sunshine and light shining back at me through their words, even if it’s not what I’m experiencing

I would say you’re a perfect combination of both. Your photos aren’t just pictures to me! They’re glimpses into the happy times in your day. Your more serious posts make me love you deep down!

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

I’d much rather read something from somebody in the trenches (so to speak!) rather than from someone who might or might not be considered an ‘expert’.

I like to have a bit of both for the same reason that sometimes I don’t want to watch the news or a gritty documentary. Because sometimes I’ve got about as much reality as I can handle.

I love you right back! And I’m sure a bright streak of your own sunshine is just around the corner.

http://www.unlikelymama.net Amber

Actually feeling MUCH better today. Kinda thinking my issue has to do with PMDD. UGH, gotta love what pregnancy does to your hormones when they’re trying to figure themselves back out again
I have an all kinds of TMI post coming up about it. Hope that this new revelation helps me cope and brings my silver lining back!

http://softthistle.net Marylin

With the autistic spectrum diagnosis we’ve been going through with Max it’s been the help and advice of other bloggers who are or have been in the same situation as us that’s kept me sane, so I definitely go with what they say as I sort of ‘see’ what they’re going through with their writings on their blogs.
I am all about the community – I *love* that I’ve made so many friends through blogging, and like so many others, I just wish I’d known about the blogosphere before having my first child, as it would have helped sooo much!

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

Glad to hear the blogging community has been a help to you in a tough time – it’s so easy to feel alone or scared.

http://www.miscmum.com Karen (miscmum)

Thank you for the mention My blog has been extremely ‘warts and all’ from the very beginning – almost 4 years old now. It’s been tricky to juggle sometimes with my other writing/mothering commitments, but I’m so glad I started and doubt I’ll stop

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

I hear you on the juggling Not for the faint hearted.

http://www.blogger.com/profile/12932508388869573748 Megan

Well said, Zoey. I loved the article, except how it ended with people sounding completely rude in saying ‘I don’t have time to read blogs, I’m a busy person’. Right-o. Ever heard of reading a range of perspectives on different issues? Ever heard of connecting with people even though you’re sitting at home while your child sleeps?

Rant over!

The blogging community really is amazing.

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

I know. There are ways of saying you’re not into something without sounding like an ass. Or making it sound like only people with no lives, twiddling their thumbs at home read blogs.

Now I’m getting all ranty!

http://www.anjwritesabout.com Anj (@anjwrites)

Ha! I just realised that the fact that I am a “this is tough” type of mummy blogger is the reason no one will be coming to me for parenting advice. But for me blogging is about truth-telling (from my personal perspective which, obviously, is very narrow) and I can’t say everything is shiny & happy if that’s not what I’m experiencing.

I could look at a billion pics of Riley, cupcakes and any other beautiful or real things you’d like to photograph or post, so please keep them coming!!

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

Thanks Anj, I will!

And I agree, I think that mostly what people are looking for is authenticity and other people who are genuine. Whether it’s happy, sad or somewhere in the middle, most people can get a feel for how congruent someone is.

I mean, if I spent half a day on twitter going on and on about how frustrating it is to get Riley to sleep (I’ve totally done that) and then turnaround and do a lovey-dovey post about how awesome co-sleeping is (which I have done, but not on those frustrating days), it’s not really going to ring true for anyone.

http://www.wanderlustlust.com Kristin (Wanderlust)

I, too, wish I had discovered blogging long ago, especially when I was home with my kids. I would have loved the community and support, which I can assure many sets of deaf ears is quite real. And yes, I don’t bother with any but the brutally honest ones. I’m off to check out the article now!

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

Not so much now, but a year ago, I would seriously struggle to come up with something to say to ‘real’ people. Because they didn’t have kids. And if I started talking about my life – their eyes would glaze over and I would know that I was completely boring them to tears. Now it’s a bit different, Riley is older and everything isn’t as baby-focused as it was, but it’s really nice to be able to talk about my life, my real life, to other people who are going through the same things.

http://mythreeringcircus.com tiff

Blogging has changed so much from when I started but one thing has stayed the same and that is the sense of community. Whoever says it’s not real, have never tried it.
Blogging got me through the worst years of PND and grief after losing my son, blogging and the community supported me through all of the hard stuff when we were trying to find answers for Ivy.
Somedays, I feel like I am no longer part of the blogging community (because it has changed so much and I can’t keep up most of the time) but it’s post s like this one that remind me why I started in the first place.