Great article. I'm not sure where or when the term "mom blogger" was coined, and although I don't personally mind the moniker, some of the misconceptions that come with it I could do without.
Dawn @ My Home Sweet Home
· 10 months ago
Great job with this, Jessica! BTW, I'm both a mom blogger and an Ivy Leaguer. :-)
karissa
· 10 months ago
Fantastic! I love how everything works together. seamless. I do get sick of the mommy blogger coinage but I think it is (I am not a mommy blogger, just a blogger) because it is almost always used negatively the majority of the times I see it and I love my fellow blogging moms!
good work!
Rebecca
· 10 months ago
A lot of these misconceptions could apply to any blogger - great list!
Grel
· 10 months ago
What kind of an idiot husband allows a laptop in the kitchen.
Renee
· 10 months ago
I have never identified as a "mommy blogger:, though I am am a mother that blogs. To me blogging is about exploring all aspects of a womans life and not necessarily focusing on my motherhood.
Musings of a Housewife
· 10 months ago
Great list. I love your commentary. Mommy bloggers are like anything else -- we come in all different shapes and sizes. It's unfair to pigeon-hole us.
Kimberly/Mom in the City
· 10 months ago
As a mom blogger who graduated from an Ivy League school (Columbia), I agree with your points. People are crazy when they try to put us all in one box!
georgegsmithjr
· 10 months ago
This is so true. People don't get it. I have higher ups that think dealing with "mommy bloggers" is like taking candy from a baby - but I try to tell them that it's really individuals of so many different types thrown together and if you don't understand each one you engage with - you'll FAIL. Hopefully they listen....
CanCan (Mom Most Traveled)
· 10 months ago
I have one to add! How about the misconception that Mommy Bloggers are strictly, "Will work for samples?" I put in lots of time and effort when I write a post, even a blog review. If it is something I believe in, I'm glad to do it, but I do think I have valuable skills and I don't always want to be working for peanuts!
Jyl Johnson Pattee (Mom It For
· 10 months ago
Love this post, Jessica. As always, you're right on! I absolutely love calling myself a mom, a mommy blogger, and the builder of a mom community. It has been refreshing to watch the reactions shift... in the positive... when I introduce myself in those ways. I sit on the board for the Social Media Club of Salt Lake City. We had our first meeting last night. I am almost positive I was the only SAHM in the room. Yet, after the meeting, a big conversation ensued about the influence moms and mommy bloggers are having on media, brands, etc. I am glad to be there to represent this important and "influential" group (mommy rock stars)!
ComplicatedMama
· 10 months ago
Great article!!! So very true! ... ALL OF IT.
Wendy Wood
· 10 months ago
Awesome post Jessica. I often free that mommy bloggers and/or WAHMs get a bad wrap. There are a lot of misconceptions out there and I'm glad you took the time to set the record straight.
Retro Heather
· 10 months ago
Great article! But that bit about sweats... *oops*
whymommy
· 10 months ago
Great article!
- WhyMommy, Mommyblogger and space scientist
Kristi
· 10 months ago
Great post! I don't mind being called a mommy blogger, because I am a mom that blogs. But, rarely do I actually blog about my kids. For me it's all about sharing how to stretch the paycheck and stay within a budget. For me this is how I manage to stay home with my kids, and I just want to share what I've learned. I do actually have a degree in Journalism, and love that I'm writing again.
Bruce Japsen
· 10 months ago
I'd like to see the methodology behind this scientific survey of... oh wait, there wasn't any! She didn't even interview any other bloggers casually. It's just one lady's opinion.
We all know how much those are worth(less)!
Danielle
· 10 months ago
Nice job, great article!!
Nigel
· 10 months ago
I didn't know there was an misconceptions or anyone really cared that much. Also why do blog articles always have to be written in the form of top 10 lists. Is it the only way they will get on digg?
ClassyMommy
· 10 months ago
Jess what a fun article! And I loved how you surveyed your tweeple on this. I remember seeing your tweet and wondering what awesome info you might get and how you'd present it. Excellent stuff. There are many misconceptions and in general I think the biggest thing is that PR firms and Companies forget when they are dealing with Moms today (and especially Mommy Bloggers) that we are a v. savvy group of women. People focus on the Mom aspect and forget how Multi-Dimensional Moms are..... between our nursery rhymes and diaper changes we're juggling full, part time, or work at home careers while many of us full time Moms also have advanced degrees and years of corporate experience under our belts prior to hitting Mommyhood.
Moon Loh
· 10 months ago
In my opinion, there are different types of Mommy Bloggers. In Asia, there are moms who just want treat blogging as a hobby and simply want to share with others about their kids and parenting. They enjoy such online diary and don't really treat blogging a source of income. Also there are moms who treat blogging a serious business and believe by doing seriously, it could be a good source of income while spending more time with the family.
The traffic and free stuff things are peculiar to me. I will not do just anything to get traffic. And I will not "sell" myself to anyone who promises free stuff or discounts or other special treatment.
I know people sometimes assumed that when I mention some brands in my "cool finds" posts. I do accept pitches and samples if it sounds like something I might like. But I only post about it if I *did* like it.
Jill
· 10 months ago
I think your article is right-on. As a mom who blogs though, I'm not sure a title like "mommy-blogger" encompasses how I identify with myself anymore than "mommy-exerciser" or "mommy-luncher" or "mommy-vacationer" (you get the point) does. Yes I am a mom, I am also a journalist by trade, an e-store owner, a writer for several online blogs, and a former member of the semiconductor industry.
Just sayin'...
Diane
· 10 months ago
This is so right on! It's true - mommy bloggers are so often seen as pushover who just sit around hoping for a free sample to be thrown their way. For me, my blogs are ways to reach out to people not only with my viewpoints but to people searching for answers that I may have found. In my case, raising families chemical-free. It's something I take very seriously. One thing that bothers me is receiving PR email asking me to write articles for them (for free) when the PR person hasn't even visited my blog except to snag my email address. But I believe we'll be heard more strongly as time goes on. Because this is one group that isn't going away!
By the way, the mommy blogger community has become very valuable to me as a support system and a wonderful group of friends! Never would I have guessed what it would become to mean to me.
Michelle Lamar
· 10 months ago
Rock on Jessica! Love this post, just wrote about it!
zchamu
· 10 months ago
Excellent post!
The biggest misconception I keep seeming to encounter is that Mom bloggers are simply a bunch of self centered narcissists. Usually when a mom blogger gets some mainstream media attention, this is the insult that inevitably gets hurled. Within the little social media echo chamber it's different and bloggers in general are perceived differently, moms included. But out in the big bad world, it's a very different perception.
Alyssa
· 10 months ago
It's not that I dislike the term mommy blogger. I just would RATHER be called writer, speaker, etc..
Backpacking Dad
· 10 months ago
#11 That they are all women. Guys can be mommybloggers too. It's the nineties for crying out loud!
:}
Dominique
· 10 months ago
Great post Jessica, I have heard about some of this misconceptions. There are various reasons why mummies blog. I'm proud to be a mom that blogs :)
Kristie
· 10 months ago
I started my blog when my mother moved to Hawaii. I thought it would be a great way to help her keep in touch with what's going on with my kids. Then I started then I started the google adsense thing thinking I could make loads of cash. Unfortunately what I have to say is only important to my mother :) I suppose I can live with that but man it'd be nice to make some cash too LOL
Mindy
· 10 months ago
Lovely.
I have been doing this since 2002, may well have been the first to call my blog a mommy blog (to wit: TheMommyBlog.com, net, org), and can safely say that:
1. I'm still waiting for a year in the black, so it's definitely not for the money. It's for my sanity.
2. I didn't know at the outset that people were reading my blog, I only knew that I was writing it. In retrospect, that was the best way to measure "success" or value. If I've managed to amass eight million hits in that time, I guess I'm doing something people find worthwhile. And yet, I don't get rich off it.
3. I really wish the whole free sample thing didn't exist. I won't write about something I don't use, and won't take money for posts. So of course I feel terrible when a huge PR package shows up on my doorstep and I KNOW that I will never promote the product. Once in a while, though, I really do get excited about something and talk about it. Chances are, I've already bought the product and they MIGHT send me something to thank me for writing about it.
4. Yes, I wear pajamas, but they are very nice pajamas. I sometimes make the school run in them.
5. I have a degree. I was an executive, until this hobby of mine made my superiors nervous and forced me out. Can't prove it, but can't disprove it either.
6. I WISH I could "dabble" in something. I'm the sole source of support for my three kids and myself. I continue to write because advertisers (who have no say over what I write) continue to purchase ads on my blog. Some months, this is what buys groceries.
7. Hawt? I used to be a model, personally selected by Eileen Ford and Nina Blanchard for representation. So no, not dowdy and looking for a way to hide it. On the other hand, I wear my wrinkles, stretch marks, and extra pounds proudly and love them for the battle scars and medals of valor that they are. Women should be proud of what their bodies did to produce the next generation. We're the only ones that can carry that ball.
Huff. I know this post meant to dispel the myths, but I appreciate the chance to vent and answer those ninnies who love to categorize us as they see fit. Come walk in my shoes, buster. Then look me in the eye and tell me what you think.
King Rat
· 10 months ago
I suppose. Problem with this is that it doesn't really reveal the truth for most of these possible myths. It counters the "myth" with an assertion. Only a couple actually have any facts for them (#4, #1) or links for them.
SwamiMami
· 9 months ago
Wow, I don't know any mommy bloggers that are uneducated, lacking creativity and hang around in sweats! What about the politically savvy, opinionated, fashionista mommies?
Facebook User
· 8 months ago
Fantastic post! and so many true points...though I have to confess it is a stay-at-home day and I am still in my [rather stylish if slightly stained] jammies! :)
Heather Allard
· 8 months ago
Jessica, This is a great--and hilarious--look at mommy blogger misconceptions! Thanks so much for sharing this info--I loved the way you showed the tweets-that's awesome.
Heather
eld
· 7 months ago
thank you sharing
eld
· 7 months ago
great article, thank you
mehmetel
· 7 months ago
thank you sharing
Tabu
· 7 months ago
I think that's because the media has conditioned people to expect a kind of Lifetime Channel/Dress Barn kind of style from blogging Mothers. Most of the Mommy bloggers I know are brainy, covered in tattoos and can drink me under the table.
Marianne
· 7 months ago
We love all bloggers....Moms and Dads. And in fact, as a Mom who blogs as well...I love this article. It's well written and sums it up perfectly.Even if I do blog in my PJ's, what is important is for many women (and men) this is a legitimate business and one that is very personally fulfilling.
Thanks for a great article!
ScoutsHonor
· 6 months ago
Couldn't have made a better list, my friend. Thanks for pointing out some of the generalizations.
~Scout
Ron S. Doyle
· 6 months ago
I've got a myth for you: that all Mommy Bloggers are mommies. Some of them are Daddies, too, like yours truly. And yes, I know that technically makes me a Daddy Blogger, but considering the assumptions about each of those titles, I think I fit better into the former---I stay at home, care for my two daughters, and eek out a living when everyone is asleep (except me and the cat).
Medela metro bag
· 6 months ago
These are truly 10 greatest mommy bloggers facts!
Debra
Terri Locker
· 6 months ago
Thanks for the article. Also, thanks for including mom's whose kids are no longer little. I'm a mom of 5, ages 23 - 13, and the adventure never ends. Sometimes I think I could use a blog related more to moms of grown kids - because the path gets tricker to travel, and the issues are very much life issues.. a step beyond what teether you trust for your sweet pea. ( - and I know that's important too - I really do) Anyway - thanks - good work.
@shadymutton
googoobuybuy
· 5 months ago
I'm a mom who blogs, but I'm also a five-time author and PR professional. I blog for self discovery, self improvement, to share great deals and a bit of the wisdom I've earned with other women and to connect with other busy entrepreneurial women who like me are caught between worlds. Are we working moms, stay at home moms or work at home moms? I haven't quite figured that one out yet.
That last part is the real reason I keep blogging. Most of my real-life friends don't have kids, and so I don't feel like I have many people who can relate to my unique situation. But on the Internet, my situation isn't unique at all. And that helps me deal with the challenges every day.
All Comments
good work!
I put in lots of time and effort when I write a post, even a blog review. If it is something I believe in, I'm glad to do it, but I do think I have valuable skills and I don't always want to be working for peanuts!
- WhyMommy, Mommyblogger and space scientist
We all know how much those are worth(less)!
Also there are moms who treat blogging a serious business and believe by doing seriously, it could be a good source of income while spending more time with the family.
I'm a Mompreneur from Singapore - MompreneurAsia.com
The traffic and free stuff things are peculiar to me. I will not do just anything to get traffic. And I will not "sell" myself to anyone who promises free stuff or discounts or other special treatment.
I know people sometimes assumed that when I mention some brands in my "cool finds" posts. I do accept pitches and samples if it sounds like something I might like. But I only post about it if I *did* like it.
Just sayin'...
By the way, the mommy blogger community has become very valuable to me as a support system and a wonderful group of friends! Never would I have guessed what it would become to mean to me.
The biggest misconception I keep seeming to encounter is that Mom bloggers are simply a bunch of self centered narcissists. Usually when a mom blogger gets some mainstream media attention, this is the insult that inevitably gets hurled. Within the little social media echo chamber it's different and bloggers in general are perceived differently, moms included. But out in the big bad world, it's a very different perception.
:}
I have heard about some of this misconceptions. There are various reasons why mummies blog. I'm proud to be a mom that blogs :)
I have been doing this since 2002, may well have been the first to call my blog a mommy blog (to wit: TheMommyBlog.com, net, org), and can safely say that:
1. I'm still waiting for a year in the black, so it's definitely not for the money. It's for my sanity.
2. I didn't know at the outset that people were reading my blog, I only knew that I was writing it. In retrospect, that was the best way to measure "success" or value. If I've managed to amass eight million hits in that time, I guess I'm doing something people find worthwhile. And yet, I don't get rich off it.
3. I really wish the whole free sample thing didn't exist. I won't write about something I don't use, and won't take money for posts. So of course I feel terrible when a huge PR package shows up on my doorstep and I KNOW that I will never promote the product. Once in a while, though, I really do get excited about something and talk about it. Chances are, I've already bought the product and they MIGHT send me something to thank me for writing about it.
4. Yes, I wear pajamas, but they are very nice pajamas. I sometimes make the school run in them.
5. I have a degree. I was an executive, until this hobby of mine made my superiors nervous and forced me out. Can't prove it, but can't disprove it either.
6. I WISH I could "dabble" in something. I'm the sole source of support for my three kids and myself. I continue to write because advertisers (who have no say over what I write) continue to purchase ads on my blog. Some months, this is what buys groceries.
7. Hawt? I used to be a model, personally selected by Eileen Ford and Nina Blanchard for representation. So no, not dowdy and looking for a way to hide it. On the other hand, I wear my wrinkles, stretch marks, and extra pounds proudly and love them for the battle scars and medals of valor that they are. Women should be proud of what their bodies did to produce the next generation. We're the only ones that can carry that ball.
Huff. I know this post meant to dispel the myths, but I appreciate the chance to vent and answer those ninnies who love to categorize us as they see fit. Come walk in my shoes, buster. Then look me in the eye and tell me what you think.
This is a great--and hilarious--look at mommy blogger misconceptions! Thanks so much for sharing this info--I loved the way you showed the tweets-that's awesome.
Heather
Thanks for a great article!
~Scout
Debra
Anyway - thanks - good work.
@shadymutton
That last part is the real reason I keep blogging. Most of my real-life friends don't have kids, and so I don't feel like I have many people who can relate to my unique situation. But on the Internet, my situation isn't unique at all. And that helps me deal with the challenges every day.