A Better Mother through Blogging

The more I immerse myself in the blog world, the more I realize what a profound act mommy (parent) blogging can be. When we put ourselves out there we open the door for realization and growth, in ourselves, our readers and our challengers. And that makes us better parents.

Earlier this week HerBadMother wrote a bad mother manifesto. I loved it. It jolted me out of my self-centred stupour that left me believing that all the Good Mothers were doing it Right and I was, mostly, doing it Wrong. It reminded me that there is no Right Way and that my daily efforts, victories and screw ups are all part of It, no judgement required.

Then Seagull Fountain wrote a response piece. I loved it. It jolted me out of my self-centred stupour that left me believing that this was all supposed to be easy and fun and if it got hard that meant I wasn't doing Right. It reminded me that there is value and honour and work involved in trying to do better and that my daily efforts, victories and screw up are all part of It.

My Bad mommy self gives me the power to embrace where I am, to honestly be ok with me and my choices (even the ones that involve 6am Treehouse TV for my 3 year old so I can sleep, or in this case, write) and that gives me the freedom, and the power, to shake off the insecure and empty Pursuit of Perfection and just Do It Better.

I take classes. I read and listen to the Experts. I also listen to other moms, to my self and to my children (oh yeah, and my husband. Sure. Yes. I, um, listen to him too). I love learning how to be a better mom but that's only possible when I can love the mom I am right now.

You, my momosphere, and your honest sharing in your writing and your comments makes each one more possible. Thanks.

And

Mommyblogging through the fear

So I thought I'd start a blog. It seemed like a good idea. Felt like a good idea. Smelled like a good idea. And then I went to write my first post and my entire being started screaming 'NO this is NOT a good idea AT ALL. It's a very, very BAD idea. Very bad. Don't do it. No one wants this or needs this. STOP. NOW."

And the thing is, the world doesn't need another blog. It surely doesn't need another blog with the word ''mom" in the title. And it really doesn't need another photo of another kid, or another painting or another piece of pottery.

Really, if we never produced another one of these small shreds of creative output no one would ever notice.

Except, they would. Eventually. Because we'd all shrivel up and get empty eyes, with our half read copies of The Artist's Way gathering dust under the bed and our children shivering at the thought of becoming us.

So, the world may not need another blog - but I do. I need to dredge up the courage to devote time and energy and optimism to something that no one asked for and that no one needs. Something for me. Something honest and true and cliched and drippy and kind of defensive, maybe a little funny, and sometimes wise.

Something that likely few will read, but that anyone could read. Scary.

Something that's, above all, MINE.

God, I love the internet.