As another writer who was part of the same early blogging movement around the turn of the millennium (I'm saying it that way because it makes me sound exceptionally old and experienced LOL) I loved reading this. I also met you IRL around the same time, I believe.
I'm just now starting to really make something of my potential, but writing for publication has kept me alive and helped to support my family for all these years. I'm grateful.
Yes! I think we met either when Will was a little baby (so, would have been 2003) or the year before he was born. Either way, it was definitely right in that heady time of the early blogging days. I wandered away from regularly writing for a while, but it feels good to be back at it.
I’m thinking of Erma Bombeck, like Tanis below, and Ellen Goodman. I have also really appreciated writers like you who seem more real rather than super confessional or super cool or ironic or sarcastic. As I remember part of Happiest Mom was to be grounded and enjoy the ordinary. I listened to The Catholic Feminist, and she actually retired her podcast to focus on other priorities - she has also kept things real and grounded. It is so awful what happened to Heather Armstrong. I never followed her since she wasn’t my style. And I agree focusing on celebrity rather than community and solidarity doesn’t serve women overall or moms specifically. I don’t think society knows yet how to understand motherhood itself. The extremes - “perfection” or sarcasm - seem to be the focus. I appreciate your pragmatic joyful approach. Thank you for returning to writing too!
I didn’t have my first baby until 2013, so I missed this whole “mommy blog” era. I had only heard briefly of Heather in the last few years. I appreciated your thoughts here on it all!
Erma Bombeck and Shirley Jackson are two of the writers I admired so much and reading their works really sparked my own desire to write. Heather was not the first, nor will she be the last, but she most certainly will be missed by those who loved her.
Thank you. I was one of the earlier writers, and I agree.
I always appreciate your thoughtful perspective and ability to go where others don't feel equipped to go. I love seeing you hear on SS!
As another writer who was part of the same early blogging movement around the turn of the millennium (I'm saying it that way because it makes me sound exceptionally old and experienced LOL) I loved reading this. I also met you IRL around the same time, I believe.
I'm just now starting to really make something of my potential, but writing for publication has kept me alive and helped to support my family for all these years. I'm grateful.
Yes! I think we met either when Will was a little baby (so, would have been 2003) or the year before he was born. Either way, it was definitely right in that heady time of the early blogging days. I wandered away from regularly writing for a while, but it feels good to be back at it.
I’m thinking of Erma Bombeck, like Tanis below, and Ellen Goodman. I have also really appreciated writers like you who seem more real rather than super confessional or super cool or ironic or sarcastic. As I remember part of Happiest Mom was to be grounded and enjoy the ordinary. I listened to The Catholic Feminist, and she actually retired her podcast to focus on other priorities - she has also kept things real and grounded. It is so awful what happened to Heather Armstrong. I never followed her since she wasn’t my style. And I agree focusing on celebrity rather than community and solidarity doesn’t serve women overall or moms specifically. I don’t think society knows yet how to understand motherhood itself. The extremes - “perfection” or sarcasm - seem to be the focus. I appreciate your pragmatic joyful approach. Thank you for returning to writing too!
I appreciate this so much, Jennifer! I'm enjoying being back in a writerly frame of mind :)
I didn’t have my first baby until 2013, so I missed this whole “mommy blog” era. I had only heard briefly of Heather in the last few years. I appreciated your thoughts here on it all!
And welcome to Substack! 👋🏼
Thanks! I am loving it here so far.
Also, years are hard. 😆 Rhett was born in 2014. 🤦🏻♀️😆
Erma Bombeck and Shirley Jackson are two of the writers I admired so much and reading their works really sparked my own desire to write. Heather was not the first, nor will she be the last, but she most certainly will be missed by those who loved her.
Absolutely, Tanis, as she should be.