30something Moms
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30-something Moms editor: Christina Gayle |  |
Are you a mom who blogs? I'm sure that, by now, you've heard of the now-infamous New York Times article written about Bloggy Boot Camp. You know, the one with the condescending tone that slammed mommy bloggers across the board - even though the author herself identified as a mom who blogs.
The article poo-poos the conference attendees as mostly women in their 30s who drive minivans and care more about blogging than their families. Okay, so I'm a woman in my 30s who drives a minivan, but I don't care more about blogging than my family. Has everyone forgotten that "mommy" is the operative word in the term "mommy blogger?" If I cared more about my blog than my son, I'd average more than two posts per week.
So I'd like to discuss the type of mom I am, the type of blogger I am, and the type of woman I am. I can't arrange these neatly into little subheadings for each category; they are inextricably intertwined.
It may be hard to remember, but there was a time when baby bumps weren't paparazzi fodder for gossip columnists to gush over. It's become a lot more accepted for celebrities to embrace motherhood over the last few years, and that is an awesome thing.
Here is a list of celebrity moms who are 30-somethings just like the rest of us, at the time this piece was written. (I'm sure if we all had stylists, personal trainers, and nannies, we could look as fab as them, too.)
Real 30-Something Moms is a new feature where I try to get to know other moms in their 30s. This week, I talked to Michelle Kershner, a 34-year-old mom who tweets as @mahker.
Could you please introduce yourself?
I'm a mom of two young boys and am happy every day something doesn't get broken in our house. I love being outside, living in a walkable downtown (Frederick, Maryland), cooking, good food, and having friends & family over to visit. I try my best to balance my work, family, and general happiness. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
What do you do for a living?
I work part-time doing grants and communications for our local tourism office. My background is in non-profits and community development, and I love helping people to discover Downtown Frederick and the surrounding area.
What is one must-see attraction in Downtown Frederick?
Definitely the Historic District, which is part of Downtown. It's the hub of great restaurants - home of Volt, whose Chef Bryan Voltaggio was 2nd runner up on Top Chef Season 6 - unique shops, museums, galleries, parks, etc.
Real 30-Something Moms is a new feature where I try to get to know other moms in their 30s. This week, I talked to Rhiana from Hurried Homemaker to find out what makes this crafty SAHM tick.
How would you introduce yourself to me if we met in person?
Hello, my name is Rhiana ... Ha! I'm guessing you're asking how I'd describe myself? I''m a 31 year old mother of 2. I'm the wife of a touring musician and my life gets a bit crazy.
What do you do? (For a living, or not?)
I am a crafty, SAHM. I think I work harder now that I don't "work" than I ever did!
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What I want most is to be a good mother. But I dream of owning a clothing shop or bakery later on down the road.
Does your marriage ever get the dull-drums? We've been married for over seven years and every now and then we realize that we want to renew that "spark". Here is a list of over 50 ways that we have used to bring life back into our marriage over the years. Try doing one a day over the next month or so and see the effect it has on your relationship!
Read more: Get Lovey Dovey! 50 Ways to Show Love to a Spouse
Most of us moms in our 30s spend at least some amount of time mourning the loss of our pre-baby bodies. I'm very lucky to have a husband who literally loves exactly how I look. I'm lucky to have a curvy hourglass figure, but I've long-despised my thighs and backside. The lower part of my body is where I carry all of my fat, and I hate it. I hate how the fat on my thighs jiggles sometimes, and I have to wear long shorts in the summer so I don't display too much fat when I sit down. I'm lucky to have a husband who doesn't mind that "baby got back."
As we all get older, the incidence of unpleasant events only increases. Pets die. People die. Relationships end. Illnesses develop. Jobs are lost. And some of these things are so significant that we can't forget about them. Each year, they become anniversaries of the initial tragedy. Others may not always understand why they are significant to us, but it's a very personal thing, and we can't always get over it.
As parents, we face many different challenges daily. Many times we seek the advice of parents, friends or even experts to solve our problems. It can be extremely frustrating when you get different advices from various sources. Worse so, if you act on the advice given and the results are disastrous.
I just turned 31 years old last week. I don't really feel any differently for it, but it sounds a whole lot older to me. Just like 30 sounded like I was granted the ability to be taken as a serious, responsible adult compared to the youthfulness of age 29, 31 just seems like it's so much more... mature.
The inaugural Type-A Mom Conference that took place in Asheville, North Carolina in September 2009 may be over and done with, but the lessons learned and the conversations started remain relevant. I was grateful to be sponsored by WorldWinner.com, for whom I am also an affiliate, for sponsoring my trip. While I was there, I got to meet a lot of fantastic women (and a few men!) and soaked in all of the information I could. I also decided to liveblog the conference, and I would like to share those posts with you.
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