by Julie
I was on a field trip yesterday with Colter, my 7-year-old son, and the performer (Celloman) asked the kids what a role model is. Colter looked over at me. I asked him later what he was thinking when he looked at me, and he said, "I was thinking that you're my role model." It made me feel so good... and scared. It also made me wonder, who are my role models as a parent? Who are yours?
by Amanda
I had a scary experience the other day that I wanted to share. I lost my 3 1/2-year-old daughter at the State Fair. She was pushed into the crowd (of 97,000 people) and simply got lost. She was only gone for about 5 minutes before another parent found her, but it was the longest 5 minutes of my life. Another mother suggested to me that I write a note or put a sticker on my child with her name, my name and my cell phone number when we are in a big crowd. The next time I will do this!
by Cristen
I just tucked my 8-year-old son into bed and we spent a long time remembering my dad, who died 2 years ago (the anniversary of his death was last week). I don't have many memories of my mom and I talking about my grandparents who had passed away and I love that my son wants to keep those special memories alive and with him.
by Julie
Mothers have always blogged; we just do it verbally. And we've blogged as a group; we just call it conversation. This weblog is a tool for taking us high-tech. DotMoms is a place for us to share our lives, who we are and who we want to be, how we parent and how we wish we could. It's the Internet as consciousness-raising coffee klatsch. Drink up.
More Americans are reading and creating weblogs than ever before. The latest figures from the Pew Internet and American Life project show that about 11 million American adults have created weblogs and about 32 million Americans read them.
With about 40 mothers who contribute regularly, DotMoms is a group weblog that covers life on the homefront from many perspectives. Contributors live across the United States and around the world, in Canada, Thailand, Germany and elsewhere. While each has her own unique viewpoint, together we paint a picture of parenting that reflects a wide range of experiences.
Moms have written about experiences as life-changing as giving birth and surviving Hurricane Katrina and as routine as the first day of school or a morning at the grocery store. We are single mothers, divorced mothers, empty nesters, stay-at-home moms, working moms. We are passionate and exhausted, committed and conflicted, in love with our lives and yet sometimes despairing. We are the face of motherhood.
I receive about 15-20 requests per month from writers who would like to join DotMoms. Each potential contributor is required to submit a bio and sample post so that I can assess what her voice and style would add to the conversation. I seek geographic, demographic and other kinds of diversity, as well as women who want to grow as writers and as parents. If the fit is right, she is invited to write for the blog with monthly deadlines and other requirements. I edit each post for spelling, grammar, style and approach, and I try to provide each writer with feedback. There are no topics that are off-limits, however we stick to personal narratives -- capturing a slice of life -- without judgment. It is a family-friendly blog.
Perhaps that is one of the reasons our readers are so loyal. They visit regularly, share their comments, and send notes to tell us how much they appreciate knowing they're not alone.
DotMoms has received much media coverage. It was picked as one of Time magazine's coolest websites, noted on Forbes' Best of the Web, and featured in magazines from Parenting to Family Circle.
DotMoms is always growing. There are new posts per day, and the list of links to mom blogs is at almost 700, with constant requests from others who want to be added. We introduce new features regularly and benefit from the creativity and passion the contributors bring to the group as bloggers, writers, editors, mothers, daughters, wives and sisters.
Blogs are changing parenting and we're proud to be part of a transformation that is helping mothers, fathers and children everywhere benefit from what's ahead.
If you have any suggestions for DotMoms, let me know.
Julie Moos
Founder and Editor, DotMoms
