BlogHer - work it mom - Comments

You CAN have the best of both worlds!

missbeth5281 — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:24:00 -0500

I used to be a part of several different online only mommy boards, before moving to the area Im in now. I am so thankful that someone told me about DFW Area Moms when I moved here. I still belong to a "birth club" type board that I have been with since my oldest child was born, but unfortunately many of us may never meet. Its hard to connect sometimes while knowing that.

DFW Area moms is different though. Its for moms in the greater DFW Area. Some of us may never meet, either, since it covers a highly populated and vast area. However, I have and continue to meet many of them in person every day. I even met one of my best friends there.

If you are looking for something local, I urge you to go online and google moms in your community. There are many boards specifically toward moms in local areas. You can also look at matchingmoms.org and it can link you up with playgroups in your area.

Online communities truly have become invaluable, even more so if they connect with your every day life outside of the computer.

Beth

http://couchconfessional.blogspot.com

http://losintogether.blogspot.com

Love my online communities

Missives From Suburbia — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:24:53 -0500

Please visit me (and comment!) at http://www.missivesfromsuburbia.blogspot.com

I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through three cross-country moves in two years without my online friends, nor how I would have survived PPD without a small group of a dozen girls that broke off into our own message board from a much larger one. I was in a new state, I knew no one, and let's face it -- hitting your local playgroup and spending 80% of your time in tears is not going to make a good first impression. I'm fortunate that some of my online girls have become real-life friends, and I've managed to leverage online sites like MeetUp.com into joining local playgroups and mom groups. But it's very clear to me that without my message boards, the past two years would have been much harder than they've been.

Online Communities Enrich My Life

moonloh — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:27:12 -0500

I started my blogging life 3 mths ago and from there I learn a lot and also come about online communities. Before that I never know there is online community and doesn't know the benefits of it.
When I started to blog about My little Baby Moon, I met some mom bloggers and share our parenting without step out of my house. And I also joined some communities and from there I gain more.
Now, I come to this website and find you all. It's just great!
By the way, I'm from Singapore.

Moon Loh

http://MoonLoh.com

http://CoolestBabyMoon.com

Never been too good at it

Jeevita — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:52:29 -0500

I've made some online friends over the years in different ways. But somehow I haven't made online mom-friends. It's my fault really. I don't find myself posting in a sustained way to enable friendships. For example I registered at babycenter.ca when I became pregnant but never made it beyond a token few posts...Same at calgarymoms.com. I find that being able to post and connect in a sustained way will demand a lot of my time and energy which I am in short supply of anyway. And it will take away from my existing friendships and connections. I am sure there are plenty of people who can manage both just fine - but for the kind of person I am, I think it would probably isolate more than connect..

jeevita.blogspot.com

An online community addict

Kathy333 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:57:46 -0500

When my first daughter was born I spent a lot of time on a board that had other people with children born in her same month and year.It was great. I got to see that my daughter was doing the same things ttheir children were doing and that I was feeling the same way many other mothers were feeling! Now that they are a little older I visit several working mother/work at home mom boards that I love. Still feel that connection even though it is online. I have actually met a few moms in person that I met first on the internet. It was a lot of fun! About four of us got together for lunch one day in Pasadena a few years ago. It was great to put a face with the online screen persona!

Kathy

Allbusiness:Working Mothers

Mama Marathoner

It is about the now for the most part

Jennifer Satterwhite — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:37:33 -0500

Most of us who use communities are looking for people who understand where we are now. Some are also looking to find advice from those who have been there, done that. And some just want to see how "the other half" live. That is why I love diversity of the communities and communities that can offer so much to so many.

For me? They have brought real friends from my computer to my life and that means so much.

~Jennifer Satterwhite~

Personal blog: Mommy Needs Coffee

Founder group blog: Mommybloggers

My online communities mean everything to me

Jennifer Satterwhite — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:34:59 -0500

I, too, love my online communities. And, like life, some of them you outgrown and move on. But some? Some grow with you and those are the best!

Glad to see another "old timer" with a "back in the day" journal!

~Jennifer Satterwhite~

Personal blog: Mommy Needs Coffee

Founder group blog: Mommybloggers

online communities can roll with you as life changes!

toeyrhea — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:20:55 -0500

I agree with you CanCan - online communties for me are all about connecting with folks who are going through what I am going through NOW. I was late into the mommy role and all of my friends were dealing with teen years as we were toddling... they just really couldn't remember the tiny details which were so important to me! Mommy sites saved my sanity more than once.

I have also found a place that has done the same for me as a professional woman. I've been doing the mommy path along with the career path. I do believe I can do both successfully but means I have to be efficient and smart about it. I have found a new site called: www.w2wlink.com

It is all about professional women development and networking. Content is spot-on and the network groups are amazing. The support I have receive from these women gives me the confidence to tackle that next big (or small) thing in business and as a woman trying to balance it all. Great professional stuff and work life balance. If any of you are in my shoes - check it out - I am sure you will find it useful.

I feel...

CanCan — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:09:10 -0500

in my life I have lots of friends who don't yet have children. I have "mommy blogger" friends online, so those friendships fill two different needs. I love my online communities!

I had an "internet journal" back in 2000! :)

CanCan

Mom Most Traveled

www.MomMostTraveled.com

But can't many help you find real-life friends?

Jennifer Satterwhite — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:17:00 -0500

As far as these communities go, do you feel that some of them are being set up in such a way that you can actually find friends who are local that can become your real-life friends? Having sections that are geared towards women in your area? Sort of like a dating service for moms?

I agree, if you keep your contacts to online only, you could be losing out on real life friends and opportunities. In most cases they can't replace real life friends unless you truly are in a position where that is all you have.But oh how they enhance and enrich my life.

I am blessed in that many online friendships have led to real life friendships that are local and have become my "coffee and lunch dates". I owe it to online communities that brought us together.

(Loved your article, by the way.)

~Jennifer Satterwhite~

Personal blog: Mommy Needs Coffee

Founder group blog: Mommybloggers

Online communities enrich our lives

Vered — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:16:52 -0500

But they don't - they can't - replace real life friendships.

I wrote an article a while ago about The Blurry Line Between Online And Real-Life Relationships.

In it, I said that online friendships are just as important as real-life ones. However, I never said that online friendships can REPLACE real-life ones. As long as we're aware of that, online is wonderful. It certainly enriches MY life.

---

I blog at MomGrind

I manage my kids' activities at UpToUs

Amen Sister!

opalstorm — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:06:20 -0500

I went back to work two years ago after being home full time for over 12 years. When I decided to stay home when I found out I was pregnant with my second child, most of my working friends began to treat me like I had lost my mind or suddenly became stupid.

Since going back to work outside the home, my house looks more lived in, laundry piles up a little faster and higher, but everyone is fed and dressed in clean clothes. LIttle stuff doesn't bother me as much, and I always make time to spend with my family first... all else takes a back seat.

I can clean house when both of my kids are out of the nest.

Tara at If Mom Says OK

Incredible words of wisdom, Amy!

Jennifer Satterwhite — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 14:52:38 -0500

I think you nailed it on the head when you said that there are times we never feel like we are doing it right. I gave up volunteering at the schools 4 years ago after I got throw into the lion's den and barely escaped alive. Now, I am back on the board and trying again. Why? Because it is something I want to try to do. For me. For the kids. If it doesn't work out, I have learned and will leave it behind.

You are right that balance is what works for you (me!). That is what I need to remember. I just may have to tape that to my computer for when I am feeling overwhelmed. (And in my mini-van when I am driving carpool. And in my notebook when I am in volunteer meetings. And....)

~Jenn~
Mommy Needs Coffee | Mommybloggers | Fresh Brewed Reviews

Juggling is becoming my best quality!

Jennifer Satterwhite — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 14:47:16 -0500

Thanks for the yoga advice. I think that would at least give me some ME time. I need that between work and family and LIFE.

I am learning from women who have been in the workforce for so long that it is a huge juggling act. One I have yet to master, but women like you are helping. Thank you so much!

~Jenn~
Mommy Needs Coffee | Mommybloggers | Fresh Brewed Reviews

Keep those articles coming!

Jennifer Satterwhite — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 14:44:39 -0500

As I said to Dana, the more I read from women who have been down this road or are going down it, the more I learn. I totally agree with Valbee that is should be a non-issue for all of us. The fact is, it is an issue for many of us.

The more we can find the support, the better off we will ALL be!

Oh, and if I figure out the balance, I will be sure to let you know!

~Jenn~
Mommy Needs Coffee | Mommybloggers | Fresh Brewed Reviews