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I just came home from BlogHer. And this post could have been about the many amazing and talented mommy and parenting bloggers I met there who have done great recaps of their BlogHer experiences.
But after much thought, I decided that I wanted my first post-BlogHer conference entry to address an issue that I have come across in the Blogosphere while reading posts from some who didn't attend this year's conference.
Anxiety.
Only a handful of mommybloggers out of the thousands that exist were at BlogHer, and while the posts and pictures make it seem that it was all about the love, many of us admitted to each other at some point during the event things like, "I am so on overload right now," or "I'm sorry I can't concentrate on even the simplest conversation because I'm so overwhelmed from the sheer number of people here." The pictures show a story of happiness, comraderie, drinking, in-group dynamics, and yes, women fondling other women, but most of us were painfully uncomfortable working the crowd like we thought we should be or desperately wanted to be. As Roo of roo the day writes:
"My introvertish nature has been put to the test for days now, and what I'd really like is to curl up my antennae and tuck myself back in my shell for some much-needed sensory deprivation."
Knowing how hard it is to be an introvert posing as an extrovert is why I am in love with Suebob of The Red Stapler and her Red Stapler Project. She's a reporter by trade so she decided that having a story to persue during the event would help her overcome her shyness. She brought her red stapler with her to BlogHer and introduced herself to people by asking that they pose with it for a picture.
I obliged.
Jory DesJardins of Pause and BlogHer obliged.
JenB of jenandtonic obliged.
And many more obliged and had a great time doing so. I haven't asked Suebob, but I'm pretty sure nobody threw her stapler in her face and laughed haughtily.
I applaud Suebob for finding a way to fight off her natural shyness and mix-n-mingle with other bloggers at BlogHer. She was able to have fun even when I'm sure she would have preferred to sit in a corner by herself with what Stefania of CityMama refers to as our "12.7" x 10.2" x 1.3" security blankets."
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Mary Tsao also blogs at Mom Writes.
Image credit: Suebob Davis
