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I am a pretty level headed chick. I don't like confrontation a whole bunch. In fact, I hate it. I don't often get riled up but sometimes someone will say something and POW! I get going. I have to say something. I can't sit still and I just have to say...something.
This happened Saturday.
I am still riled up.
So, Saturday was the Minnesota Blogger Conference. I helped organize this one day extravaganza and let me tell you--it was fantastic. I wanted to write a really smart, thorough, and interesting recap of it, but it's been documented quite nicely by Missy, The Marketing Mama--who spear-headed this along with super cool Arik Hanson. Go over to Missy's blog and read it and then read all the other fantastic recaps. Trust me when I say, it was a killer event and I hope we do it again, but bigger! :)
Anywho...
I was sitting in a session and someone had asked a question about how businesses work with mommy bloggers. As soon as I heard the words "mommy" and "blogger" my ears perked up. As did my blood pressure. The conversation went on and it was hitting a very raw nerve with me. So I Tweeted this:
Ya, it's a little passive aggressive to Tweet about it rather than to join the actual conversation, I know. I wasn't interested in starting a debate about it right then and there. Suffice it to say that I spent the rest of the morning fielding Tweets from people about my issue with the label "mommy blogger". It riled up a few folks I think! (You can find my replies on Twitter, I am not linking them here.) I understand that being a "mommy blogger" means different things to different people. I get it. Some companies view mommy bloggers as product evangelists, brand ambassadors, and even marketing partners. I get that and even identify with it. I work with companies and brands all the time and I enjoy the relationships that I have with them. I don't take it for granted and I understand my role, however small it may be. On the flip side, some companies and other writers (and bloggers) view "mommy bloggers" as freebie-grabbing, selfish amateurs, and even "phonies". All they want are free products and will write basically whatever you want them to as long as their free products or perks keep coming their way. Let me be clear--I know people like that exist. OH DO I KNOW THAT. There are women bloggers who personify all that is greedy and seedy about blogging and ruin the mommy blogger label for the rest of us who are often referred to as one. But, that percentage of bloggers is minuscule compared to the sum total of women mother bloggers.
I understand why there is this mommy blogger label. I get it. I am a mom. I write (sometimes) about my children. I write (sometimes) about products I like or companies I work with. I (sometimes) host giveaway of said products. However, I also write about health issues, political issues, financial issues, pop culture issues, technology topics, and current events. I venture to guess that ALL "mommy bloggers" write about things other than their kids. I mean, how boring would a blog be if it was all
