Many moms find blogging to be a powerful blend of community building and creative expression. Just don’t call them “mommy bloggers.”
“There is no ‘manual’ written for the raising of children,” says Dani Donders, an Ottawa mother of two and creator of the blog Postcards from the Mothership.
But there’s a movement afoot that has created something almost as close to a motherhood manual as you can get, she says.
It’s the wonderful, the weird, the rallying, the validating—and yes, occasionally, the over-sharing—world of the mommy blog.
“No matter what your parenting concern or question, with a search engine and a little bit of time, you can search parenting blogs for individual solutions and approaches to just about any conceivable parenting situation,” says Donders.
“It’s not the most concise manual ever, but it’s probably the most colourful and interesting one!”
Wired Moms: A New Kind of Community
Donders belongs to a generation of “wired moms” who see the Internet as an essential motherhood tool.
Today, 88% of moms turn to the Internet for advice on raising their kids, and, increasingly, their search for information and guidance leads them to blogs created by other moms.
The word “blog” has become so commonplace that you’d have to be your grandmother not to know what one is.
For the uninitiated: blog is short for “web log”, an online form of journaling that emerged about a decade ago.
Blog entries range from casual personal reflections to professional op-ed posts that sometimes appear on established news websites.
Why Moms Blog
So what are moms doing with their blogs?
Essentially, the same things moms have always done—just online.
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Journaling: capturing the slice-of-life moments that define motherhood — the funny things kids say and do, the sleepless nights, the long days.
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Family updates: sharing milestones with friends and relatives — first paintings from preschool, baby’s first steps — often enhanced by snapshots or video clips.
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Creative outlet: using blogging as an online scrapbook or a personal “momoir.”
“I found that I wanted to write,” says Marla Good, a Toronto mother of one and author of the blog Hello Josephine.
“There was this latent creativity and new voice inside me.”
The Momosphere: A Meeting Place
The momosphere has become a haven for like-minded moms who stumble across posts about potty training, preteen angst, or toddler tantrums and return for more.
Sometimes, those virtual connections blossom into real-life friendships — the ultimate blogging dividend.
“Blogging, and especially mommy blogging, is about community and conversation: two things that mothers, especially mothers of very young children, are often desperate for,” says Donders.
“With blogging, I can write about my frustrations, my fears, the things that haunt me in the wee hours of the morning, and find a welcoming audience of friends (and sometimes strangers) who offer advice or even just a cyber hug.”
The power of this community can also be mobilized for change — from rallying for breastfeeding clinic funding to advocating for childcare programs.
At its best, the momosphere fosters creative, mom-inspired solutions and grassroots activism worth blogging about.
The Dark Side
Not everything in the momosphere is uplifting.
When you put your private life on public display, you open yourself to criticism from anyone — a mother-in-law, a boss, a mean-spirited blogger, or an Internet troll.
Many moms learn to be selective about what they share.
“As my daughter grew and developed her own voice and personality, I had to find ways to portray her while protecting her too,” says Good.
“I found that the best way to do so was never to show her full face in photos — instead letting her hands, her figure, and descriptions of her whimsies convey who she is.”
Beyond privacy concerns, there’s also competitive tension within the blogosphere.
For some, the lure of book deals, ad revenue, and viral fame turns blogging into a numbers game — about clicks, hits, and audience share — often eroding the supportive spirit that drew many moms to blogging in the first place.
Final Thoughts
Blogging has transformed the way moms share stories, seek advice, and build community.
While it has its risks, for many mothers it’s a lifeline — a way to be heard, to connect, and to create something lasting in the ever-changing journey of parenting.