Divisions

I am homeschooling two of my children in Catholic Catechism, although I have to keep remembering that we call it "Faith Formation" now. My first assignment for my five year old daughter is to teach her the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. I am blanching at this, because this, of course, is where it begins. The idea that a woman is less than, easily corruptible, designed as a helper, created second--it all comes from this one story.

The blogosphere that is filled with "Mommy Bloggers" seems to be of two very distinctive camps. There are those that call themselves "Traditional Moms" and those that embrace a more modern view of motherhood. The two camps seem very entrenched in their particular philosophies and there seems to be very little overlap. In the face of all this, I don't want to teach my daughter a story that may be used against her as she works to attain her dreams in the future.

It is clear to me that these blogs serve a very good purpose. They give like minded Mothers a place to connect and get new ideas about parenting. They offer a place to blow off steam and to recharge. They may be one of the few ways a woman at home with young children can connect with other adults during the course of the day. Even in the face of this, does the possibility exist that these blogs are furthering the divide between motherhood camps?

I want to find a way to teach my daughter that it is ok to be a stay at home Mom if she chooses. It is ok to be a CEO or professional if she chooses. It is ok to be something in between if she chooses. The important thing is that she be the one to make that decision. I don't want her to make it because she thinks a bible story compels her, or because it is the popular movement at the time. I want her to make a decision that works for her particular family at that particular time.

It is my hope that as the blogosphere continues to evolve that we see a greater understanding and sharing among Mothers with less judgement and encampment. I encourage everyone to read blogs written by those who do not look like you, or think like you. I think that a great opportunity to truly learn about new ways of mothering are lost when we connect only with those who share our styles and personalities.

In the end I want my daughter to see that I was able to make the mothering choices that I did because of those women who came before us. I want her to teach her children that some facets of modernity and tradition can exist side by side--but only when women are truly supported in the choices they make--will the divide between camps begin to narrow.

Why do we blog?

We are reading and discussing now in my American Motherhood class about the whole notion and reason for the "Mommy Blogger." For sure we have seen that there is now a great deal of advertising that can be attached to the web page (and the content) of a popular blog. It begs the question of why people choose to blog? Is it just a need to have a voice and be heard? Is it to make money and score free swag for talking up a particular product on your blog? Or is it something more? Is the content of a Mommy blog----literature?

In some ways-writing this blog makes me feel a tiny fraction of what I feel every day before I send my kids off into this world. It makes no difference if they are headed to school, to a friends house, or a sporting event. I feel that they are something that I have created. Some days I spend a great deal of time nurturing, making sure their grooming is top notch, and making sure they have every last thing they will need during the time they are out of the house. Other days I am lucky just to get them to the bus on time. Every time I am nervous. They are a part of me, a creation of mine, a little piece of my heart. Will they be judged kindly? Will others see in them all of the positive attributes that I see? Will they project the image of well cared for, smart, attractive children that I want the world to see them as?

It is the same with writing. We know we will be judged by it. It is crafted not only with our hands, but with our minds and hearts as well. The first time I posted my blog link on a public sphere, I started to sweat. I thought I was going to vomit. It is one thing to post in cyberspace for people you don't know, it is another to open yourself up to criticism from those you know well and care about the most.

The Mommy blog is going to be what the writer decides to make of it. It can easily descend into a Capitalist pursuit, or it can be melodic and lyrically written. Whatever the writer chooses to make of it, you can bet she puts just a little bit of herself into every sentence.