Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Not just a Mummy Blogger

This morning my MummyAlarm went off, I stretched and got out of my MummyBed while cursing the single digit temperature and wondering if I could somehow will the heater to turn on.

I made some MummyToast, sat on my MummyCouch and turned on my MummyTV.

After watching some MummyPrograms, I brushed my MummyTeeth and styled my MummyHair before getting in my MummyCar to go out to and do MummyThings.

You see, since reproducing, it would appear that all my stuff is now MummyStuff, all my thoughts are now MummyThoughts and all my work is now MummyWork, particularly since I went and got myself a MummyBlog.

But I've never actually had a problem with the term MummyBlogger and readily identify myself as one despite loathing the word mummy. This blog started when I was up the duff and I wrote almost soley about this new direction my life was about to take. I wrote about birth choices, delayed cord clamping, preparing the nursery - you know, all the boring shit that no one gives a fuck about.

As I moved on from the intense first months of parenthood where I spent most of my time figuring out how this tiny human worked to a stage where my boobs got to spend at least some of the day inside my top, I started talking about other things. Random things that had little to do with whether I had a mini-Map Guy running around or not.

Even though every single post wasn't about nappies and breastfeeding, I still identified as a MummyBlogger because I was a mum who blogged. I blog about life and a large part of my life right now is my kid. Though I draw the line at discussing his bowel motions. This blog is a poo free zone. Lots of boobs though.

Whether it's because I've grown a thicker skin with a few years of blogging under my belt or the fact that I've embraced the word from the get go, calling me a MummyBlogger is as much of an insult as calling me white, chubby or asthmatic. You can't offend me with a fact



Some really cool things have happened because of this little MummyBlog. I've watched this Glowing community grow and some amazing opportunities opened up to me because of it. I became a writer for The Daily Buzz, was the expo coordinator for DPCON12, spoke at the Media140 conference about the power of blogs, contributed to the Things They Didn't Tell You ebook to raise money for Foundation 18, will soon be speaking to PR students about working with blogs and just recently I've been taken on as a writer for another site (more on that soon).

But that pales in comparison to the successes of my fellow MummyBloggers. Some have turned their blogs in to businesses, some have gone on to write for major publications, become published authors, others have become professional speakers. The list goes on and on and on because they're a pretty amazing bunch. Where they find the time I have no freaking clue, but I'd hazard a guess they spend less time faffing about on Twitter than I do.

So my point, because after all the waffling I do actually have one, is that my issue is not when you call me (or the friends I've made from this gig) a MummyBlogger. My issue, is when you put the word 'just' in front of it.

Do you love or loathe the term?

EDIT: Turns out I used some similar phrases in this post as the amazing Bianca from Big Words did in her post about why she isn't a Mummy Blogger! Great mind think alike... and came to opposite conclusions on the term Mummy Blogger! And yes, I totally freaked out when this was pointed out to me and went "She'll think I copied her! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

51 comments:

  1. I too have no problem with the term 'mummy blogger'. I don't like the word mummy, but I figure it flows better than 'mum blogger' and they're just defining us as a collective group. I've never heard anyone say just a mummy blogger, but that would make me cross! I'm not just anything..

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  2. You're not a mummy blogger, you are a writer. How do I know this? Cause I saw the first paragraph of this story in my dash board, read it and wanted to know more. And here I am, read it, liked it and felt the need to let you know. Now I'm heading off over the twitter to follow your "waffles" there. Why? because I like your WRITING. It's as simple as that.

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  3. I am someone's mummy and a blogger, so it rolls that way. What I don't like is generalisations :)

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  4. flyingdrunkenmonkeyJuly 10, 2012 at 10:25 AM

    I only don't like it because it so easily becomes patronizing. There's always the implied "just" before it. :(

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  5. When I see the term mummy blogger I picture little ones at mums feet calling out muuuumeeee..
    There are plenty of wonderful blog writers who dont have children young enough to call them mummy anymore.So maybe mummy blogger doesnt fit them as it once may have.
    I dont blog but love to read the amazing words of incredible writers like yourself.So many people seem to look down on the term mummy blogger that I feel it doesnt give enough credit to the standard of writing out there in blog world.
    I so hate the word 'just' infront of mummy blogger or housewife.Being a stay at home mum I copped the just a housewife term plenty a time.
    There is no 'just' in anything one puts time and effort into.
    Keep up the great writing.Love your posts as I never know what to expect and you know variety is the spice of life :) xx

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  6. "You can't offend me with a fact. "
    Love love LOVE! that line.
    I don't much like the word 'mummy' (makes me think of middle aged men who still need theirs) but I am very much a mummy blogger... and I don't have the slightest problem with that. After all I am a mum, I blog and quite often I blog about being a mum.... am not offended by facts either!

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  7. I'm jealous of it, because at least if I was a mum, then I'd be able to easily label my blog.

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  8. The word "just" is probably the biggest, "politest" insult anyone can use. (And so many people use it against themselves.)
    "Oh, I'm just a mum"
    "She's just a girl"
    "Oh, we're just friends"
    Enough!



    I am a Mummy Blogger. And, like I'm proud of my kids, I'm proud of the fact I can write about them in a way that people obviously enjoy reading. If that's what a Mummy Blogger is, I'll take the label happily.

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  9. Good on you, can't offend me with a fact either, amazing!! Doesn't phase me if someone refers to me as a Mummy Blogger, even though it started as an extension of my design business, which i was only doing as i had 4 children, otherwise i'd still be a pharmacologist & guess what, NOT blogging!! Just don't understand why we must be labelled, i'm a mum, who blogs about mummy things, whatever, no niche for me. Straight up, it's a privilege to be a mother & have the time to blog. Love Posie
    http://posiepatchworkblog.blogspot.com.au/

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  10. I'm not a big fan of the term but in general, I don't care what I'm called. I just want someone to read my blog! :-)

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  11. I completely agree. I think if a mum who blogs is labelled a "Mummyblogger" then everyone else who blogs should be a "something" blogger! eg businessblogger, daddyblogger, singlewhitewomanblogger. Like you said, it's just a fact, not offensive.

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  12. Great post Glowless. Yeah, I don't love the term, and I don't know that I'd even be called one. Because if I do blog about any of my children, it will be about the teenager, and she doesn't call me mummy, unless she is about to ask for something controversial. I think mummy makes it sound childish, a folly, less than what it is. If it were dads blogging, I bet they'd be called "life bloggers", or "man bloggers", not "daddy bloggers". It's diminishing. I think we could transition to... "bloggers".

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  13. I Love it! I think you're somewhat a little more of a wine blogger than a mummy blogger, LMAO (joke) lol


    I suppose I re-branded from my name to Silly Mummy because of my son and that's what he calls me when I act dumb... but being a mum is not all that I know. I was approached by a PR4 blogger to guest post on his blog earlier this year. He said to me that he's seen my blog and that he was satisfied that I'm NOT a mummy blogger. I asked what he meant, he said he didn't see anything about screaming babies and nappies, so would I mind blogging for him and linking to my non mummy blog as compensation? So I suppose I'm NOT a mummy blogger to some while others probably label me as? Totally confused... BRB need a coffee.

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  14. Totally agree on the 'just'. Haven't met a single blogger who is 'just' a mummy blogger yet. x

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  15. Not offended at all especially when my kids don't call me Mummy!!!! Instead it's Mama or just plain Mum. I'm a brand new at blogging and super excited!! Great post Glow Mama <3
    http://fitnessfoodandstyle.blogspot.com.au/

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  16. Oddly, I never cared much what other people called me. I think of 'mummy blogger' as a PR term. I fit a demographic. Meh. I'm totally with you on the boobs but no poo rule. x

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  17. I completely agree - it is the word "just" that makes my blood boil x

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  18. You're right, it's not offensive, it's just a fact. But why then aren't all bloggers issued with a descriptor before the 'blogger' title, daddy blogger, business blogger, single and child free blogger?

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  19. I agree. The term mommy or mummy blogger doesn't bother me, but don't put just in front of it.

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  20. I agree. The term mommy or mummy blogger doesn't bother me, but don't put just in front of it.

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  21. I don't like the term, never have. I do find it offensive, but that's just me.


    Ironically, when I check my tags, as in what I write about, it's parenting, children and childhood. No. I am not a mummy blogger ;-)


    I just happen to be a woman who has children and who blogs.

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  22. Love it. This topic must be doing the rounds, I blogged about it too a couple of days ago. I've only been blogging a little while and I've now upgraded myself to "social commentator".

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  23. Ooh Jane if you link your site when you comment I can go over and have a look :) Social commentator, I like it :)

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  24. Couldn't help but giggle at your wink, Dorothy! I think there are a LOT of women who have children and blog who don't fall in to the "mummy blogger" category.

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  25. Just in front of anything isn't nice. Except when offered a Tim Tam and you say "Just one please!!"

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  26. Most of them are. There are tech bloggers, lifestyle bloggers, fitness bloggers, personal bloggers, daddy bloggers, food bloggers, beauty bloggers... the list is endless.

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  27. It's just a horrible word. See what I did there? :P

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  28. Awesome point, K. And I think we need to be heavily promoting the boobs but no poo rule.

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  29. Hey Dani! Thanks for dropping by, so good to meet new bloggers :) Checked out your site and your header images are gorgeous!!! Will be heading there for recipes for sure x

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  30. I have to admit I've had the song "I'm just a girl" stuck in my head since writing this. Catchy song.

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  31. I am TOTALLY a wine blogger on weekends!!! YEAH!!
    Also please tell me you didn't take a single link as payment for your work :(

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  32. There's a few daddy bloggers around who call themselves such. Super Daddy in the US is my favourite :)

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  33. Haha Posie, so true! By the way, I'm considering buying a treadmill just so I can turn it in to a ghost like you did for your party! x

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  34. It's very insulting. So many mums say they are "just" a SAHM and all I can think is "Just?!?!?!?! JUST?!?!?!?! You do EVERYTHING!!!"

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  35. You're a food, fitness and frivolity blogger!!!

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  36. I agree that once a mummyblogger doesn't mean always a mummyblogger. I know for me, if I'm still blogging, there will be a time where I have to ask Tricky's permission before writing about him... if he says no I won't write about him and it will be less kid-focused.
    Just in front of housewife or SAHM is one of my pet hates :(

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  37. It does easily become patronizing, but only if we let it.

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  38. I get what you mean Chantel :)

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  39. What a lovely compliment, thank you! I don't consider the stuff on here "writing" in general... it's mostly just sarcasm disguised as writing! Although I do do some writing work on the side :)

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  40. Just anything is an awful way to be described.

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  41. Frivolity! That's the word I need. COs Fashion doesn't quite fit ;)

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  42. I can't separate it either. Recently in Sydney, The Jive kept telling me off for not being able to "turn the mum off". It is who I am right now. I know it will change as he grows and becomes more dependent, but right now, I'm mama.

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  43. HI Glowless, sorry I forgot to link the blog (am new!). Anyway, it's www.insane-jane.com You may also like to read my views on Fifty Shades as well.

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  44. Touché mummy; u r on the money!

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  45. Thanks Jane! If you sign up for a Disqus account, or put your URL in the field, it will link automatically from now on. Well it should, a few people have difficulties with Disqus :( x

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  46. As long as you enjoying blogging that is the main thing and who cares what others think

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