Sometimes being a stay-at-home mom can be isolating. Though I have several friends, and I’m beginning to make new mama-friends through playgroups, I still don’t feel like I get to socialize enough. When I’m with other mothers, the children interrupt our conversations constantly. I also have to drive at least thirty minutes to meet anybody (not to mention the hour it takes me to get the kids and myself ready and packed into the car), so this discourages me from planning too many social activities.
I have always been a homebody anyway, and I enjoy quiet activities such as reading and writing. I guess what all this means is that in this age of technology, I am destined to be a blogger. Now that I’ve renewed my interest in photography, blogging is also a perfect outlet for that. I’m sure if you’re a creative type, you’ll understand that showcasing your work is the final step of the artistic pursuit.
Of course, there are real artists who find public approval through gallery showcases and selling their art. For people like me who dabble and dream -- we are bloggers. Okay, okay…Bloggers cover a wider spectrum than that, and perhaps I can consider myself an artist, though I certainly bow to folks who have spent their time and money going to school and/or have spent years honing their craft.
There must be millions of blogs on the Internet that cover virtually every subject. Some are great and some are bad, and there are plenty at every point in between. Bloggers have even become the media source for certain areas. (Check out EveryBlock.com) I find it incredible that anyone – you or me – can create a blog at any time, about anything, and then at the click of a button, the whole world can read it (if they find it).
As I’ve mentioned in a previous column, I have come across hundreds of mommy and photography blogs because these are subjects that I’m interested in. Unfortunately, I seldom visit them. I don’t have the time, and I do feel that one must be careful not to let the Internet suck you in and grab hold, not letting you up for air for hours at a time. This is not healthy. (But if this does happen to you, try having a second baby – that should cure it.)
Seriously, I do believe that blogging is a wonderful creative outlet, if it’s done right. To have a successful or popular blog, you need to find the perfect niche and offer something that your audience wants to return to again and again. (Check out http://thepioneerwoman.com/ or http://www.soulemama.com/.) I think you also need to become extremely active in the blogging world because leaving comments on other blogs is what will eventually lead people back to yours. Blogging can be a full-time job, if you want it to be. (And don’t expect to make money at it.)
If you are like me and have no interest in spending that much time on the computer, you should blog only to have fun and to have a creative outlet. Or you might just want to show your kid’s photos to your family members. (Most blog sites offer password protection, if you want to limit your site to just a few viewers.) With no expectations, blogging can help quench that thirst for the artist in you who wants an exhibit, and over the long haul, you may meet like-minded people in the blog-world. This can certainly help an isolated mama deprived of conversation.
Interested in trying out a blog of your own? Check out Wordpress.com or Typepad.com. They both offer beautiful and user-friendly blog templates. If photography is your thing, check out sites like Flickr.com or Smugmug.com (these are more for photo-sharing, not blogging). For a professional photographer’s blog or a full website, I love the looks that Squarespace.com offer. Of course, there are other options. Just do a search of your own.
And oh yeah, if you’re interested in checking out my blog, you can find it on my website, which is www.mamaofletters.com.
Shelli Bond Pabis is a columnist for the Barrow Journal. You can reach her at shelli@mamaofletters.com.
