Mommy Writers

I’ve been asked what I think about the so-called “mommy bloggers”. This is a group of women who primarily publish online articles about the cutesy things their kids do then subsequently go on forums to discuss the difficulties of raising children while being a writer. Many of these women are middle class or upper middle class, stay-at-home moms with husbands who blissfully allow them to want for nothing. Huh.

 

Well, as a childless, unmarried woman with no intention of popping one out anytime soon, I can’t really relate. It’s certainly no secret that “anyone can be a writer” is the mantra propagated by online content mills making bank off of the naivety and desperation of those wishing to write for a living. However, the culture surrounding the mommy blogger movement can be described as pathetic at best and toxic at worst.

 

Despite what American culture wants women to believe, the ability to pop out a kid or two is not a professional achievement. It isn’t something you will win a medal for or be able to put on your resume. Having a child is a sacred responsibility, one that is not for everyone. It is something that should have a lot of thought behind it. After all, we are talking about a human life. Shouldn’t that human life remain ever more precious if it’s yours?

 

Celebrity culture has pumped up the idea of motherhood, shaming all who do not wish to participate and pitting those who do against each other. From what I’ve seen, these women are either constantly consoling each other about stupid things. “It’s okay if your little Tommy got a ‘D’ on his assignment. Just be positive with him and he’ll do better next time.” Worse, if they aren’t consoling each other, they are always trying to one-up each other. It’s like a vicious, terrible cycle of consoling, one-upping, then consoling again. Yikes.

 

Please note that I am not saying that successful female authors who have children are somehow any less worthy. In fact, I have a great deal more respect for women like J.K. Rowling than I do for half these middle-aged chicken heads roaming Internet forums, writing $5 parenting articles for coffee money while their husbands buy them a Buick.