The Sisterhood That's Redefining the Role of Motherhood
I can’t believe it’s already Sunday and there is yet another snow storm forecasted for the East Coast this week. Will the insanity ever end? And how long until spring break? #snowlame
Anyway, I am thrilled to share that I was interviewed at the fabulous She Posts this weekend! Would love for you to check it out as I talk all things blogging, branding and monetizing. And yes, that totally deserves a #WOOHOO
TMC welcomes Stephanie, author of the blog Figments of a Mom. I have to tell you that I actually met Stephanie for the first time last year at a blog conference. She has been an active TMC member since the launch and when we met in person, it was like I was connecting with a friend I’ve known for years. Her humor and personality as found on her blog is also translated in real life. She’s a great bloggy friend and one you need to get to know! Here is how she describes her blog in her own words.
“Figments of a Mom originated as my creative outlet in a boring job, and served as my uncensored online therapy session. That version lived a very short life when my site was unwittingly shared with the one person who drove me to therapy. Figments of a Mom has since evolved. It’s a little bit of everything, plus slightly censored. I still vent about annoying people, share photos of my kids, talk about mom-life experiences, highlight occasional travels, and anything else that feels inspiring. In fact, it’s rather scattered—which would represent me pretty well.
I am on a journey to learn as many skills as possible in the limited amount of time I have. Next up is woodworking! It’s also the year I turn 40. And I am in deep, deep denial. Like miles deep. Because I’m quite certain I’m a 30-year-old stuck in an almost 40-year-old’s body. And that’s no fun! 2011 is bound to be an interesting year for this blog.”
Be sure to check out the blog and follow her on Twitter! New to TMC? Join us! We LOVE new members!
*To be considered as a Featured TMC Blogger, be sure to comment on the blog of this week’s feature! Have a great weekend ladies!
If you are a Stay-at-Home-Mom and there are days that you feel you have done nothing more than wipe snot from noses, clean spilled juice from the floor and fold more laundry than you would care to admit – you are not alone.
If you feel lonely, isolated and still not sure of where you “fit” in, especially since you’ve given up your career and now find yourself meandering through toward a different path – you are not alone.
If you have second-guessed yourself on a constant basis as well as your choices and the way you parent – you are not alone.
If you have felt mommy guilt for losing your patience too quickly with your kids or for snapping at your husband for no real reason because you feel like you are losing your mind – you are not alone.
If the cashier lady at Target is the only face-to-face communication you receive in a day and you find yourself jumping on Twitter to get some adult conversation – you are not alone.
If you are a Work-Out-of-the-Home Mom and there are days you cry at your desk missing your babies – you are not alone.
If you wake up at the crack of dawn to ensure you get to work on time while wrangling your kids in a sheer panic to get them out the door as well – you are not alone.
If you have a brutal commute with no end in sight and you wonder how the hell you got here – you are not alone.
If you drop your kids off at day-care and think about the little time you will have with your kids while pondering the idea that there has to be an easier way to make this thing work – you are not alone.
If you fight with your husband as to who will take a day off from work because your kid is sick – you are not alone.
If you are a Work-at-Home-Mom and there are moments when you feel like there is absolutely no balance in your life – you are not alone.
If your laptop has landed in your kitchen and has since become your home office – you are not alone.
If you feel torn between trying to be the perfect mom while maintaining a job and doing both simultaneously and feel as though you are failing at both miserably – you are not alone.
If you feel as though you are losing your mind trying to squeeze in conference calls between play-dates and answering emails during snack time – you are not alone.
If you don’t know when your real work day begins or ends and you still don’t know what the hell you are making for dinner each night – you are not alone.
*I am a mother and I have been all three of the above roles and I can tell you that not one of these jobs is easier than the other – they all present their own set of challenges because they all have the word MOM in the title.
And lately, I’ve been feeling so many of those things but you know what’s helping me?
This little ol’ blog.
Because it’s here, in this space, I am surrounded by a supportive community of women and mothers that remind me every single day – *I AM NOT ALONE.*
The Marketplace proudly welcomes The Vintage Pearl which began in 2007 by Erin Edwards. As a SAHM mom of four, Erin began creating jewelry as an outlet which started as a small business. However, when you discover and own a piece of jewelry from The Vintage Pearl, you will immediately understand why this business has grown immensely over the last four years.
In September 2010, Erin went from a very small shop to storefront retail store owner in Oklahoma and couldn’t be more thrilled. Every piece is made entirely from sterling silver and The Vintage Pearl only uses the finest materials to complete their designs. You will find this throughout the chains, rings, and other pieces offered unless it is noted in the description on the website. In addition, each letter is hand-stamped making every piece truly unique!
I know many Theta Mom readers are avid Vintage Pearl fans. Once you find Erin’s site, trust me, you’ll be hooked and you’ll certainly want a piece to call your own. When you shop the site, you will find everything from precious keepsakes to gorgeous bracelets and of course, I would love to share with you some of The Vintage Pearl’s latest creations! Erin does a fantastic job creating new designs and she updates the site on a regular basis. She does an excellent job of keeping us coming back for more.
I adore the new Vintage Scripture Necklace:
What I love most about this design is that you can stamp your favorite scripture on the back. This is the perfect reminder of something you’re praying for and it even makes the perfect gift for a friend in need. This is a great example of what makes The Vintage Pearl so special. Each piece really reflects a unique feel.
Another new product is the Vintage Peas in a Pod:
You can actually customize this necklace by adding a name charm or initials. And the Monogram Necklace is an all-time classic. Customizing this necklace makes this a go-to piece that never goes out of style. It’s a staple that could be added to any wardrobe.
And what better time than now to own a piece from The Vintage Pearl because Erin is offering an additional 10% off your entire order, exclusively for Theta Mom readers through the end of February! Enter the code THETA10 at checkout.
Whatever you purchase from The Vintage Pearl will stay in your collection for life which really makes her business so timeless. Become a fan of The Vintage Pearl on Facebook to stay updated on the latest designs and discounts and of course, follow The Vintage Pearl on Twitter. Erin also created a blog so you can read about her creations more in-depth and her experiences as a mom turned business owner.
Theta Mom® abides by word of mouth marketing standards and believes in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The Vintage Pearl is a proud sponsor of Theta Mom and I was compensated for this post. However, all opinions expressed are purely my own and the content of this post was not influenced in any way.
My first guest post for TMC Network is Katie Derman, a working mom who is the author of the blog Articles from Addington. Her main blogging goal is to inspire and encourage other moms. She shares her perspective on blogging, especially for those who are just starting out:
So who are you? What hats do you wear in life? Are you a new mom or an experienced mom to multiple children? Maybe you have twins; bless you. Each of us has a unique and unusual story. Many of us entered the blogosphere by reading the stories of others and feel moved and motivated to share our story with the world. Blogging can make each day brighter than the next and open up a whole new world you never knew existed!
I entered blogging when I found myself working full-time after having my son, with no time for the local neighborhood Stay At Home Moms. Although I didn’t mind working, I felt as though I was missing out on a community of moms who were either experiencing the same things as me or had more knowledge and could share advice. At first I wasn’t sure of my blog niche (that came later), but I did use my first post to define who I was and what I felt the purpose of my blog would be. Suddenly, I was amazed at the interest given back and like a kid at Christmas, I found myself peeking at the ticker to see how many more followers I had.
Enter a community of amazing people! I immediately appreciated the honesty of these new online friends; from ways to clean your house to the time saving tips necessary for survival as a working Mom.
So you’ve begun to write posts, now how do you get involved in the blogging community? First, as you read both new and favorite blogs, reflect and thoughtfully comment. Consider sending an email to either a reader or blogger with a more personal message or a question.
Join communities like TMC and be an active participant. Communities are a great place to learn, share, support, and meet fellow bloggers. You’ll discover others with similar interests and struggles to you; no, you are not the only one that only slept two hours last night and is trying to teach a school house full of kids going through puberty!
Once you become an active blogger, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. The answer is keeping a grounded perspective and being organized. About one month in, I can remember wanting to be the newest superstar Mom Blogger. I also remember my husband asking if we needed a third pillow in our bed for the computer. Building a blog and community of readers takes time. Although difficult, it is important to remember the big picture and your purpose behind writing a blog.
It also helps to be organized. Do you keep a blogging calendar? It is so helpful to not return to your computer each day and have a blank screen staring at you. Plan your posts in advance, understanding that you can be flexible if something exciting comes up. Break blogging into smaller tasks spread throughout several sittings: brainstorm post topics, outline your posts, collect photographs, write, and revise. I have a folder on my desktop and weekly folders within it for my outlines, photographs and ideas.
At the end of the day, jump in with both feet, but don’t forget your life jacket. Blogging should be a fun way to share information or a story. If you find yourself worrying about your blog instead of cuddling with your little one while singing the theme from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for the 500th time, relax. It’s not a competition and your family still needs you. Remain true to who you are in what you write, review, and comment on.
Thank you to all of you who are brave enough to blog each day. Know that you help and enrich the lives of many people you may never meet.
Please send me an email if you are interested in guest posting at Theta Mom® for TMC Network. Full details can be found on the Network page.
