I am not attending the Blogher ‘09 conference that is occurring this week in Chicago. I have always cringed at the term “housewife” and I have yet to warm to the modern expression of, “Stay at home mom”. The term “mommy blogger” is no less appealing but as I sit here writing and blindly social networking, in my father’s favorite smoking jacket, at the ungodly hour of 3:34am, I am realizing that a mommy blogger is exactly what I have become and I am ruing my decision to not buy a ticket back in March.
At the time of ticket sales for the conference, I was a blogging virgin and I did not fully understand the magnitude of the world I had immersed myself into. The conference is exactly what I need to break in to the important social networking aspect of blogging and meet the online community.
Instead, I am a wall-flower who is reading about all the opportunities I will be missing to meet my niche. Normally shy in large groups, I think I could gather the courage to rally and join the 1,500 other bloggers to attend the Friday night “Mommy needs a cocktail” party. Since I never sleep, I would be in full immersion at the conference jumping right in to all the social events from entering the Hilarious Tweet contest or the Best Pictures Taken at a Party contest to singing my heart out at the Karoeke party.
Certainly all of these opportunities to meet and mingle would be better then sitting at home by myself blindly learning the forever changing world of Cyberspace.
I relate to your animosity. I’ve shunned the “mom” anything identity for years but despite 10 years of undergraduate and graduate schooling being a mom is my greatest accomplishment. At this point I could care less when people ask me – so – will you return to work after your son joins Kindergarten despite all my efforts to establish a lucrative home business. I just tell them I have no desire to work/ slave for anyone else but myself or my family. Wish I had the opportunity to go to the conference. Best of luck on your journey!
In my mind I have always compartmentalized Mamas and Mommies, I am a Mama just as my husband is a Papa. There is no basis in reality for this but in our minds being Mama and Papa signifies that we don’t subscribe to the Mommy culture of must haves and fear that is out there. But then we have chosen to live our lives somewhat off of the mainstream ideal anyway. As a Mama I look as my work of parenting as an important part of who I am but not the only part.
I’ll be there with you next year! Jillian, I love your site and your Vini-man makes me laugh out loud. Thanks!