Oh Melissa Gira Grant, aren't you cute with your "let's take a big huge dump on mommybloggers" while backhandedly praising a non-mommy blogger for her internet success. I was one of her Twitter followers who watched and waited with growing anticipation for "@savvyauntie's" site to launch. Melanie Notkin is, without a doubt, one of the kindest, smartest, savviest, kick-ass-est people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. (Yes, in person, finally, at BlogHer.) As a woman and mother with two sisters and a best friend who is the best auntie anyone could ask for, I give Melanie lots of credit for creating a welcoming, informative, and beautiful site where women without kids but who love kids can feel at home.
You and your single, childless friends must snicker into your avocado-tamarind mojito-rita-tinis about those poor, sad, exploitative mommy bloggers making cheddar off the backs of their children. OMG, how could they?! Writing about poop and leaky boobies and spit-up! Gross! What sell-outs.
Or wait, would that be me presuming something about you and your life that isn't true?
Women who blog, especially mothers who blog, are constantly subjected to condescention and cynicism surrounding our successes. (Not just from MSM, sometimes it's from other bloggers or even our friends.) We are made to second-guess our choices. We are forced to question our voices or intent. We hold back our truth because we are women. We are made to feel shame for earning money from our blogs whether it's $5 a month or $5,000. Somehow, because we are mothers—tech savvy mothers at that—we're not as legitimate.
We gather together at places like BlogHer so that we can have our successes acknowledged by other women who know the bullshit we constantly face. We can share our truths, let out our frustrations among people who understand, we can support each other and offer advice. In that regard, a conference just for women who blog is a beautiful thing.
Melissa, I can't suddenly sprout a penis so I guess I'll just have to put up with the disrespect. But I'm kinda tired of it. Especially when it's other women writing the mean-spirited shit.
Sometimes, it's okay to just say, "Congratulations on your success."
