tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post8340400867980296556..comments2007-02-22T12:11:18.276-08:00GIRL'S GONE CHILDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07130764109593048451noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-78965846606742712902007-02-22T12:11:00.000-08:002007-02-22T12:11:00.000-08:00I don't consider myself a hipster parent, but I do blog about my kids. <BR/>I just think people should stop judging parents as a whole. The mommy wars, stay at home vs. working, whatever.<BR/>I do know one thing for sure...with that mention in Time, you will have more people coming to see your passion as a parent.<BR/>Please, continue on.<BR/>Cheers!HoorayForSaturdaywww.hoorayforsaturday.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-48915964663259340952007-02-20T23:19:00.000-08:002007-02-20T23:19:00.000-08:00Mom 101<BR/><BR/>is 100%... there is a little - ahem- tension between traditional MEDIA and blogging.<BR/><BR/>traditional parenting is an f'ing myth.mo-wohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934156423936866994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-67544012106557991052007-02-20T15:07:00.000-08:002007-02-20T15:07:00.000-08:00Heh, heh. When I read that <I>Time</I> piece, and saw you mentioned, all I could think was, "Hey, Rebecca's being criticized by the notoriously blog-unfriendly national media establishment just for being herself! Now she's REALLY made it. Kudos." And then I thought (see Punditmom's reaction): "And I <I>totally</I> read her blog before <I>Time</I> thought she was famous." <BR/><BR/>I have seen a lot of great responses to this around the parentblogosphere, but yours is one of the best. <BR/><BR/>I spend a lot of time, probably too much time, pondering just how, somehow, just being an ordinary twenty-something person became so totally irreconcileable in so many people's minds with motherhood. After all, many of our generation were born to parents who started having kids in their twenties.Jaelithehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12081888212421953409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-90347811158135094612007-02-16T09:40:00.000-08:002007-02-16T09:40:00.000-08:00<<<<< I am not a "modern parent." I'm just twenty-five years old. >>>>><BR/><BR/>Perfect line! I think maybe old people like me, who didn't know what e-mail was until they were 25, probably stress out more about this topic. It's humbling to watch your 3 year old weild a computer with more skill than you do, because you didn't really grow up with the technology!<BR/><BR/>But the world, life and everything changes and some people really want to resist that change -- and take it out on the next generation and the older people who aren't afraid to move forward.<BR/><BR/>Great post!MommyWithAttitudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11536278508991059301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-70737966437019791272007-02-15T07:40:00.000-08:002007-02-15T07:40:00.000-08:00You know, I started my blog specifically to write about Gabe. I did it to keep family up to date, to put up recent pictures, and to keep it as a reminder of what Gabe's life started out like. <BR/><BR/>But it honestly never occurred to me that he would someday be embarrassed by what I've written. Well, I guess it occurred to me, but I've always just been so sure that Gabe would find the archives of our lives to be a good thing. Definitely food for thought.<BR/><BR/>But the more I think about it, the more I want Gabe to someday read about his childhood through my eyes. I want there to be things written about me that he wouldn't have known simply in our relationship as parent/child. I want him to know that I am a person too, one with feelings that I took the time to write down for him to get to know me better when he's at an age to do so. I hope I haven't embarrassed him by what I've written. But I think it's important to leave my blog to him as a bit of a legacy to the person I am.Andreahttp://littlebalddoctors.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-23836633123446757452007-02-14T19:44:00.000-08:002007-02-14T19:44:00.000-08:00Congrats on the Time Magazine piece! I was waiting for R. to come out of her piano lesson this week as I was reading the piece and saw your NAME! I was so excited -- a blogger groupie -- "I sort of know her!"<BR/><BR/>I, too, struggle with the "my story" vs. "R's story" aspect of blogging. I hope she will understand when she is older and appreciate it when she's even older than that.PunditMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08105616175305695667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-39480652878364771972007-02-14T17:31:00.000-08:002007-02-14T17:31:00.000-08:00Thanks for this post, you and BubandPie and HBM and Andre inspired me this week and I wrote about somethings on my blog cause of this article...also am annoyed by Moby, babies are so intuitive.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09390898429089863816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-18293799001002316482007-02-14T07:00:00.000-08:002007-02-14T07:00:00.000-08:00I agree with you that the article was thought provoking. I just wish we could all drop the labels and get along. At the end of the day, I'm not sure where I fit into the what-type-of-parent-are-you spectrum, but I would hope that I could learn as much from a hipster parent as I could from a sexpot parent, a goober parent or a rocket scientist parent. As for whether my daughter will be upset by what I write someday? I'm from Louisiana, where we don't take ourselves all that seriously. If she chooses to waste her time on my blog, then I would hope she'd have a sense of humor about what I wrote, most of which is pretty benign stuff...<BR/><BR/>Life is too short. Period.Paigewww.theaverylaneexperience.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-35875237191289790462007-02-13T11:47:00.000-08:002007-02-13T11:47:00.000-08:00It wasn't until I read a blog that had psuedo-names (Sorry for bad spelling) for every member of the family that the woman was writing about and gave her reason as that she didn't want to endanger her children that I even thought about how open and revealing my blog is. If someone did read it and decide to seek me out they would have no problem whatsoever! <BR/><BR/>I did once have a guy turn up pre-Jim days as a 'suprise' with his 7yr old in tow who erfused to get out of the car and when he did, never revealed his face, hiding it under his top. maybe his dad had done this before. It was totally freaky. He knew the town I lived in, drove here, went to the local florest and asked if they knew where I loved. They did and BAM! SUPRISE!!!! <BR/><BR/>I did sen him packing and his poor, POOR child and maybe I should have learned from that mistake but I was in regular contact with that man. We had a cyber-flirting thing going on but in reality he had TOTALLY lied about his age/weight/personality!!!! Deary me. <BR/><BR/>I do write my blog as a diary. For something my family and friends to read and know more about me because I am not the best verbal communicator. I have received lovely emails and texts of my in-laws after they have read certain posts. I also love that I get total strangers reading it and making new friends like you. I do find it weird that local people I know read it and know more about me that maybe I'd like so now I have a Vox thingy so I want a proper rant or to write something very private I can do so.<BR/><BR/>Good post Bec. Miss you loads and trying to keep up with yours musings. Much love xxxxKellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11608353600377892342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-73762343279204126772007-02-13T07:34:00.000-08:002007-02-13T07:34:00.000-08:00I have never commented before,( I feel as if I have been reading since the begining) and not that you havent received enough encouragement already. However, with that said, I dont think that you could give Archer a better gift in life. To KNOW that your mother loved so much and enjoyed the ups and downs of motherhood enough to want to put it down for all to see. This is what makes you a great mother. What a proclimation of an amazing mother, one he will know beyond a shadow of a doubt. He will never have to say about you "what is she thinking?!?!?!" He will always know. Its truly not that different than showing your modern style baby book, with all your commentary... I think that we are all secretly jealous that you have the courage to follow your heart, and love your child so well. I know that concept is a struggle for many mothers, not being sure that we can do both well, with out cheating our child or ourselves at the same time. Be prud that you have found a balance. I am still looking for mine. Just know that you have at least touched my life... all the way in TN. and as a side note, my 2 year old loves to look at pictures of Archer, she even knows here by name. So at least he is getting good cosmic vibes from a peer. <BR/>may you be blessed, <BR/>EmilyEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13506722274625067808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-13853684928055421972007-02-13T03:09:00.000-08:002007-02-13T03:09:00.000-08:00repeating what others said, but our kids will always find something to be embarassed about. and makig a journal or a baby book was somthing our motehrs did for us so i can see the tendency to write and file away your baby's childhood has always been around. also, there are so many of us blogging about our kids .. their poop, the barf, their failings.. our failings as mothers... that even if they do find something offensive 10 years from now, chances are, most of their classmates are in the same boat with equally embarassing blogging mothers!!!! dont stop writing.The Mad Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535453643548976883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-61605532383707234182007-02-12T14:27:00.000-08:002007-02-12T14:27:00.000-08:00I know. I'm totally appalled by the typewriter fact but it's true. So unromantic.GIRL'S GONE CHILDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07130764109593048451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-27116076060713524442007-02-12T14:04:00.000-08:002007-02-12T14:04:00.000-08:00Was it throw up filled with meat? Cuz that would REALLY burn Moby up, and therefore be all the more punk rock. <BR/><BR/>My word verificationis "odpea". Yes, Rebecca, you are an "odpea" and I'm really mad at you that you've never used a typewriter. you should. The sound the letters make is super fun.MrsFortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14970080006884444863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-50299746926718466422007-02-12T10:52:00.000-08:002007-02-12T10:52:00.000-08:00hijacking your blog again..<BR/>reading the piece a little further, i think i was too quick to say that the author did not think about gender/community--he does talk about how women are historically isolated. but overall he is still cautionary and squeamish.gingajoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01356643079413822527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-91768688794343290502007-02-12T10:34:00.000-08:002007-02-12T10:34:00.000-08:00It was Anne Lamott that I was thinking of when I was reading the Time piece. What would be the difference? <BR/><BR/>The "passing the torch" line really bugged me. If there is a torch to be passed it is done when our children reach adulthood. Until then, prostrating ourselves at the altar of their childhood, isn't healthy for anyone involved.<BR/><BR/>What I can't figure out is whether the author is threatened by bloggers or just by mothers who don't fit the mold.Lissehomeintheworld.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-78472146213364488082007-02-12T10:30:00.000-08:002007-02-12T10:30:00.000-08:00and by "domestic" I mean "punk rock cool" of course. (heh!)gingajoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01356643079413822527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-34650100251109495212007-02-12T10:29:00.000-08:002007-02-12T10:29:00.000-08:00this topic is close to my heart right now--it's one i've been thnking about as someone who does not put pics of her kids online. i also think that one of the benefits of sharing photos in this way--and something the author missed in the article--is that by sharing images we can strengthen a sense of community and shared experience. images are powerful in that way. it's for this reason that i often wish i was a photo-sharer (and the reason i am not is mainly because it's the one thing that makes my husband--who supports my writing--very squeamish). <BR/><BR/>i think gender is a factor here too--perhaps men don't get how women can connect through gestures like these? (because it's more than a journal--it's a community, right?)<BR/>another way this is about gender--bashing women's writing--especially writing about mothering as not "proper writing"--centuries and centuries old.<BR/><BR/>what i love about blogging is that in centuries to come all the domestic voices of women that have been repressed in the past will be represented--loudly.gingajoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01356643079413822527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-43953405601395380472007-02-12T06:31:00.000-08:002007-02-12T06:31:00.000-08:00Moby makes me want to throw up too.Molly Chasenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-59307598861378922232007-02-11T20:35:00.000-08:002007-02-11T20:35:00.000-08:00Collecting labels at the door - loved that line. Because you know how I feel about labels.<BR/><BR/>I think I know why Moby bothers you: Because he takes himself so seriously and really ought to lighten up and crack a joke.mothergoosemousehttp://www.mothergoosemouse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-44258495250840557672007-02-11T20:20:00.000-08:002007-02-11T20:20:00.000-08:00All of your comments have been so insightful and wonderful, thank you. I agree with every one of you and know I'm in good company. Amazing women. Amazing writers. With stories that extend beyond the mundane. And much to share and be shared with. <BR/><BR/>Love to all of you.GIRL'S GONE CHILDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07130764109593048451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-11185785510564395762007-02-11T17:13:00.000-08:002007-02-11T17:13:00.000-08:00I think the piece was thought provoking, but not terribly insightful. I might be missing something, but I don't see a huge difference between the casual observance (or blog drop quote) of a modern parent who is slipping their kids in Sex Pistols onsies and people like my parents, who dragged us to folk concerts (I still have an affinity for Joan Baez because of those early experiences).<BR/><BR/>As for people "using" their kids as muses it has happened before the hipsters and it will happen forever. Take Sally Mann, for instance. She photographed her kids nude and they are known world wide. I understand her son's none too happy about it; but that's what he got an artist for a mother who took her inspiration from he and his sisters. <BR/><BR/>We can't possibly know what is going to make our kids wish we'd drop off the face of the universe but I guarantee, no matter what we do they'll be wanting us to leave them at the corner a duck when we drive past so their friends don't see. <BR/><BR/>Some day they're going to have to make the same decisions. All we can do is love as best we can, and hope that the best intensions sorts out the rest.toyfotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17925976386177377987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-35964349238909282452007-02-11T14:35:00.000-08:002007-02-11T14:35:00.000-08:00That was an interesting article for several reasons. I write about my children also, (under pseudonyms) but as a writer, you write what you know. And what I know best NOW is stitches and broken elbows and stinky feet.<BR/><BR/>The other point was insightful also. Parenting didn't seem so shocking to OUR parents probably, because EVERYONE was doing it - they didn't have the choices we do now. So when we grew up thinking of all the wild careers we'd pursue, and then found ourselves with kids, well yeah, who woulda thunk it?<BR/><BR/>Finally, I don't think it's hipster to make my children listen to the Beatles instead of my listening to Barney. That's just good sense and a way to take care of your mental health.Anne Glamorehttp://mytinykingdom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-69563273108080082692007-02-11T13:31:00.000-08:002007-02-11T13:31:00.000-08:00YOu're right, Rebecca, we all need more friends who are kindred, especially when mothering from an angle. Blogging is a huge blessing and an amazing way to build a community. The guy in the Times piece is full of shit, if you ask me, but then, you're much much nicer than I.<BR/><BR/>And prettier too :)<BR/>RachaelCrankMamawww.crankmama.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-7253515589848500812007-02-11T11:42:00.000-08:002007-02-11T11:42:00.000-08:00Delurking here after reading for a long time.<BR/>I agree completely with what you said about age not mattering as a blogger.<BR/>I'm fairly young too (relatively speaking) and I didn't fit into any group - the teen moms or the 30+ moms. I've found here that just doesn't matter.<BR/>And, I think you're right. My kid will tell me if he doesn't want me to write about him just as yours will. Until then, keep writing.Laural Dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08459584652802529868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18751784.post-18382592424857448082007-02-11T08:23:00.000-08:002007-02-11T08:23:00.000-08:00You are not alone. Over 30 years ago, Laurel Lee was diagnosed with cancer while pregnant with her third child. She kept a journal through her experience and published it. This gained her international notoriety and she travelled the world, with that child, to give inspirational talks on her experience. Her story was about her love for her child, her experience as a pregnant mother needing chemo, and making choices that potentially compromised her life to save her daughter's. Her daughter grew up in the shadow of this story, even a made-for-TV after-school movie. This experience empowered her to learn that she could do and be anything. That traditional life did not bound her. You have nothing to fear for in your child's future with you as a chronicler of his childhood. http://www.lighthousetrails.com/Laurelbio.htmMusinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17420861014540938700noreply@blogger.com