I just read a post from the Grown and Flown blog, where they discuss parenting from the other side, when you’ve got an empty nest or close to it. Their post, “Why Are Mommy Bloggers So Young, Clever and Inexperienced?” caught my eye because while I don’t think I know it all, I don’t consider myself “inexperienced.” So I wanted to see what they had to say:
…is taking parenting advice from a young mommy blogger a bit like getting directions to a far off, and difficult to reach locale, by someone who traveled part of the way there, once.
Hmm. I know a lot of bloggers do have young children. The authors themselves point to a recent Mashable article that said 89% of moms who read or write blogs have children under the age of 11. Does that mean that our contributions aren’t worthwhile? Of course not.
I realize the authors at Grown and Flown are simply asking where the more seasoned moms are – where are the mothers who know all about the college admission process and what to say when your son comes home with his first girlfriend? And that’s cool. They ask:
If you are still parenting on the easy side of adolescence, how do you know your method of discipline has worked? Isn’t the test of parenting what happens as our children escape our grip?
FOLLOW THE YOUNG MOMMY LIFE ON FACEBOOK
But I think one reason bloggers tend to be younger is because we’re seeking community. Acceptance. Friendship. Solidarity. Someone on the other side of the screen who can say, “Yes! I get embarrassed when my kids act out at the park even though they don’t act like that at home!” or “Yes, I’m so tired I could scream! WHY WON’T THESE KIDS SLEEP?!”
Mothers at the “end” of the journey might forget how utterly confusing those first few years were or at least, have enough distance from it that the newborn-toddler phase seems like a walk in the park. And maybe it is. But for now, we’re convinced we’re drowning, even though veterans mothers can see we’re still in the shallow end.
I, for one, would welcome more blogs from mothers over 40 – let me know how this thing turns out!
Do you read any blogs from older mothers? Let me know in the comments!
Not to mention, the ones with older kids have time to be doing other things OUT of the house, whereas me, in the point I’m at in my life, am largely at home with the kids and reaching out via blogging is my connection at this point…
Tara,
Thank you so much for mentioning our piece. As young moms we would have LOVED the community that you all have built to help you through the early years of parenting. But the challenges of parenting go on for years and because blogging is so new, there are fewer resources for the later years. I know you all will change that when you get there! Good luck, you have a beautiful blog here.
Mary Dell and Lisa
Great article. I agree that blogging seems pretty new for many, but as we get older, hopefully we can fill that void with a slew of parents who have “been there, and done that.”