Posts Tagged "British Mummy Bloggers"

Who am I? The Prime Minister?

Posted by cafebebemama on Feb 10, 2011 in Motherhood | 21 comments

Prime Minister's Questions

Today I’m a little bit famous. I’m quoted in an article in The Daily Mail. A very lovely jounalist and fellow blogger, Liz Fraser, is the author of the article. It’s an article highlighting the prevalence of the internet in the lives of Stay-at-Home and Work-at-Home Mums. I willingly offered a wealth of information to Liz about how important the online community has become to me since becoming a mother. Liz wrote an excellent article about some of the negatives about being online too much. Let the bitching begin…

As I was on Twitter this morning there were swirls of negative comments about Liz and the article which I think is unfair. Liz wrote about one side of the story. I was not misquoted. There ARE negatives to spending so much time online. I know this first-hand. I spiraled myself into a very dark hole last summer in part because I was spending too much time online. I was living by the stats, how many followers I had, who had unfollowed me, who wasn’t reading me anymore…it wasn’t pretty. I don’t blame Twitter or Blogging but they were contributing factors. Sometimes you just have to put the computer/laptop/smartphone down and LIVE. Well, not sometimes…you just DO.

But blogging and being online has given me a lot as well. I’ve been introduced to a whole community (British Mummy Bloggers) who have given me support and a network of friends that I never would have imagined. Blogging has given me WORK. Paying work. Blogging has made me a better writer. It’s made me more confident about my abilities and given me a bit of myself back in the crazy world of the Stay-at-Home-Mum.

I asked Twitter to tell me their thoughts on what the online community has given them. Here are some of their responses:

• “Twitter and Blogging got me through some dark times after falling out with friends. It was a lonely time.”
• “Whenever I have a query or need some help, I put it on Twitter and mums reply with great advice.”
• “It’s very important for a new, isolated mum. Blogging means I have an outlet and I have received great advice along the way.”
• “I have been on Twitter for 2 years and have received so much support in addition to making real friends.”
• “Night feeds, illnesses, worries…all sorted with a quick tweet.”
• “I don’t see many other adults apart from my mum! I don’t neglect my child. He gains from my Twitter correspondence because I am in a happier frame of mind.”
• “Twitter has allowed me to talk to like minded people. Being a SAHM can be lonely & Twitter and my blog has given me an outlet to communicate.
• “It’s given me confidence, support and friends! What’s not to love about social networking?”

Twitter/Blogging/Facebook = A Good Thing! However, aren’t there times when we could put it down and interact more with our children? I know I could. My husband would also say “Amen” to that one. Perhaps the lifeline can sometimes become an addiction that isn’t healthy? Would the world grind to a halt if I didn’t respond instantaneously to the email that just “pinged” through? Will the financial markets collapse if I don’t Tweet a picture of what I’m making for dinner? Will my television viewing be less entertaining without watching a stream of Twitter hashtags about #BFGW (Big Fat Gypsy Wedding…so entertaining!)? Probably not.

Sudocrem is great Mummy!

Little Miss regularly picks up any device (remote control/calculator/old mobile) and plays on her “pooter” just like Mummy. I do get “Mummy, put your “pooter” down” occasionally. I do get a Little Miss coated in Sudocrem every so often. But I also have a very confident, independent young lady who is fully capable of entertaining herself and interacting with others including her Mummy. We go on adventures; we bake; we colour; we laugh; we watch telly. We love eachother and that isn’t changed by how much or how little I am online.

Little Miss is at nursery this morning. I have gotten work done and my house is mostly in order. I am happier for having the work to do. I’m a better mother, wife and me. I’m pleased that Liz wrote the article and proud to have been quoted in it. She’s a wonderful journalist, author and mother who wrote about one side of internet communities. Maybe she’ll write about the other side? Maybe she won’t. Life goes on and stories are forgotten in place of other ones. Let’s remember that.

In the meantime, have your say…do you spend too much time online? REALLY! Do you?

**Slight correction on Liz’ article…I am quoted as “Karin Joyce, founder of The British Mummy Blogger site…” I am NOT the founder of The British Mummy Blogger site…that’s Susanna Scott to whom I bow down in reverence. The misquote is simply an error. Rest assured, I have not given myself a new title. I am a contributing editor to the BMB Blog, however…feel free to love me for that!

Unfortunately, editing by someone other than Liz leaves that as an incorrect title and she has apologised several times to me already, and all is well now!! These things happen in the Big Bad World Of Journalism. It’s not Liz’ fault at all! In fact, Liz has even let me know that in her NEW BOOK (coming to a book store near you soon) there’s a whole CHAPTER dedicated to the benefits of the online community! A WHOLE CHAPTER! That’s very exciting!**

Proud to be a Mummy Blogger

Posted by cafebebemama on Nov 2, 2010 in Blogger Love | 6 comments

British Mummy Bloggers

In May of 2009 I decided to put my over-active imagination to work by starting up a “mummy blog”. I had seen quite a few “mommy blogs” from the US but was wondering where all of the “mummy blogs” were. What does one do when one needs information? I googled “Mummy Bloggers UK” and stumbled upon British Mummy Bloggers. I was slightly wary at the time. After all, I wasn’t British and was only a new mummy who had just started up her blog. I was on Blogger still, for goodness sake! But British Mummy Bloggers accepted my application and I became an official British Mummy Blogger. And to this day, after wars and fallouts and ridiculousness by some, I am still proud to be a mummy blogger.

My blog has evolved over time. What centered almost entirely around Little Miss and her development and achievements has now grown into an altogether different kettle of fish. I still consider myself a mummy blogger as I continue to blog about my adventures with a Little Miss and I am, after all, a Mummy!

Let me tell you why I am so proud to be a Mummy Blogger. Being a Mummy Blogger has opened doors for me that I didn’t even know someone may have had a key to over a year ago. Blogging gave me friends that I never had which was a very welcome achievement after having lived in the UK for 2 years prior to this. Being a Mummy Blogger gave me an identity; a byline on my business card; a need to have a business card and a place to give it out.

Being a Mummy Blogger allowed me to become a Pushchair Queen and gave me opportunities to share my knowledge with others. Being a Mummy Blogger allowed me to put my wedding tiara to comic use and put myself out there for all the world to see. Being a Mummy Blogger gave me the opportunity to work on worthy causes and make a difference in the world, not just in my home. Being a Mummy Blogger is “what I do”, according to the hubby. It’s my work, my passion, my struggle and my pleasure.

So, you see, despite the school-yard antics of some over the last year or so; despite the competitiveness that will inevitably come when there are perks and rankings and “fame” at stake; despite the wobbles and worrying about whether anyone was tuning in…I am still proud to be a Mummy Blogger. I am hoping that other Mummy Bloggers are just as proud of what they do and to that end, start producing material to be proud of and put and end to childish games.

Does it really matter how high your blog appears on a monthly or yearly ranking index? Well, it might help to open doors but in my humble experience, it tends to bring more strife than good. Does it really matter if you don’t get invited to “THAT” blogger event that “EVERYONE” is going to? Well, probably not as if THAT many bloggers are going, chances are that 20 very similar blog posts are suddenly going to appear on a blog near you. You’ll get to produce some original posts while many others will be regurgitating the same information. Does it really matter if you didn’t make it as THAT Brand Ambassador? Well, probably not as then you won’t have to create review after review and find a new way to gush about a product you might not be terribly keen about.

Yes, all of these things are nice but they won’t make you thinner, won’t make you a better writer/blogger/wife/lover/mother/sibling/daughter/friend and won’t bring you riches. What they can do is give you an opportunity to stretch your writing chops, allow you to travel to exotic locals (Covent Garden anyone?) and give your child(ren) some toys/products that they might not have been able to have otherwise. And you should feel grateful and happy and be gracious about the perks that come your way, do your best to pass on opportunities that you can’t take advantage of and help newer bloggers to learn and grow along the way. That is what you should be proud of.

So there’s my gushy post of the week to shout out, loud and proud…I’m a Mummy Blogger and you know what?? I’m PROUD TO BE ONE!!!! So there!

Proud to be a Mummy Blogger

Great New Blog Friday

Posted by cafebebemama on Nov 27, 2009 in Blogger Love | 8 comments

I’ve been a member of British Mummy Bloggers now since June of this year.  I LOVE being a BMB member!  It’s allowed me to meet so many amazing people, opened doors and allowed me opportunities that I never would have had.  But I digress…the membership to BMB, as of Friday November 27, is 781 members!  That’s a lot of bloggers…some of whom are not British (me and founder Susanna Scott to name two), nor Mummies (there are a fair few Daddy Bloggers out there).  I’m trying to open my reading to new things and people these days so I’m going to highlight some new-to-me bloggers who are BMB members.  They may have been blogging for years, but I’ve just found them and I think you should have a read when you get a chance.  It’s going to be the weekly, Great New Blog Friday at Cafe Bebe!  Catchy title eh?  Here are my choices for Week One!:

1. Not Far From the Maddening Crowd- A mum of two on maternity leave from teaching.  Her latest post:  Things I’ll Never Do Again! which I can totally relate to!
2. Where’s Your Other Sock Gone?- A Stay-At-Home-Mum to 5 (oh.my.God.) children.  Safety Gate Horror had me nodding my head in understanding.
3. The Diary of a Frugal Family- A working mum of two trying to kerb her spending habits and live the Frugal Life.  After reading her Christmas Shopping Update, I have asked her if Little Miss can be included in her family shopping.
4. Older Mums are Fun- “Mature Mum” Diney has had a difficult year with her 10 year old daughter.  Another Star in the Sky, Mummy? is a lovely lesson for us all.
5. No Wine on Wednesdays- Lottie is a mum of 2 who is no longer Lottie and is now, Mummmeeeeeee!  I can relate!  She’s contemplating writing a book we can all relate to: The Joy of Sex or is it The Joy of Motherhood?
6. Mummy’s Little Monkey- is a newer blog from Jacqui, a London-based business mum who has a lot of similarities to yours truly!  Hanging on the Telephone is a regular occurrance in our house as well.

There you have it!  My first group of New-to-Me Blogs courtesy of British Mummy Bloggers.  I hope you enjoy reading them and welcome them as you have me.  Do you have any blogs I should be recommending to others?  If so, please leave me their URL’s in the comment box.  I love to find a Great New Blog!  See you next Friday for the next group.

British Mummy Blogger Love

Posted by cafebebemama on Aug 21, 2009 in Uncategorized | 15 comments

I started Mummy Blogging in May.  I’ve done a few blogs in my time but I needed a creative outlet and something to do during nap times.  I started looking for other Mummies but all I could find, initially, was Mommies, not Mummies.  I’m American, you see and for whatever reason, the only blogs I could find were American Mommies.  They had so many product reviews and seemed to be getting so much STUFF.  And oh, the giveaways!  But they were never offering international entries. (Do you know how much it costs to mail things from the US?  Lots!)  I enjoyed their blogs but was finding the actual blogging difficult to find amongst all the reviews.

So, in June, I googled Mummy Blogs, UK and guess what I stumbled upon?  British Mummy Bloggers!  Ooh…how nice.  I might not be British but I am a Mummy and I was Blogging and I’m as-good-as British so why not?  I sent in my membership request and within a day or so, I was an official member of British Mummy Bloggers!  That was about 200 members ago!  I have found so many wonderful Mummies and friends that I just have to gush for a bit.  And British Mummy Bloggers has given me opportunities that I never dreamed I might have.  Ready for some prime gush?

*Susanna, founder of BMB, author of A Modern Mother, has created a brilliant social networking site that I know a lot of other Mummy Bloggers are extremely grateful for.  She’s given us forums, opportunities to promote any and everything we’re working on, pointed us in the direction of PR’s and journalists, acquired sponsors like Silver Cross and scheduled meet-ups like the one held at the Rainforest Cafe in London in June.  She’s connected some amazing mummies and daddies who have formed friendships and learned a great deal from each other.  Thank you Susanna (a fellow American as well…who knew an American could found a social networking site called BRITISH Mummy Bloggers!).

*I had my first experiences writing product reviews because of BMB and Silver Cross .  I actually received, tested, reviewed and GOT TO KEEP the Silver Cross Halo pushchair and Doodle highchair.  They continue to be staples in our household and I can’t believe that I now am in possession of such amazing products all for the exchange of a review on my wee blog.

*Connections, Connections, Connections- Had I never found BMB, I would never have gotten the chance to write reviews as a “freelance” writer (I like that title) by commission from MadeForMums website (I got PAID!!); I never would have found Liz Jarvis’ LivingWithKids where I’ll be reviewing products in the near future (can’t wait!); Sally Whittle of The Great Toy Guide would not have been the recipient of 4 of my toy reviews and I wouldn’t have been in line to receive a few lovely things to try and review.  I’ve had the great fortune of being in the right place at the right time but were BMB not putting it out there, I’d still be wondering how I could bring in a bit of the “bacon” for our family.

*I’ve become a better observer of my daughter and have been photographing her more so I can continue to share our adventures.  My family all live in the US and they don’t get the day to day joy of Little Miss.  With my blogging, they are able to have a window into our lives and feel better for it. 

*And finally, I’ve met some absolutely amazing people who make me feel better about myself as a mother and a writer, who have helped me to fulfill some dreams and who have brightened my days and nights with their words and laughter.  There are many of these brilliant women but 4 stand out for me: OMG, We’re Pregnant, Violet Posy, Ella Announcements and Bambino Goodies.  These women have made my Café Bébé a successful and lovely reality.  They didn’t need to help me!  They most certainly did not get paid to help me!  They just responded to my techno-dim cries for help and took from their own personal time to help out wee me.  What women!  So, if you like what you see on Café Bébé, a lot of credit goes out to these ladies.  See their sites and you’ll know where their genius lies.

To wrap up…I just want to say thank you…thank you to BMB, thank you to Twitter, thank you to Café Bébé readers/followers/subscribers because you’ve given me a bit of myself back and for that, I am very grateful!  Until next time…