Week 3: Motherhood

One of my identities is being a mom, so I decided I would explore the "motherhood" Public Sphere. I never took the time to look at "mommy" blogs, but some women need this type of forum to vent. There's a "Stressed Out Mom's Club" on Facebook, and numerous blogs a mother could engage in. The site that I found the most interesting was http://www.themommiesnetwork.org/. Upon joining "The Mommies Network", you have the opportunity to engage in discussion forums, mingle with mommies and their children in your area, and take part in charitable events. I kind of figured mommy "support groups" were out there, but groups such as these are important in the PS because it enables women to have an outlet. We wouldn't question whether cloth diapers are better than disposable diapers, or if breast milk is more beneficial than formula if women didn't have these discussions weighing out the pros and cons. Some mothers use these outlets (blogging) to show other women that it's possible to be a working mom, or it's possible to be a stay-at-home mom and still have a life.


As a post-modernist, I think this PS is necessary. This goes back to the question: what's too private that is public? I don't think anything is too private, as I've stated in Week 2's blog. There are too many mommies out there to not address the issues mothers have. I can see how a Modernist would suggest that issues of motherhood should be left in the home-we shouldn't talk about breast feeding, or wiping your child's bottom after they went to the potty. The idealized PS certainly wouldn't talk about these things. But that's why it's idealized and not realistic. Mommy blogging sites, and other forums for mothers, respond to interests of mothers through play-dates, mom-only fun (movies or lunch with other mom's), and other events so mothers can build friendships in their community.


In class we discussed the "blood-baths" that takes place between blogger mom's. I didn't find any of those types of blogs, bummer. I found women, such as Amy S. (http://snarkymommy.com/?gclid=CKjL_O34yJ8CFRwUawodbjSE0g), blogging about the every day struggles of motherhood. I enjoyed reading her blogs, the only people she bashed on (which I thought would be other mom's based off of the class discussion), were her kids. She's sarcastic, which is a breath of fresh air I'm sure. What's motherhood if you can't get a good laugh out of it once in a while?