Have you ever considered that you could be helping a struggling single mom of four young children make ends meet each time you click on a link that leads to her blog?
Earlier this year Oprah Winfrey devoted an entire show to the “Secret Lives of Moms.” It featured an audience full of women drooling at the chance to discuss the joys and pitfalls associated with raising the next generation.
A portion of the episode spoke to a “new” kind of motherhood, in which women no longer suffer in silence about negative parenting experiences, mistakes and lack of maternal instincts. During the segment Oprah discussed the explosion of “Mommy Bloggers” and introduced viewers to Heather Armstrong.
The young mother is known around the world thanks in large part to her personal blog, Dooce. Armstrong began sharing her personal mommy stories with readers on the World Wide Web shortly after giving birth to her first child. At the time Armstrong was suffering from a debilitating bout of postpartum depression that eventually led to a stint in a psychiatric ward.
Shortly before Armstrong enlisted professional help she wrote on her blog:
“I have to believe that going to the hospital is at least going to let me clear my head, or that it may actually provide an answer. I have to believe in something right now because I don’t feel like I have any hope. This anxiety is so painful, and I don’t see an end to it.”
Heavy.
Fast-forward a few years and Armstrong’s mug is being beamed around the world while she speaks to one of the most influential people on the planet. The now famous Mommy Blogger shared with Oprah that her posts saved her life because she was able to share her pain with other women who had gone through the same situation.
During the segment Oprah also noted that what started out as a public diary of sorts now earns Armstrong $40,000 a month in advertising. News that a personal blog generates more than $450,000 per year sparked an unprecedented reaction by Oprah Show viewers. (By the way, Armstrong maintains that Oprah’s number is “inaccurate” and “grossly inflated,” and says it’s no one’s business how much she rakes in from her blog.)
Regardless, there’s no question that Dooce is hugely popular and Armstrong has millions of readers who visit her blog on a daily basis. Though, not all of them are happy to be there. Some simply stop by to unload their ire and take stabs at the stay-at-home mom who generates a bundle of cash by simply calling color on her daily life as a parent. (Dooce’s synopsis says it all: “Talking a lot about poop, boobs, her dog, and her daughter.”)
One angry commenter shared this doozy:
“Jesus, who cares? Everybody had problems. Everybody has troubles. Everybody is stressed. Everybody has…blah blah blah. You’d think [Armstrong] invented the tribulations of motherhood. Shaddup already!”
Another reader took time to share this:
“Why on earth is this site so popular. [Armstrong] is not an expert, just a parent who melted down and wrote about it. With all the pressing issues in this world do people have nothing better to do than listen to this woman who has exploited the position to now make a living off of those who are stupid enough to be involved.”
The comments by random readers got me thinking about my own employment as a blogger. I too write about the trials and tribulations that come with raising a child in the 21st century… and I too get paid for doing so. In addition, I too get the occasional troll dropping in to spew venom, but frankly, I don’t let it bother me. I get paid whether someone compliments what I write or if some hater berates every single word I woke up early to type.
My take on Mommy Blog bashers is simple: If you don’t like what you see, don’t read it.
If you want to leave a nasty comment, that’s your prerogative. Good or bad, your hits help me keep a roof over my kid’s head.
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