As you may know, I’m celebrating my 1 year blogoversary this month with Alison at Mama Wants This who is also celebrating hers, and I’m spastic about it. Over 100 bloggers have already linked up with Blog Bash this week, tweeting each other’s links, and sharing about it. It’s become a real celebration up there.
It’s hard to believe it’s only been a year since I started The Momalog. I really had no idea what I was getting into – all I knew was that I wanted to write honestly about parenting, and that my Big Ego (I’m a Leo) needed an audience. Beyond that – I didn’t know. I was shocked when I got my first few readers, and some comments. I had limited aspirations of making any money, but that actually started to happen with a small amount of income through ad revenue, and some sponsored posts. When I got my first check for $100 – it may have been peanuts compared to a “real” salary – but this was me getting paid practically nothing to do what I love! How cool is that?!
So for me, that first $100 was a treasure beyond compare.
At the beginning I had some legitimate worries about potential creepy readers – but thanks to my spam catcher on WordPress I have had virtually no creepiness. I do get the occasional Russian-spammer-trying-to-act-interested that gets past my spamerator to leave an inane comment about fig wasps producing milk from the mammary glands which has nothing to do with anything just so they can plant a stupid link:
Or this person Julie, who keeps popping up on old posts trying to push dental implants:
But in general these are minimal.
By far the biggest unexpected gift from blogging has been the people I’ve met and developed friendships with. I had no idea that this could or would happen – but it has, and I’ve been so filled by these new friendships, and have learned so much from reading what other parenting bloggers are writing (and vlogging) about. And aside from finally keeping a tangible chronicle of my parenting journey, the people I’ve met have been one of the best surprises. I’m going to Blogher ’12 in NYC this summer – my first blogging conference – and I get to meet some of these peeps in person! What a gift.
The other gift has been the healing that comes from talking openly about taboo things I’ve kept hidden much of my life (my parent’s alcoholism, growing up as an ACOA, my mother’s anorexia, my little sister’s death, the mental illness that threads itself through my family). It’s been cathartic writing about these things in relation to parenting because although I previously wasn’t very comfortable discussing them – they are the very experiences that formed me. Not only are they relevant, they are the core of what makes me who I am – oddly, they are also what makes me a pretty good parent. I may not know all the answers, but I’m clear on where I do not want to go. I may not be anywhere near perfect as a parent, but when you consider where I came from and where I could have ended up – holy shit, I’m practically Ghandi.
Ghandi
Just kidding but not really.
So my blog’s taglines are: “Dysfunctional parenting, one day at a time,” and “What is normal?” for a reason. When I became a mom, one of the hardest things for me was to “appear normal” – it seemed like all the other moms had their shit together, or appeared to, and knew more than I did. It seemed like I was the only new mom who was so tired I was getting into my track suit everyday that I had discarded the night before in a little pile beside my bed. Like I was the only one. At first motherhood was lonesome. Everybody else looked perfect.
A lot of the feelings of alienation came from the unwritten rule moms adhered to – don’t talk about what’s really going on, just pretend everything is perfect so people like you, keeping your kitchen floor clean means you are a better parent, and other B.S. I veered away from moms who are unable to be real, and have found that the mom-friends (online and in person) that I surround myself with are like the Velveteen rabbit – real. Somewhat tattered from life experience. Moms who I can talk to openly about the underbelly of motherhood, the difficult parts of marriage, the places where parenting and life become difficult, messy, imperfect. So that’s what I began to do here on this blog – to talk openly about what motherhood is like for me – all of it, the good, the bad, and the ugly. To open a discussion about it for other parents so maybe they don’t feel so alone. And it’s always the honest posts that I’m afraid to publish that get the biggest response from my readers.
So why is this post called Yes, Virginia, Thin Mints DO Have Crack In Them? Well – a few months ago, for a laugh, I posted this graphic:
Maybe I was naive, but I was not prepared for the veritable stampede of Google searches this would show up in. Every day since I posted that silly graphic, my blog gets a pathetically large amount of search engine hits for “do thin mints really have crack in them” or “thin mints crack” and frankly, the shit people are taking time to Google makes me worry about mankind. (-:
I will leave you with some search engine terms people used to find me because I always find them interesting. Who could have guessed one year ago that my blog would show up for “the handbook of modern pig farming,” or “do thin mints have crack in them.” So for all you people who are Googling thin mints, for once and for all: “Yes, Virginia, thin mints DO have crack in them.” Okay?
Linking up with Yeah Write.
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CONGRATS ON YOUR FIRST YEAR AND – WELL – I LOVE YOUR BLOG ADO! For the record, I think leaving your tracksuit in a little pile sounds very smart indeed compared to the good, bad, clean, dirty, black-jersey mountain on the floor that is the posh walk-in wardrobe which I spent a fortune on fitting yet, clearly, do not deserve because, it seems, I am constitutionally incapable of using a clothes hanger. Keep being imperfect because – it is just perfect. A fellow ACOA mammy and Momalog FAN. x
Twitter: katekerrigan
P.S. – Did you get my blog-bash link? Have you visited my tumblr blog – love to get some feedback. xx
Twitter: katekerrigan
Let me go check! PS: Fandom right back at you my dear. (-:
I KNEW IT! I knew there must be crack in the thin mints and that’s why I can’t resist them!
I’m so glad you decided to start blogging, dear Ghandi. I always love reading your posts!
Twitter: chicktuition
What Jacqui said. But with dental implants link.
Twitter: NorthWestMommy
Happy Blogaversary!
Twitter: blogginglily
Hey thanks Jim!
This is hilarious! I knew Thin Mints had an addictive quality, I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Thank you for clearing that up. I can only imagine what Cadbury Mini Eggs have in them! ;P
Happy Anniversary!
Twitter: accordingtomags
METH.
SO happy to read this, at least three days a week i still discard my track suit next to my bed and promise myself i’ll take a shower… tomorrow. I did, however, finally hire someone to clean my floors. Love reading here and wishing you many, many more!!
Twitter: smushyfacebaby
Best money ever spent by a parent in my opinion is on a cleaner! Good for you!
Congrats on your first year, and yes, I indeed saw this picture on several friends’ FB pages.
Congratulations on your first year of blogging! One of the reasons I love reading your blog is because you are not afraid to talk about the real stuff in life. Your posts about your family and past have been incredible, I’m glad it’s been such a healing experience for you as well. I have also loved finding mom friends online through writing and sharing experiences and stories, the good and the bad. Love this post and congrats again! Hope you have a great time in NYC!
Twitter: mommy_padawan
Thanks Anna!! (-:
I blog for all the same reasons you do and have also found it to be so cathartic. And speaking on honest posts, I’ve written one for tomorrow that has me nervously hovering my finger over the Publish button. I certainly hope your fate in such endeavors holds true for me, too.
Google search terms always make the funniest and most interesting posts. Happy First Blogoversary!
Twitter: SaidKristin
Those ones you have to hesitate before pushing Publish are ALWAYS the best ones Kristin. I want to read it – !
Happy Blogoversary to @AdoTheMomalog! Yes Virginia, Thin Mints DO Have Crack In Them http://t.co/GV2Acnlv
Wow, this post was very genial. I will send my students over to comment straight away.
Snort! I love that there’s one violin comment amongst the cookie searches. And now that you mention it, I absolutely believe that thin mints have crack in them. Why else would they be so addicting?
Twitter: gfunkified
Gosh you know I never really thought about it – seriously! – but yes they truly do have crack in ‘em! I’ll bet! You can’t eat just one!!
Why yes, yes they do. // Yes Virginia, Thin Mints DO Have Crack In Them http://t.co/KJu5l05T @adothemomalog
It’s good to be honest about stuff like this. For example, I had postpartum depression for about 15 years, and look how well NearNormalcy turned out! Seriously, those of us who fight depression have to stick together and be honest. We’re the only ones who totally understand it, although if we’re lucky we have loved ones who at least try to understand. I’m glad you’re here for me. You’re one of my blogging idols. Don’t go away.
Twitter: CynthiaMeents
Oh I am so tickled you said that and I feel the same. (-:
I can’t wait to read the one that Hillbilly wrote. I’m still catching up with the Blog Bash posts but making it over to Yeah Write some tonight and mostly tomorrow!
Happy one year anniversary – I for one am glad you share so much on here. I am always able to relate to your posts. Enjoy your first blog conference.
And I love looking at the searches that have brought people to my blog!
Twitter: euregirlsandboy
Thanks Katie. (-:
PS: I love the smell of gasoline. Can’t wait to read your post…
As someone who has just discovered blogging, I wish you a very happy anniversary and hope that I can be celebrating next year. Being a mom isn’t easy, and nobody really tells you that. (I wonder if I should start warning my girls now?) I look forward to reading more!
Twitter: annacdaisy
No – don’t warn them – they’ve got plenty of time to figure it out! (-: Thanks for your comment!
Happy blogoversary! Your post is inspiring; you sound like you’ve really struck a wonderful balance, being comfortable with your parenting and your history, finding your blog’s space in the blogosphere, and having fun with it all!
Oh, and your search terms are too funny – mine always make me wonder what people thought when their bizarre searches led them to my blog.
Twitter: RobynHTV
Thank you!
When I first stumbled upon your blog (and I promise I wasn’t Googling some weird shit), I thought you’d be blogging for ages. I was right in a way – you HAVE been writing for ages (like a real writer), what with your published novel and all!
And so it began – my love affair with The Momalog.
And here we are today, celebrating one year together. I so wish I was going to BlogHer this year (I had plans to until, well, I got knocked up), but I’m confident we’ll meet some day and share some dysfunctional parenting stories together.
Happy One Year!
Twitter: AlisonSWLee
I’m not published! I do have an agent in NY and we did get one offer but so far no go. It is self-published.
I thought you had been blogging forever too!
Happy One Year back!
Haha, that graphic is hilarious. Who knew they really had crack in them? I will use this to justify my massive intake of Thin Mints around girl scout cookie season.
Congratulations on your one year anniversary!! That is such an accomplishment! That “publish” button is so powerful.
I am new to this blogging world but am pleased to start to find those things you have described here; the people, the friendships, and the gift of healing through sharing your story. This really is an amazing community.
Twitter: juliahembree
Brilliant. I had NO idea about the crack. But now? That explains so much.
Twitter: MamaTrack
It’s why you can’t eat just one. (-:
Happy 1 Year to your blog!
I think people today spend more them online than ever.
Twitter: jamieywrites
One of my tags says, “I blog because I love to write, I love to express my opinion, and because my insurance doesn’t cover psychotherapy.” So I get what you mean.
Incidentally, I have no doubt that Thin Mints have crack in them. I’ve suspected it for years. I’m glad to see someone else finally had the courage to expose this nutritional conspiracy to make my ass fat.
Twitter: mommybostic
Hahahahaha! (-:
“Holy shit – I’m practically Ghandi.”… LOVE that.
I stumbled upon your blog through YeahWrite and I am so glad I did. you have a voice and a brain and you’re not afraid to use it and I so appreciate that.
Twitter: kerstinauer
I swear, i think I’ve tweeted that thin mints are like crack to me. So delicious.
Twitter: MayorGia
Well now there’s proof!
Ahahaha! I love when people post their Google search terms, but the crack in the thin mints is the best since it really is related to your blog! People are so decidedly crazy, aren’t they? And only we (and Google) know it!
Your Velveteen Rabbit analogy is priceless. My mom friends are Real, too.
Twitter: teamrasler
The fact that people are slowly opening up and talking about things that were once taboo subjects makes me really hopeful for the future.
I love the catharsis of writing. Of being able to work through things you are feeling and organize them.
Happy blogversary.
and I think the crack on the label is really funny.
Twitter: newdaynewlesson
Thanks Susie. (-:
Ado, you continue to amaze me! Only a year blogging, your voice is so clear and readable and I’m completely jealous! Happy Happy, and for the record, do we know if there’s crack in the Peanut Patties/Tagalogs? Those are my Girl Scout cookie pick.
Twitter: notwifezilla
Yes Virginia, Thin Mints DO Have Crack In Them http://t.co/V8cRb29G
Happy one year blogging to you! I so enjoy coming here. Glad to have found you through yeahwrite. I love your voice and the bit of entertainment you provide:) Gotta say, I’m slightly jealous you are heading to blogher. You’ll blog about your trip, right? I’d like to live a little vicariously through you on that one. It is SO COMPLETELY bizarre what people google search. A person once landed on my blog looking for something to do with ringworm. yuck.
Twitter: sundayspill
Sarah, I’m anxious going to Blogher because it means I’ll ahve to get out of my yoga pants. But yes I will bog about it and you can live vicariously through me!
I clearly remember the first time I found your blog. I was sitting at the bar in our kitchen reading a post on 18 to Life and saw you on the sidebar. I clicked, and from the very first post, I was hooked. I think it took me about a week to make it through every single post you’d written (you’d only been blogging for a couple months at that point, but I had 2 under 3, another in my belly, and a deployed husband). I love your outlook on parenting and life in general, and you write with such clarity that I will never tire of reading what you’ve written. Happy Blogoversary!!
Twitter: S_Supermommy
I had no idea.
Stacey, I think I love you. (-:
PS: FOUR babies and a DEPLOYED husband = You. Are. Amazing.
I suppose it’s better than Girl Scouts having crack in them. That would be bad for the organization. Plus, they’d probably stop selling cookies.
Twitter: Twinisms
Ha!
Happy blogiversary!!! What you said about moms trying to pretend everything is perfect really spoke to me, particularly because it sounds like you and I had very similar childhoods. I seem to be constitutionally incapable of pretending that everything is Just Great! Which is why I’ve pulled up a chair here.
Twitter: Toddlerismblog
Jadzia, I love how you’ve “pulled up a chair here”! What a great way of putting it. Off to read your blog.
And what’s Izhzak Perlam doing in the middle of all that cookie crack!?!?!
It seems incredible to me that both you and Ali have only been blogging for 1 year since you both seem like such veterans. Happy Blogaversary and I look forward to reading more and more posts from you!
Twitter: mamzungu
Thanks and I love reading about your life in Kenya. (-:
Itzhak – well, we are music lovers in this family so that’s why he appeared – violin stuff on the blog.
“and frankly, the shit people are taking time to Google makes me worry about mankind. (-:”
That line cracked me up! I am constantly amazed when I go to my blog and see the the things that people search for. Love it. Congrats on your blogoversary!
Twitter: mira_nic
I loved every word of this post! From your descriptions of what blogging has morphed to the crack. My fav…your velveteen rabbit friends. What an awesome description. Those are the peeps you hold on to for dear life! Here’s to another year, BRAVA!!
PS My fav search terms so far: jack box car, the number ’2′ and pensis (I’m afraid the were sorely disappointed)
Twitter: lifetimetravels
Holy crap, I knew it!! I think Jacqui has a freezer full of thin mints. I hope she knows about this…
Happy Anniversary Baby!!
Twitter: amountainmomma
Mwah! Thank you!
@Chicktuition U have 2 throw away all ur thin mints.Blame @AdoTheMomalog Yes Virginia, Thin Mints DO Have Crack In Them http://t.co/5BE9z94b
Happy, happy anniversary! I am so glad to have “found” you 4 weeks ago, and I agree whole-heartedly about the great people you are introduced to along the way…as far as mothering is concerned, I won an award of somekind today while I sat in the carpool line, writing, while some other mom I know in passing pushed my daugher on the swing. mom winner. normal scares me
Twitter: tarapohlkotte
“Normal scares me.” That’s a good tag-line! (-:
Thanks for your comments Tara! Great that you were writing in the car!!
Great post! I remember those early days of parenting, calling a friend who I could be “real” with and say the hard things like, “Hey, sometimes this is just NOT fun!” I’ve been enjoying your posts and I’m glad to have found your blog. I’m going to BlogHer too, so hopefully our paths will cross! Oh, and Dental Julie – she’s weird. I guess it IS nice that she took the time to wish you a happy blogoversary. Also, happy blogoversary! Looking forward to reading more!
Twitter: michellelongo
Thanks Michelle – I’d love to meet you at Blogher. Just don’t sell me any dental implants like that Julie girl.
I freakin knew there had to be a reason why I am so addicted to stupid Thin Mints. Damn those girl scouts. Ha! I’m a Leo too, on a neverending quest for attention and adoration.
Twitter: iamnotthemaid
Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary! As my gift to you I promise to stop googling crack. Great post.
Twitter: TraceCam
Congrats on your blogaversary! Awesome sauce. And thanks for throwing such a bash and letting us all be a part of it. What fun!
Terri
Twitter: tsonoda
Thanks Teri!!
Yes Virginia, Thin Mints DO Have Crack In Them http://t.co/QiBfpxtY | @adothemomalog
You know, I mourned for a close neighborhood relationship with other moms that seemed to come so easily to my grandmother’s generation. I was pleasantly surprised to see that relationship could exist with our newfangled interwebs, and that there was a place where we could pose tricky questions and vent our frustrations!
Happy Blogoversary (again) and here’s to another year!
Twitter: TheMamamash
Julie – what a very good point. My physical neighborhood has no connection. But the one on my laptop does make up for some of that!
Congratulations on your 1-year anniversary. I may not always comment, but I read here religously and I always look forward to your posts. (I will admit though, I have never googled “do thin mints have crack in them” – yet…
Twitter: katefineske
I’m so glad you do! (-:
I am also so glad to know you are not one of the Thin Mint Googlers. Jesus H. Christ I’m sick of thin mints just from that one post and all the Googlers!
What you said about being real and the Velveteen Rabbit? Love. How come none of us knew what blogging would mean to us when we started? Makes me wonder if some cosmic force brought us to it.
Twitter: JenAnnHall
That’s a deep question. The kind that makes you go “Hmmm.” I’ll ponder it…
Ado, I realized later today that as I was out and about doing my day…I never actually stopped to read your post! I was so bummed, so here I am…back at your blog and am so happy I remembered. I am blown away by how far you and Alison have come in such a short year. It baffles me. I’m also curious how you began to share some of your sacred stories. It’s almost like I have a second life, but because I am not an anonymous blogger, so my friends and even some family who don’t know a side of me and my marriage would read about it. I’m not ready for that. Not even sure if I’m ready for my name to be associated with it. But it is so important to share. I’m not even sure if I’m making sense anymore! I think it comes down to: thank you for helping me build my confidence to potentially share more and to look for opportunities to guest blog anonymously. Happy to have found you. You’ve got a new reader.
Twitter: FFPMaMMa
Congrats on your blogoversary!! Hilarious google searches…though I think Peanut butter patties have crack in them! I’m not a fan of Thin Mints.
Twitter: momma23monkeys
Thanks! (-:
Happy Blogoversary! I love this post since Erin and I have just recently started up. I was also surprised by all of the friendships. We started the blog because we wanted to make something and share the friendships, and I’m just going to say it, sisterhood, that we have in real life. We wanted to be there for all of the moms who do feel alone. For some reason, I never pictured that love being reflected back to us. I now think about how lonely it must be to work for a magazine where you publish and never get the direct feedback. A person could be buying a magazine (people do still do that, right?)for any number of reasons, but they are reading your blog for you.
Thank you for the honesty of your posts. They are good for you and they are good for me. I can’t even imagine how many people you touch.
And finally, thank you for clearing up the Thin Mint mystery. I KNEW IT! ELlen
Twitter: SensibleMoms
Thank you!!!
Happy Blogoversary, Ado! Thanks for all your, honest, often hilarious, sometimes heart-breaking, always wonderful posts. I am so happy to have met you!
Twitter: IzaTrapani
I am so grateful you are here. I dig the honesty. It’s inspiring and fuels my ability to be courageous and honest at Sperk*. I want to go to the BlogHer conference (kicking and screaming on the floor like a toddler).
Twitter: sperk01
Inspiring as always, Ado. Looking forward to year #2. -J
Twitter: dudeofthehouse
Hi. I’ve been following you on Twitter for a while and now have finally found my way to reading one of your posts. And I am so glad I did. Loved this. Congrats on your 1 year blogoversary. I will be back!!!
Twitter: bocafrau
Well thank you! I have been a bit “loud” lately up there on Twitter but hopefully now that Blog Bash is over I will shut up for a while. (-:
Isn’t it kooky how bizarre searches give us so much traffic? I get a lot of traffic for cleavage and swimming pools because of a post I didn’t about catalogues I get in the mail. I have no cleavage, nor do I have a swimming pool. Ah well.
Happy Blogoversary!
Twitter: kdwald
Ha ha!