TheMommyBlog

I still have my t-shirt from being visitor number 50,000.  Funny, it says “Please don’t blog this” on it…

You’ve come a long way, Mindy.

Let me send the mafia after her. Just kidding. I want to point out that while I am fairly new to your blog I enjoy reading it very much and that this lady is just someone who is angry or wants to say something mean.
I wanted to share a mean comment I got recently (to cheer you up) - this is in reply to a column I wrote about having post-partum depression. The lady who wrote it saw me on TV at a rally for Barack Obama and somehow connected the two (who knows how)

Here she goes: “As a Veteran of this fine county and a writer myself I used to read your articles with much anticipation.  I must say you must be in a muck.  I believe I must know the reason for your impending gloom.  For any Veteran or wife of a veteran to come on national TV and promote the furthest left wing liberal who will care nothing of our county’s military families and their plight, was simply shameful.  I wanted to think that this glitch on your part was possibly because you are fed up with being the “military wife”...trust me it is your husband that all respect is due.  He brought you to this great county where others have died for our beliefs. (It is the fighting veteran that has allowed you to be able to stand up and speak your freedom of speech).  I believe you have impending gloom because you know the man you spoke up for will not uphold the promises you so naively fell for.  You must be feeling disdain directed at you from the other members and the wife’s of the military who were disgusted with your national vocalization, of your lack of knowledge, of what this county has stood up for in the past and what our forefathers have fought so hard for.  My father lost many friends as he flew bombers in WWII, and he would be shamed at the way this county is headed by ignorant liberals such as yourself.  Please quit “posing” as a military wife/member.  Unless your articles begin to contain heart, respect and true appreciation for our fine military, I am sure that your articles will only suffice as “wrapping paper” for moves or storage. “

I really enjoy your blog -
Cheers,
O

I appreciate the honesty of “gotta make a living somehow”, first time I think I’ve heard that admitted.  I wouldn’t take that woman’s assessment as any sort of reality check, though.  Don’t you know blog readers, like blog writers, go through many stages.  I think the overall hope is that the dissenting critics evolve into fellow supportive women in your community, because who else have we got but each other?

Until then, I think the delete button is the most powerful weapon you have.  I don’t sense self-hate as part of your nature, nor would I suspect you’d fall prey to public lampooning.  Nonetheless, I really appreciate your willingness to interact on the forum level at Momversation.  I have a feeling if more of the Panelists obliged us at that level, the site would gear up more quickly and take off.

And I’m not just saying that because I have great respect for Target.

Having just started my own blog, I can see how your view of the world and how you relate can change when putting yourself out there.  The commenter should be congratulating you on being out there for all to read and see.  It takes guts!

I hope to one day be able to blog as a source of income.  Since I just started, we’ll see.  But so far I’m loving it and looking forward to meeting more mom bloggers in the years to come.

Kerry

As a long time reader of your blog, and a huge fan of your book, I must say Dorothy Gainer couldn’t be more wrong. Of all the “mommy blogs” I read, yours is, by far, one of the more refreshing ones. Contrary to what Ms. Gainer thinks, I think your blog lacks the thick narcissistic coating of many other blogs. And what you said:

I think, though, that if you actually read anything older than a year you’d see how miserably I was failing at everything I did, and I was honest about it. That’s why others identify…

is 100% the truth for most of your readers. Every life has it’s ups and downs, and most of us have followed you through every loop, and now that life has found a new path for you, why shouldn’t you be able to blog proudly about your newfound happiness without judgment from a fatuous moron?

Did Dorothy think “The Mommy Blog” was going to be about someone else besides “Mommy”?
The whole act of taking the time to write a negative comment or email about a writer of a blog that one chose to read voluntarily is mind boggling to me. It’s fine to disagree with thoughts or opninions (respectfully, of course) but to do anything else , is ridiculous and to me the ultimate act of self-absorption from the writer.

Seriously, did someone force her to read your blog?  If she doesn’t like it, she doesn’t have to read it. 

As you know, I’ve been reading for at least 5 or 6 years (maybe longer) and I’ve never thought of you as being any more self-absorbed than anybody else.  What are you going to write about if not yourself and your family?

I think I remember when Ben got that t-shirt.

She must not be a long time reader or she would know you’ve had more than your fair share of disappointments.  I’ll never forget your blog about having 35 cents in your bank account when times were tough.  Forward her the link and she’ll take it all back. 

Your blog is awesome.  Don’t let her make you think otherwise!

Dorothy, I’m guessing you decided the cause of Mindy’s bragging was insecurity so you thought you would just drive that big ol’ knife in and go for the kill?  Seriously woman, get a life.

Ha!  My super secret word is respect!

I think it is great that you are making money blogging.  I certainly hope so, because all of these “momversation” things are a little .......  unusual.

I can’t remember when I started reading your blog consistently or how I found it. I probably started when we moved away from friends and all our support network. And my husband was losing jobs at an interesting rate and I was always busy with no one to talk with.

We’re coming up on the 5-year anniversary of our move, so it’s been a while. What, it’s not all about ME?

I think about all the truly self-absorbed people I know ... nah, you are not like them. You have a wicked sense of humour. Notice how the two so often do NOT go together?

*snort* “interesting rate”

You are one of the few I can talk about with Phil (who is a relative newcomer, let’s face it) either by screen name or real name and he knows who I’m talking about. I would miss you so much if you weren’t around. Hooray for moves and loneliness and new friends!

xx

m

P.S. I want to move into your library. Or get a dog. We can’t get Daphne to enjoy reading! In our family! Zoot alors!