When Ava was born nearly four years ago, I could count the number of mommy friends I had on one hand, er, maybe on two fingers. That didn’t bode well for a very good support network as I entered into the uncharted waters of motherhood. I’m happy (and relieved) to say that number has grown exponentially over the years (or I’m sure I would’ve lost my mind) thanks largely to blogging and, more recently, Twitter. I’ve met mommies (at least virtually) all over the globe and have made real connections with many. Through blog posts, comments, emails and tweets, I’ve been fortunate enough to become part of a community of women who truly care about each other. While we may not all share the same parenting philosophies, religions or political views, we have one thing in common - we are all mothers who love our children.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing women who have been a part of my life (even if only on the Internet) for the past several years. You’ve each touched my life in one way or another and I am grateful for all of you …
- My mommy friends IRL (in real life) including those who have started blogs of their own: Heather, Julie, Melissa, and Sonja.
- My mommy friends who live in the same state as me (CO) who I’ve yet to meet: Katja, Lucretia, Amber, Hatchet (oh wait, I’ve met her!), Kristen, Sarah, Amy, Dawn (wait, I know her too!), Laura, and the Mile High Mamas.
- My mommy friends elsewhere in the US: Steph, Arianne, Ashlee, Leigh, Cara, Deanna, Scylla, Justine, Darla, Alli, Megan, Summer, Sommer, Phyllis, Amy, MB, Melody, Ninotchka, Emily and Jenny, Liesl, Tracey, Jennifer, Annie, Denise, Tanya, Nona, Christina, Nell, Carrie, Christine, Dawn, Deb, Rixa, Sarah, Military Mama, Donna, Christine, LaTara, Ana, Cristina and Izzy, Leslie, Halloweenlover, Jennifer, Erin, Stephania, Kristen, Alana, Tiffany, Dawn, Elizabeth, Michelle, Mama Luxe, Christina, Laura, Michelle, Cristina, Beth, Tara, Michelle, Beckie, Jen, Erika, Farrah, Jenni, Lotus, Stacy, VDog, Jennifer, Amy, all the Blissfully Domestic mamas, Jennifer, Shannan, Janice and Susan, the mamas at API Speaks, the Pinks and Blues girls, Jennifer, the BlogHers, Melody, Mimi, Vered, Maggie, Susan, Jennifer, Barb, Karla, Stacie, and Erika.
- As well as those mamas in other countries - Half Pint Pixie, Isil, Penny, Chelle, Alice, and Sinead.
- And the numerous other mommies who I invariably (and regrettably) left out. And of course, my own mother too.
Thank you to all of you for being my community, my sounding board, my support network and my friends, and traveling with me on my journey through motherhood. :) I’m so glad I haven’t had to do it alone.
I wish you a wonderful Mother’s Day full of lots of love, kisses, hugs, relaxation and chocolate. I hope you can each take a moment out of your day today to reflect on your personal journey through motherhood and to give yourself a pat on the back (and maybe another piece of chocolate too). You deserve it. :)
If you haven’t yet seen the Ultimate List of Moms on Twitter, check it out sometime. And if you aren’t on Twitter yet, what are you waiting for?! Come to the dark side join us. :)
Happy Mother’s Day!
Stumble it!
To Think Is To Create says:
What a sweet post! I take your good wishes and send them back two-fold. I think “only the internet” has brought so many blessings and incredible women in my life, that it’s hard to even list it. You’ve done a great job here.
May 11th, 2008 at 2:58 am
Adventures In Babywearing says:
Happy Mother’s Day, Amy!! Just the other day I came across your old blog in my Internet Explorer bookmarks! Ha!
Steph
May 11th, 2008 at 4:06 am
Rebecca says:
Happy Mother’s Day!
May 11th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Half Pint Pixie says:
aw thanks for the mention! I hope you have a fantastic Mother’s Day! We had Mother’s Day in March here, but I think I shall celebrate it again today with all of you :)
May 11th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Ashlee - Mama's Nest says:
Happy Mother’s Day! I soooo hope to meet you this summer! Have an amazing day!
xoxo,
Ashlee
May 11th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Susan Lindgren says:
Have a great day that’s a lotta link work:) Happy Mother’s Day- Susan
May 11th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Vered - MomGrind says:
Well, thank YOU. :)
I just recently started blogging, and you were one of the first mommy bloggers I discovered. Despite obvious differences, I admired you right away - your devotion, your intelligence, your sincere, straightforward writing. You inspire me. So thank you, and Happy Mother’s Day!
May 11th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Eco Child's Play says:
Happy Mother’s Day. I’ve really enjoyed “meeting” you!
May 11th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Alana says:
What a wonderful tribute! Have a great Mother’s Day with those wonderful babies!
May 11th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Darla says:
WOW! I’m honored to be named as one of your friends. *sniffle*
And what a LOT of work that is to link to everyone.
May 11th, 2008 at 9:06 am
chelle says:
Happy Mother’s Day! I too feel so fortunate to be part of a great community of women!
May 11th, 2008 at 10:10 am
MereMortal says:
Thanks for the shout out, goddess mama. You continue to inspire me daily with your insights and humor and LOVE of your children.
xoxo
Leigh
May 11th, 2008 at 11:04 am
LaTara says:
Thanks for the mention! I really appreciate the mention. May you day be blessed.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Stacey @Real World Mom says:
Happy Mother’s Day to you! :-)
May 11th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Laura says:
Awww! Happy Mother’s Day to you, too! Maybe we can meet up at a park or something soon! Then you can move me to a new category. Moms in my state whom I HAVE met!
May 11th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Liesl says:
Happy Mother’s Day to you, too, Amy!
May 11th, 2008 at 11:55 am
VDog says:
Thanks, girl. Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you get treated like a queen and enjoy your day!
muah!
xoxoxoxo,
V
May 11th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
smtwngrl says:
Happy Mother’s Day!
Thanks for all the comment support last week. I made my donations today.
May 11th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Beth @ The Natural Mommy says:
Aw, thanks! It’s been nice “meeting” you, too! :-) It’s wierd how well you can get to know someone without ever meeting them in person… Especially with all the spying powers of Twitter. :-P
May 11th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Summer says:
Awww, thank you! Happy Mother’s Day to you!
May 11th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Jennifer says:
Happy Mother’s Day to you, too!!
May 11th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Camille says:
Happy mother’s day!!! :)
May 11th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Shay says:
Happy Mother’s day. Thank you for your blog about being a mom. I hope it will help me become a better one.
May 11th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
alli says:
[...] [...]
May 11th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Stacy says:
Thanks for the Happy Mother’s Day, and I hope you had a wonderful day full of chocolate and relaxation. :) I was pulling weeds and planting, but at least I was enjoying the sorta warmish outdoors!
May 11th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
phyllis says:
what a lovely post. thanks for the shout-out!
hope your mother’s day was great….mine was definitely a work-day which is crummy but oh well!
May 11th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Megan@SortaCrunchy says:
What would I DO without my mommy communities?! We must have our support systems to weather the joys and the pains of this, the most excrucitating and awesome of jobs.
I hope your Mother’s Day was gorgeous and wonderful. Thank you for unending inspiration.
May 11th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Mama Luxe says:
Hope you had a great Mother’s Day!
I’m impressed that you put together a list! I thought about it briefly and then had to chase a naked toddler and drive to Queens to see said toddler’s Great Grandmother.
Twitter scares me…but you all are tempting me.
May 11th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Kim says:
What a wonderful tribute! And a Happy Mothers Day to you! Hope you had a great one.
May 11th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Farrah says:
Right back at ya!! I appreciate you and your dedication to all you believe in and strive to be. You are an inspiring mama. I am grateful to be a part of your “community” and to have so many wonderul mommy-blogger friends that continually challenge and motivate me to be a better mom and appreciate all I have been blessed with.
I hope you had a wonderful day! Happy Mother’s Day to you too!
May 11th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
casual friday everyday says:
Impressive list of friends/links! That had to of taken some time…happy to see little old me in the list. LOL
The mom blogger community is just so awesome! I consider you one of the most awesome members in it ;)
Hope you had a lovely day.
May 11th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Sarah-Ji says:
Happy Mother’s Day, Amy! Thanks for all you do not only for your own family, for the other families out there who want to live more sustainably and peacefully.
May 11th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Amy P. says:
Happy Mother’s Day to you too, Amy! I remember I first stumbled onto your blog after reading some posts you wrote on Mothering.com. I’ve since been a regular reader of your blog and that was quite a few months before Julian was even conceived! So you feel like a friend and it has been an amazing journey watching you grow your blog into quite a professional looking site! I feel like I know you, Jody, Ava and Julian as if you were my neighbors. :) All the best to you and yours!
love,
Amy P.
May 11th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Heather (A Mama's Blog) says:
Awh…thank you so much for counting me as a friend IRL…you know I feel the same way, and I don’t know where I would be either w/o all my mommy friends- IRL, and on the ‘net.
Happy Mother’s Day.
May 11th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Hatchet says:
Happy MD, Amy! I’m so glad the internet and explosion of blogs has allowed for this tremendous growth of community. I think so many of us feel so very alone at times and reading about someone else’s life, when it intersects with yours, validates us.
It has for me, anyway!
Hope you had lots of chocolate! I just had some Boulder Ice Cream, myself. Doing my part to keep the local economy rockin’! (Mexican Chocolate and Islander Coconut, in case you were curious. Mmm!)
May 11th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Leslie- LaMamaNaturale' says:
Hi Amy,
Happy Mother’s Day! :) Wow! I made your list. Thank you. You’re such a sweetie. You’ve really made me feel welcome. I appreciate that. I feel the same way about the mommy community. I’m tempted to join the dark side… :) I did not have chocolate but instead plowed through a tub of Red Vines! Hope you had a marvy day!
May 11th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Penny says:
Oh that is so kind of you :)
Rod says “Who’s Amy?” when I mention things about you which makes me smile because it’s like I see you everyday on Twitter! LOL!
May 11th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Christina says:
Happy Mother’s day to you, too, Amy! Thanks!
May 11th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Deb - Mom of 3 Girls says:
Hi Amy! Thank you so much for including me in your post - I’m so very glad to have ‘met’ you too. :)
I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day!
May 11th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Cristina says:
Honored to be on your list! Happy Mother’s Day to you as well!
May 11th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Tara says:
Thank you Amy! I hope you had a glorious and rewarding Mother’s Day!
May 12th, 2008 at 7:01 am
mimipz5wjj says:
Thank you Amy! Happy Mother’s day to you too! Hope it was a good one!
May 12th, 2008 at 8:46 am
tanya@motherwearblog says:
Hey, that’s a nice list to be on! I’ve so enjoyed getting to know you, too.
Tanya
May 12th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Aimee Greeblemonkey says:
Happy (belated) Mother’s Day to you too!
We *should* get together sometime soon!
May 12th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Justine says:
:) I’m honored to be in such good company!
Hope your day was as rewarding as mine…and as filled with family, love and all great things.
Namaste
May 12th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Ninotchka says:
I knew NO young Moms when I first became a Mother. My sisters, Mom and best friends were far away. Were it not for the daily connections I made via the Internet, I don’t know where I’d be. Probably the crazy house. LOL
May 12th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Shannanb aka Mommy Bits says:
auh! Happy Mother’s Day to You Too! I am so glad we met through Maya’s Mom.
May 13th, 2008 at 4:23 am
Isil says:
Amy,thank you so much.You know I told you before,you have always been an inspiration for me.Hope you had a lovely mother’s day!
May 13th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Sommer says:
Thanks for the shout out Amy! I have local mommy friends that don’t use the internet and cannot understand how people can become friends online. It happens, every day. A different type of connection but it’s still a connection.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
relaxation says:
[...] for a very good support network as I entered into the uncharted waters of mothering. I??m happy andhttp://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2008/05/11/thank-you-my-mommy-community/Highmark relaxation classes coming up at YMCA Penn Hills Progress Penn Hills YMCA, 11817 Frankstown [...]
May 15th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings says:
I am just now seeing this. Sorry! Thank you!
I hope you had a great Mother’s Day!!
May 16th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Crunchy Chicken says:
Happy belated Mother’s Day! Thanks :)
May 16th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Amy says:
Bad mommy friend here. Just noticed the linky love for Mother’s Day! Thanks!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
tiffany co says:
[...] for a very good support network as I entered into the uncharted waters of motherhood. I??m happy andhttp://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2008/05/11/thank-you-my-mommy-community/Two Nights in London: Starry Chess Concerts Play Royal Albert Hall PlaybillThe Benny Anderson-Tim [...]
May 29th, 2008 at 1:25 am
The Blurry Line Between Online and Real-Life Relationships - MomGrind says:
[...] Amy acknowledges the importance of her online community of moms. She says, “through blog posts, comments, emails and tweets, I’ve been fortunate enough to become part of a community of women who truly care about each other.” [...]
June 20th, 2008 at 5:09 am