is a single mama in the city, super-savvy editor, writer, video host and shameless shoe whore.
Fully Motherloded
Wednesday, November 1, 2006 
Pardon me, grrrlfriends. I had all kinds of good intentions
while I was at the Motherlode. I was
going to post reports on who I met, what I saw, what I was learning. I wanted
to make you feel like you were there.
But then, as conferences often go, I
found myself at the end of the day exhausted and over-caffeinated, with a brain
on fast forward, a pile of doodled and illegible notes, loads of email to sort
through and in dire need of some cuddle time with Bruce and Lil E. I packed in all in and promised myself to
post it all once I returned home to Chicago.
But as road trips with toddlers often go, the 8 hour drive home became a 13 hour drive, including 2 hours just to get out of Toronto. Just when I was
thinking a particular block of Yonge Street looked strikingly like
Times Square, those crazy Canadians shut down an entire expressway. Not just
a lane or a few exits or stretch of downtown. The whole thing.
We were left with no other choice but to sit among
thousands of other cars, stocked up on snacks and squabbling over the map. The
good part is I now have a much better idea of how Bruce and I would be on
Amazing Race (which is a little less Cho Bros -woohoo- and a little more Rob and Kimberly -ugh- than I previously pretended).
second immigration interview, even better). No matter how nice a hotel is, it
always feels good to crawl into your own bed, under your own covers.
What I always
forget, however, is that getting home isn’t the end of the road trip. There are
days to recuperate, schedules to try to recover, more email, more exhaustion
and over-caffeination. Throw a birthday party, Halloween and my turn to be
Parent of the Day at co-op into the mix, and well…posting just falls lower and
lower on the to-do list.
Now that you are probably as weary as I am, I will skip over
the many details of the many conversations and sessions that I participated in
and how I am all kinds of geared up to join other mothers in changing the
world. Immediately. Right now. Today. Or at least after I finish this reheated
cup of coffee.
Here are a few (just a few) people you should read/find online/get to know.
These women have some incredible work in progress and are publishing/researching/speaking/mobilizing/blogging/writing/acting
out to empower women and give mamas more voice in the world:
Andi Buchanan of
Literary Mama and many other endeavors. Do remember when I waxed obsessive
over her books and blog? I had one of those eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee moments when I
worked up the nerve to meet her. (Did I really say, “I need to meet you. I love
your work. I love you.”?). Check out the salons she’s been hosting on
MotherTalk and the blog tours she’s organized for women to read and review
books. Talking with her for a few minutes was like checking in with an old
grrrlfriend, and that a small and significant thrill for newbie me.
Amy Tiemann of Mojo Mom. This is a site and blog I’m
loving these days. Through Mojo Mom, Amy’s mission is to “provide support and
inspiration to help each woman answer the question, Who am I, now that I am a Mom?” She recognizes the journey into motherhood as
a transformative and creative opportunity for self-discovery. How much do all mamas need some support for that?
Ann Douglas, an author who
has written profusely on parenting and pregnancy. I thought her witty presentation
on the study of pregnancy and parenting books spanning the last century was not just a good perspective on information for new mamas, but good fun and good poke at how much we invest in all that advice.
Ann
Crittenden, the author of If You’ve Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything. She is an economist journalist and feminist
who did a study comparing baby and parenting books to business management
rhetoric. She found that the language and message of how to be a good CEO and
how to be a good parent were nearly identical. She was fascinating and a great
storyteller. I can't wait to read this book. Honestly, if I could, I would buy
each of you a copy of her book just based on the keynote she gave. But since all
of my paycheck seems to have ended up in Canadian loonies, well...I'll just
recommend you add it to your holiday gift list.
Andrea
Doucet, author of recently-released Do Men Mother? Fatherhood, Care, and Domestic
Responsibility She presents a very interesting look at men as
primary caregivers and the concept of men mothering children. Her concepts
include single parent fathers, primary caregiver fathers and gay fathers.
Somewhat controversial, even in the side convos I caught bits of at the
conference, and very interesting to think about mothering as a verb and
relationship rather than a biological construct.
Black
Woman and Child, a magazine “provides pregnancy and parenting
information strongly rooted in African culture.” I picked up a couple of copies
and was immediately engaged. This is a mag that seems to be quickly gaining
momentum.
Judith
Stadtman Tucker of Mothers Movement Online. I had a little
silent squeal of delight when I spoke with her for a few minutes following a
panel. Wow. Her analysis of women’s
comments on message boards and blogs and the difference in language of choice
and change was so. right. on.
I missed out on the big blogging panel (boo boo triple boo)
because my presentation was shuffled into another session in the next room. I
was disappointed to miss out on this gathering and the insights of other mother
bloggers. I’ll keep at it, though. I am
determined to be on one of those kickass panels one day. In the meantime, I
will do my very best to fight past the caffeine crashes and mounds of unpacked
suitcases to post my way to that panel participation.
Photo credit: Around the world by Jenny W. / www.sxc.hu
Reader Comments (4)
I'm so glad you introduced yourself at the conference. It was lovely to meet you!