The Dark Side of Mommy Blogs

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What do you think of negative commenters on mom blogs? Let us know in OUR comments section below!

VIDEO: Top mommy bloggers talk about the criticism that comes with sharing their lives with the online community.

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1. Comment by Dianne on Apr 09 2010 07:00:56:

   I guess before blogs, there were bulletin boards on parenting sites. I used to go to babycenter.com a lot when my first 2 sons were born, that was about 9 and 7 years ago. They had topics ranging from the typical (e.g. baby milestones) to the outrageous (e.g. pro- and anti-cicumcision )! I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Women “yelling” at each other and chastising each other over the choices they made about their babies. If you do it this way your right and that way is wrong and you’re a bad mom for doing it. I had a tough time raising two young boys and I was beating myself up as it was, I didn’t need strangers to hand me a boxing glove. I think it’s great to be able to share your experience, but we have to realize others are having a different experience. We have to realize that in this world of electronic communication, words are powerful. They can lift us up or beat us down. Sometimes we won’t remember what a person said (or wrote) to us, but we will remember how it made us feel. I hope that we start lifting each other up.

2. Comment by melissa on Apr 09 2010 07:25:22:

   I totally agree with you Dianne. Some internet commenters (and it’s not just mom blogs, it’s every site) just have no life and like to put people down! It’s pathetic. The best thing to do is ignore them…otherwise they keep coming back!

3. Comment by heather on Apr 09 2010 07:38:39:

   I have a 9 year old daughter and am currently pregnant with my second child. I don’t know everything about raising children. I did what worked best for my daughter and will do what works best for this baby. I was unable to breastfeed my daughter because after 6 weeks of trying to encourage her to latch on and pumping nonstop she was not getting the nutrition she needed. She was losing weight and for a premature baby that was horrible. So I bottle fed. I felt guilt because for everyone who offered encouragement there were those who told me I was horrible. With this baby I hope to breast feed but if it doesn’t work out I will not feel the same depression I did the first time around. I learned as I went. Every baby is different. I read all the books and many suggestions did not work but others did. So I learned that since babies do not come with a specific handbook tailored to fit their needs, you are learning as much as your child is. I do not have an opinion as far as stay at home moms (I would love to be one but our family requires 2 people to work) vs working moms. I do not judge breast feeding vs bottle, circumcision vs non. There are arguments against everything you do and raising a child is difficult enough as it is without someone bashing you for everything. Moms do get defensive if they feel they are being judged. It is only natural to be on guard when someone tells you that you are doing something wrong when you feel you are doing something right. I chose not to respond to those who may try to lecture me. I in turn refuse to lecture others on their parenting style. There are those who do not share that same respect. I am not a super mom. My daughter is on the honor roll but is not yet in an organized sport. There are those who would bash me for that. I respond that by the time school is over, does her homework, eats (with her family at a table and not rushing to get to sports practice), there is little time for organized sports practices that would keep her up until way past her bedtime thus making her so exhausted for school the next morning. She watches 30 minutes of television a day and plays outside with friends and parents until it is time to take her bath for bed. She stays active and is at a healthy weight. For those who are into sports, great. It is positive for them but I simply choose not to allow it for my daughter at this time. I don’t want to be judged for this. It is my choice. I will not judge others for their choices. I think everyone needs to have respect for other moms. We are doing the most difficult job in existence and we don’t need it made harder by outsiders.

4. Comment by Kendra on Apr 09 2010 07:58:03:

   There really is no need for negative mom bloggers. Unless the parent is being neglectful or abusive to their child we all have different parenting styles. Moms (and dads) need all the support we can get. Just like anything else in life, there are a few that have ruined it for the majority. I get so many great ideas from other bloggers and appreciate being able to have so many resources available at my fingertips. I am already much harder on myself than anyone else ever would be. I don’t need any help from a complete stranger. Just ignore the negative bloggers. They thrive if you let them get to you!!