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First of all, the evolution of MamaNeedJava: 

From the time I first got the advice from an employer at SEU to start my own blog to get writing, I waited two whole years. I gave blogging the NEVER BEFORE HEARD (sarcarsm) definition of an “online diary”. It wasn’t until I became a stay-at-home-mom that I stumbled across the infinite galaxy of the Momosphere - that’s the comprehensive term for blogs written by moms. What I found were some boring mom blogs - AND some great online content that was often witty, personable and even educating. Laced within some of the top mom blogs are lessons in child rearing, breastfeeding, nutrition, pop culture, marriage advice, tips for various careers and EVEN some good ol’ fashion hard news (however editorial). This was a whole new thing for me who, despite my young age, felt suddenly that I had been cut off from the culture all around me.

Piece by piece, one helpful techy after another, my first blog came to be. My gosh, the research involved for a website building-illiterate like myself! But when I get a goal in my head I run with it. I know better than you readers the limitations of my blog, and I’ve got high hopes for finding the time to create a more dynamic, focused, content-driven blog. At the moment, however, I’m simply amused, (and, yes, sometimes annoyed), at the large amount of people still out there who choose to point out their opinions about blogs or similar written word.

Ye who doth protest:

First, I’ve heard the complaint one too many times that blogs are nothing but self-indulgent, whiney, ego-maniac forums for those who feel the need to share their personal lives with the entire internet. Yes, that’s right, we MUST have all been too popular in high school to let it go and now we feel compelled to be the coolest kids on the block. Though I’ve got a lot to learn about mass communications and journalism, those courses towards my degree do come in handy when taking these comments into perspective. Media is the gate-keeper of information to today’s society, and no matter what is written in newspapers, magazines, television and radio news script writing, and on and on- it is ALL some one’s opinion. Yes, facts too, of course; but opinions are everywhere, however subtle they come. The new generation has come into media thinking- what the hell, might as well come right out with it! Maybe us twenty-something writer’s need a grammer lesson or two, but we can write with passion and intention and we aren’t afraid to be vulnerable. I address the mommy genre in particular. It’s too bad that things happen to great column’s in print like they did to Mamalogue’s (who, by the way, has some great posts about woman/mom topic articles that I am so glad I stumbled on while mulling over this myself!) I guess I’m lucky to get away with mommy topics in Polk Voice because I “contribute” them! Even then, I have to drastically tone down my wit at times to accomodate the fragile nature of some older generations.

Oops, I keep stepping on toes:

Which leads me to the title of this post (at last!). The other day my friend and I were talking about Jennifer Aniston being like 37 or something and how we can’t believe how old she is. Ok, I’m sorry, but for a “young Hollywood actress” she ain’t so young anymore. Ok, she isn’t OLD either, but older. I’ve been bumping into this little balancing act of the words a lot lately. I take it that if you are even reading this blog then you are at least somewhat privy to the internet, media, pop culture, that kind of thang. GOOD FOR YOU! REALLY! I was talking to my mother-in-law about this a few days ago, as she is some one who I use as a great example of an “oldER” woman who stays up to date on technology and internet fades and such. I cannot tell you how many moms in the various circles I find myself in each week laugh at “me and my internet”, (I even heard it compared to a VCR- my GAWD! Get a small clue, pleeease!) The mother-in-law brought up a great point: She stays on top of all this to relate to her kids as well as her older grandkids (my children, since my husband is an only child!) in the future. She said, “When [Lil’ E] comes to visit and he’s been on the computer, I can go in there after he’s done and look up the cookies and know where the hell he’s been!” That a girl! (If you are looking at that and wondering what the heck cookies has to do with anything, you can rest assure you are one of the ones I’m talking about!) Like I said, if nothing else about my defense of blogs and such sticks, her point is a good one. Parent’s have no earthly clue what kids can get their hands on in the form of chats, MySpace, even downloads to their phones and iPods. They are too busy comparing the internet fad to the VCR!

Another perspective that has really opened my eyes in the last year is the career demand for those who are internet culture savvy. So many moms feel “forced” back to the office rather than going out there to find a telecommuting job. Why? When people are collaborating on projects from across the world in virtual conferences where they share desktops and drop files in real time while chatting live- who needs the hassle of the “daily grind” when this is being done by millions. The younger generation of workforce, even younger than me- yes, there is such a thing, are going to be doing things with software that the software designing Baby Boomers or even Gen Xer’s didn’t even create it for! It’s crazy that it would take an employer 45 minutes to show a clerical assistant to cut and paste when any average 13 year old could run circles around her. These things aren’t going to go away, they will continue to evolve, and though we can’t all be experts (and BOY am I FAR from one), I strongly believe that paying attention to the times is essential.

You almost got me to share my thoughts on memoir and other personal writing, which is coming in alongside this shrinking global community and internet culture quite nicely, I think. Maybe tomorrow.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 18th, 2006 at 10:19 pm and is filed under Current Events, Etc, Motherhood, Pop Culture