Over four years ago I was an avid reader of the now defunct DotMoms site. It was a collaborative blog made up of mom blogging stars. I dreamed of joining the ranks of their elite. It was my blogging goal at the time. A lofty one considering I was still a hack and hiding behind a pathetic attempt at an alias.
One day when I was plotting how to become one of their team of writers I came across a posting on my moms’ group inviting bloggers to join a local collaborative blog.
What the heck, I thought, I can start small and work my way up to DotMoms.
Four years later and DotMoms is a mere memory for some while that small local blog is a social media powerhouse with blogs in 13 cities around the US and Canada. The 400 or so bloggers that are regular contributors are considered with respect. We are most definitely part of the blogging elite.
But being a part of the Silicon Valley Moms Group has turned out to be about so much more than clout and respect. Over the years the contributors have become my friends, my blogging family. I was proud to be able to say that I was part of SVMoms Group. It was like belonging to a club, a powerful club, one that opened doors where ever I went, one that was made up of friends in every city. A sort of blogging sorority if you want, but in a good way, without rushing or hazing, or skimpy tank tops.
Yesterday the writers received an email from the SV Moms Group founder announcing the dissolution of the company and the closing of the sites. I read the email once, twice, and a third time. There was no way this was happening. And then the words sunk in and I started crying.
I sat there on my couch, tears streaming down my face and I thought of all the people I met thanks to Silicon Valley Moms Blog. Friends I would never have connected with if it weren’t for this group. I thought of the blogging opportunities that offered themselves up to me thanks to this group. Sites I’ve blogged for, companies I’ve connected with, jobs I’ve obtained. But again and again I came back to the friends I’ve made.
These women were my sisters in arms. We spoke the same language long before it was socially acceptable to use the words we bantered around – blog, twitter, RSS, widget…
Blogging is cool now. I don’t need to be part of a blogging group to feel accepted. I’ve also come a long way on my own and I probably don’t need the back-up clout of the SV Moms Group to give me authority as a blogger or writer. That’s not what I’m crying about.
I’m crying for the friends. For the community. And for the big waste that this all is.The missed opportunities. The connections that haven’t yet been made. The what-could-have-beens.
Yesterday we were a 400 strong blogging community. Today we’re 400 panicked writers, struggling to find a way to hold on to what we had. And in my heart I know we can’t.
And it’s a crying shame.
