This week is BlogHer week. BlogHer '10 will be held on Friday August 7th and Saturday August 8th in the Big Apple. Bloggy Mommies everywhere are packing up and heading to New York City! The Tweet-waves are filled with talks of BlogHer.
The #BlogHer hashtag is everywhere! What to pack? What to wear? What parties to go to? What talks to attend? Will you be my roommate at BlogHer? Can I get your cell number so I can call you at BlogHer? I can't post a giveaway this week - it's BlogHer! My BlogHer Sponsor is such & such. My BlogHer BFF is so & so. I hope I can I lose 10 lbs before BlogHer!
Give me a Freakin' Break with the BlogHer Talk Aleady!!!
But really, I know that is just my jealousy talking...
The truth is, this mama is not going to BlogHer - and I am a little sad about it.
There are a variety of reasons I am not attending BlogHer this year. I am a newbie blogger. I really wasn't that interested in it - until I started hearing all the #BlogHer Twitter talk... I didn't know enough to register for the conference. I didn't have a sponsor. I had a family vacation planned right before BlogHer. I couldn't take the extra time off work. My son's 8th birthday party will be held over the weekend of BlogHer.
But again, I am sad I will not be a part of it.
Blogging is a whole new world to me. A New Breed of Mom just had it's three month birthday. Since starting this blog, I have met such a fabulous group of strong, independent woman who are also mothers. So often, we, as mothers and wives and sisters and daughters and friends, lose sight of our true selves.
Blogging is a way to stay in touch with the "me" part of me. I think it's probably like that for many of you too. Yes, we blog about our children and our families and our marriages. The difference is we blog about this stuff for us. Not them. From our own perspectives, we share the most intimate details about our lives. We share our inner-most thoughts, feelings, goals, and dreams.
That is why I can relate to everyone who is getting so worked up about this event. At BlogHer you meet your counter-parts. Other mommy bloggers. You put faces - real live, human, faces - with the user-names you are used to seeing comment on your posts. All of the sudden, it becomes REAL. You are exposed. Naked. The content of your blog is no longer some form of therapeutic relief or online diary. People have read what you wrote. And they are REAL people. And now, you must face them, face-to-face. In real life. Scary, right?
If you're like me, you may be saying, "I really don't give a damn what other people think about me." But wait. Even if you don't give a damn about what other people think, if you're a blogger (especially a serious enough blogger to be attending a conference about blogging), you DO give a damn about the readership of your blog. And if you generate a substantial income off of your blog, then your readership is that much more important to sustain.
Hmmm.
Then the self-doubt sets in. What if they don't like me in person? Will they stop reading my blog?
Once that self-doubt sets in, it is logical, it is human nature, to want to protect yourself from any possible threats of harm - whether real or imagined. And our mommy-blogger counterparts, like us, are sophisticated, worldly women capable of anything they set their minds to. Just a tad bit intimidating, right? So we go out and get our hair colored, get our nails done, get a pedicure, buy a whole new wardrobe - you get the drift.
So, yes, I am sick of the BlogHer talk, but I TOTALLY understand the hype and the excitement for those of you who will be attending. You will get to meet each other. In real life.
Next year, maybe, I'll get to be part of BlogHer 2011. If I can get a sponsor...
19 comments:
So, do you need a roommate for BlogHer 2011? ;-) I totally agree with your post! I am still a newbie and didn't know what BlogHer was until just recently, but I'm sad I'm not going. I can't wait until they all get back to hear all about it though...well, at least for a few days. Because I'm with you...enough already!
I will try to get a post up so I can join your hop!
Blogher? Crap- I'm still trying to find time to BLOG! lol
I'm with you ladies. New to blogging. Had no idea of BlogHer until all the floods of tweets. Yes, I'm jealous bc it sounds like sooo much fun. Yes, I'm eagerly awaiting pictures and posts. Maybe next year ladies. Need a roomie? =)
I'm totally down with rooming with one of you ladies! I guess the newbies have to learn the ropes? Thanks for your post! It puts things into perspective.
My husband has heard me whine a bit about blogger, too. The old "I want one" pout treatment. But alas, I'm a newbie, too and didn't have the foresight to get on that business when I started blogging a couple months ago. Next year, I'm gonna be rocking that conference! In new clothes. With new hair. And a buttload of business cards. Cheers ladies! We'll rent a suite!
I would LOVE to meet all of you next year! Like Jessi said, either we need a big suite or at least to be staying in the same hotel... =)
I am jealous as well (a little). I am yet to go to a blogging conference and would love to go to BlogHer next year. If anyone is interested in going...
It is SO hard not to be jealous! It sounds like such a great time. Of course if I really WAS going? I would be all panicky and afraid that no one was going to like me in real life. Because I am a ball of contradictions that way.
DrDrama & Katie: So there is basically two camps when it comes to BlogHer - those who attend and those who are dying of jealousy b/c they want to attend? :)
I don't think I have money for these BlogHer Styles. I'm hearing some fancy outfits going on!
I'm not participating in the hop but still wanted to comment...to me, blogging is a hobby (which I just started in Feb 2010). I have a very good job, and I am very busy working at my very good job this week because I have very important deadlines that involve making sure my company meets all reporting requirements that a publicly traded company must meet. So, there is no time in my real work schedule for hobby-conferences. Maybe one day if the timing is different and the location better (beach??) I would consider it but I can't imagine leaving my family even for 2 nights! Yeah, whatever, I'm a clingy mom, I'm fine with that.
And I am not dying of jealousy...I'd like to hear about what the hoopla is all about and what you really get out of it. Meeting everyone is fun and all, but I would need to learn more about the benefits.
Becky, Going out and buying a new wardrobe to attend blogher does seem kind of silly.
Aleksanda, To many (myself included) blogging is just a hobby. However, to others blogging is a means of earning an income to help support their family. Since, I've never attend a conference I can't speak to the validity of what the "hoopla" is all about. For me, I would have enjoyed attending simply because I enjoy blogging and connecting with other strong, independent women and mothers. And I, like you, would love to see BlogHer 2011 happen at the beach!
Okay I'm joining and am frustrated because stupid wordpress.com doesn't seem to support javascript so I'm struggling to put the link on - anyone techy?
No BlogHer and no Blog Hop - such a sad person - lol
Just found you through WonderFriend. I am hosting a Blogher Pity Party if you want to join us {you can link up this post}. I am not attending as well. I am only 2 hours away but btw all of the $$ I would have to spend and the fear of being back in high school I decided to pass. Maybe next year!
Life Without Pink - I just linked up on your site and am now following though GFC too! =)
I need to get a post up to join the Hop. I am jealous not because of the sessions but because I would love to meet all the cool and fun peeps I talk to so often.
I am a new follower of yours now!
I'm not going either, and I'm totally trying not to be butthurt about it...but it's not working very well:) Next year will be our year!!!
I'm totally going next year. I wanted to go this year, but I'm still breast feeding, and I'm so NOT lugging my pump to BlogHer. My husband won't let me take Knox on an airplane, either, so had no choice. Bah! Oh well, BlogHer 2011 is where it's at, yo. We'll have a grand time next year!
Im curious what you guys think about next year's location. I love San Diego way more than NYC kind of glad I waited it out...
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