People

But, more and more, modern parents often forgo the traditional “moms’ groups” and instead look to the Internet to fill the void.

Hence, the rise of mommy bloggers.

Among other things, blogs (online journals or “web logs”) can offer moms a way to connect with other parents in similar situations.

For many, penning a blog is a creative outlet, as well, a way to share stories about the triumphs and trials of motherhood with honesty; a place to reveal struggles, find friendships, and debate, as well as learn and commiserate.

Social media and blogging are also beginning to change the way many parents live and work. With companies reaching out in record numbers to market to moms (mothers comprise $2.1 trillion in estimated U.S. consumer spending), many women find that authoring a blog and expanding their influence in social media can ultimately serve as a merger between childrearing and professional life.

And for many women, blogging is an actual profession. Mothers who are also writers have traditionally freelanced for newspapers and magazines, but writing for online magazines and blogs has opened up an entire set of opportunities for stay-at-home moms. Further, national blogging conferences, online “momblog universities,” and other educational communities now offer learning opportunities for women.

Gone are the days when all moms had to make the tough choice between childrearing and a career. Just ask Jessica McFadden, the Silver Spring mother of two who pens the popular resource blog “A Parent in Silver Spring."

“I was an avid reader of blogs by parents since becoming one myself in 2003, and as a new parent, I was frustrated trying to find the ‘secret’ information of kids' activities that seemed to solely be passed around verbally from mom to mom,” says McFadden.

“In January of 2008, I made a New Year's Resolution to start one myself, stick to it for one year, and see if it would be well-received. The response was overwhelming, and I've written about activities and resources for parents nearly every day ever since.”

As a result of her blog, she has also found success writing for a number of other publications, including the Washington Post Weekend section and Nickelodeon’s “ParentsConnect.”

“Every day, I feel awed and blessed that I have been able to create a flexible, profitable career that incorporates educational fun for my children, keeps the kids as my top priority, but satisfies my lifelong dream of working as a writer,” McFadden adds.

And she’s not alone in her pursuits. Studies show that more women than ever are blogging. According to a survey by BlogHer, iVillage, and Compass Partners, 75 percent of women who use the Internet engage in social media. An amazing 55 percent of them read, post to, and/or publish blogs. The same survey reports that 12 million women post to blogs and over eight million women publish them. In Maryland alone, there are literally hundreds of mothers who blog.

And it’s no wonder why they do it. With millions of fellow moms online and in the blogosphere, the potential for new friendships, professional growth, and a true sense of community—albeit a virtual one—is just a mouse-click away.

Jennifer Gerlock is a founding member of the Maryland Mom Bloggers. A mother of two, she also blogs at “Hip As I Wanna Be”