I had an honor to attend and speak at the first (hopefully annual) Type-A Mom Conference organized by Kelby Carr.
If I haven’t lost my count I think Type-A Mom Conference was my 9th conference I attended this year. And it was the best so far.
I feel like we mommy bloggers finally graduated high school. We have made mistakes, celebrated successes, and we are finally ready to kick it up a notch and start focusing on future of mommy blogging – TOGETHER.
The best of the conference was a “Town Hall Meeting” – Kelby saying a short and sweet introduction and then everyone getting an opportunity to say what they thought of the future of mommy blogging. As I watched women laugh and bond, cry the tears of joy and sympathy while listening to each others to take the stand, I realized that I had never felt so much sense of community in the entire time I have been blogging.
I created a Mommy Blogger “Prom Music” Playlist and hopefully these tunes will inspire and make you think.. (it looks like this and you can control it on the top side bar)
While I know
I didn’t get straight A’s in the Mommy Blogging High School,
maybe sometimes I was the teachers pet,
next day the geekiest nerd,
unfortunately occasionally the mean girl,
I messed up a lot,
celebrated a lot of successes,
was never pretty in pink,
attended a lot in the breakfast club
I hope you know that I love you all
my classmates,
my pep rally team,
the science club,
the cheerleaders (gimme me some more Sugar!)..
And want to thank the teachers and those who have helped me and believed in me.
I am in this together with you – entering the next stage of mommy blogging, taking the next steps in the new media – will you hold my hand and let me hold yours…?
You can read a full recap of 10 different sessions at the Cutest Kid Ever, including recap of the two sessions I spoke at; Blog Kharma and Social Capital and Blogger Outreach and Online Public Relations. The Blog Kharma was my favorite subject to speak about, and I truly hope I was able to inspire people to pay it forward and help each others. Let’s put the social in social media – and BE the community! Our community is as weak as our weakest link, so let’s help each others to succeed and flourish. If one succeeds in our mommy blogging community we should all celebrate it.
The big question in the Type-A Mom Conference seemed to be – how will we make this all to work; bloggers and marketers working together.
I hope to continue trying to hear as many opinions and answers for that question. One thing was said over and over again “we are all in this together” – we need to figure this one out together, and help each others as we go. It sounds such a cliche and not to mention, songs from the Target ad and the High School Musical.
And thus.. I couldn’t resist my pictures and cheesing it up even more and saying sounds like we mommy bloggers finally graduated high school. I don’t try to be mean, it just has felt like there has been so much drama in our online community, and sometimes I have wondered if I ever even saw as childish behavior while I was in high school… But the vibe at Type-A Mom Conference left us to realize what an amazing community we have, and while we are all different, we can create this space for all of us and agree to disagree about things.
I bet that’s how the women felt after the first BlogHer, when they graduated from the Mommy Blogging Kindergarten. Then we all “second wavers” came in and “ruined” it. There are new bloggers coming in to our community all the time, I’m sure they will feel the same sense of accomplishment when we graduate the mommy blogging college. Let’s welcome all those new bloggers in, and work together to make mommy blogging bigger and better and even more awesome than ever.
What are your thoughts? Did we graduate high school yet ? Will there be Sorority Wars next or can we just all live our blogging dreams happily ever after?
Read more blog posts from Type-A Mom Conference, and link yours to Robin’s post.
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{ 29 comments }
You are so brilliant…the music says it all Katja! Thank you!
“But the vibe at Type-A Mom Conference left us to realize what an amazing community we have, and while we are from all different, we can create this space for all of us and agree to disagree about things.”
I think we talked about this at the bar. I feel THE EXACT SAME WAY. It was so wonderful to come together as a community, a real honest-to-god community where we could feel empowered to stand and speak our mind. We knew, without even saying it, that this was a safe place, we really were here to work on our community…. together.
Wonderful as always, Katja. I know I’ll be hanging out with you more in real life, even if it happens to be online. :)
Couldn’t have been more encouraging to hear Katja!
Whether we are moms/friends/co-workers/bloggers …
“Women are more powerful as allies than enemies.”
@duongsheahan
.-= duongsheahan´s last blog ..Searches for Shoes Too Big, Too Small or Don’t Fit =-.
Wish I could have been there. Thank you for posting the links to read the recaps. (The Blog Karma really sparked my interest.)
Count me in on helping other bloggers out as much as I can and since I did not go to college nor was I ever in a sorority, can I skip the sorority wars???
.-= Claire´s last blog ..What is Prune Belly Syndrome? =-.
Oh this is so good to hear. I have been hanging back for a year or two watching some of the drama going on and not wanting to get involved because of it. This is encouraging and something I’ve been hoping for!
Karen
Well said.
I hope there is no sorority wars in our future. The feeling at the conference was amazing, it was open and honest and the hierarchy among bloggers I felt at another conference just didn’t show up for this one.
Please, no sorority wars – let’s just help each others :)
I didn’t get to attend but many of my friends did and they have the same vibe that you do- maybe we all can get along…I hope so. All the drama makes those of us that don’t participate in it look like morons by default. No need for sororities- unless we are all in the same one! Great post!
.-= Melissa Multitasking Mama´s last blog ..Menu Plan Monday =-.
Gender aside, I’m grateful to be embraced by such a powerful and warm group of people. So glad I was able to make it and spend some time chatting.
.-= Rick Bucich´s last blog ..Creative Halloween Costumes for Kids =-.
Seriously this sounds like one conference we all needed to and. I’m glad, that while I wasn’t there maybe I to can pull away lesson or two.
.-= kristin´s last blog ..Monday Mingle =-.
NO Sorority Wars!!!! Well said, Katja!
Thanks for sharing K. It sounded so tremendous, just from seeing the tweets. I’m so glad it was positive and powerful! Yay!
One of these days, you and me, coffee and chat. For real! -christine
.-= Boston Mamas´s last blog ..Awesome & Easy Apple Crisp =-.
This is the first time I have visited your blog, Katja, what a wonderful and unique explanation of this past weekend! This was my first blogging conference ever, and I came away feeling the sisterhood for sure. Thank you for being a shining light!
This is my favorite from you: “I am in this together with you – entering the next stage of mommy blogging, taking the next steps in the new media – will you hold my hand and let me hold yours…?”
.-= Frelle´s last blog .."Prima Princessa Presents The Nutcracker" DVD Review =-.
I’m so glad that the conference was wonderful. It was obvious that Kelby put a lot of thought and effort into making it great!
.-= Kimberly/Mom in the City´s last blog ..Swiffer Allergen Reducing Blogger Roundtable =-.
I had a great time, even with a broken ankle, and I hope others did, too.
This is one of my favorite songs, EVER!
I didn’t know about the Type A Mom conference to glad to be able to read more about it here.
.-= Imelda´s last blog ..Rainbow in the bathroom [Flickr] =-.
I wish I’d been there to hear you speak. One of these days! Hope your cruise was great, too…
.-= Naomi´s last blog ..Over The Top =-.
Agreed. This conference erased the disappointment I felt after BlogHer ’09. It opened my eyes to the fact that agree or not, we are all pioneers who will never see the promised land unless we stop bickering amongst each other and work together during our journey. We can do that as long as we keep our goal in mind and toss our pettiness.
P.S. It was great to see you too!
Great playlist. I’m a closet High School Musical fan, along with another mom blogger who will be un-named- except to say she’s sweet! (Bwahahaha.)
It really did feel like although there were dissenting opinions, there was a base of respect that was evident. Kelby put on a stellar event, and I was honored to speak with @HPAngela and @littletechgirl.
Was great to see you, and I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.:) (Vegas?)
.-= Rock and Roll mama´s last blog ..Guest Post: Janet from Scout 66 =-.
Katja – you are ALWAYS one of my favorite people to spend time with. I think you are ‘right on’ with this post. It was fantastic to see you – can’t wait to see you again soon.
.-= Danielle ExtraordinaryMommy´s last blog ..The Type A Mom Blog Song =-.
This was my first mommy blogger convention…or should I now say “digital moms”…that was what everyone agreed on…love that town hall meeting. I totally felt the sistahood and had a great time getting to know you and talking about our similarities. You are right about the blog too. ;)
I want to have a group hug now!
I would be so happy if the cattyness were over!
I wish I could have been there to embrace the “graduating” moments you shared…hopefully next year though.
.-= Cat @ 3 Kids and Us´s last blog ..Married to the Badge =-.
Wow! 9 conferences in one year…wha…wha…what?! Thanks for the inspirational wrap-up of the conference. This was my first blog conference so I have nothing to compare it to (besides writers’ conferences that I’ve attended, which are WAY different!). I’m glad I chose the right blog conference to attend!
You made me count…
Type-A made 8 conferences for me this year so far (if we’re not including media junkets, and why would we?) and I agree… the community was amazing.
((hug))
.-= Lucretia Pruitt´s last blog ..And then there was silence… But now? Not so much! =-.
Lucretia – it’s been a crazy year, I have been traveling more than ever this year. Well, in places, not in traveling days. And media junkets… living in New York.. I couldn’t even start counting those!
Looks like this conference would have been the one to take me out of my funk. Glad to see changes are a comin’ :-).
Looks like it was fun! I wouldn’t have felt right going to Type-A “mom” haha! But I’m glad you had a good time and joined together! Cool!
Great post — the conference was my first. It was enriching to be around people who know that what I do is important. No one called my blog a “blob” — always a plus!
It was a pleasure to meet you — I hope we get a chance to talk again.
9 conferences in one year — yowza!
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