Several of us at Texans Care for Children have had the privilege of joining a new community: we are officially in the ranks of the mom bloggers! Here in the state capital, there are dozens of mothers who blog, and several have joined together at LiveMom.com, whose tagline--"dedicated to building a better village"--resonated right away with us.
Late last year, Catherine Prystup, the blogger who initiated the site, invited Josette, Eileen, and me to spearhead LiveMom's "Mommy Mob" blogging, a section of the site dedicated to activism and parent mobilization. She described her vision for this part of the site as "a tight-knit community of mamas who were there for each other and for our community. . . willing to fight for changes in the community to raise healthier, happier children,” and bring about a better village for everyone, as a result. She imagined women banging the pavement with strollers (minus the babies, of course). And we were honored to be invited to help shepherd that vision along.
The half-a-year that followed turned out to be a pretty exciting time for parent activism in Austin. Energized and determined folks from across the state marched by the thousands for their children.
We, the LiveMom bloggers and many of you, joined those parents in speaking out about keeping schools funded. We fought for healthier foods and fitness programs, for environments that support kids’ mental health and for ones that support parents and families. We took on the special interests that hurt kids and communities. We joined forces and started something that’s surely far from finished.
What comes next for the Mommy Mob? Well, we want to hear your thoughts. What would it take for you to join with fellow parents and get involved? What would you need to feel like you could be your best activist self for your child and other people's children? You don't have to live in Austin, and you don't even have to be a mom. Just share your thoughts, and help us plan for growth and your involvement one day soon.
This month, over on the LiveMom site, we’ll highlight stories for parents every Saturday (and repost them soon after here, too). There will be stories about parents who made a difference, highlights of legislation that is changing something big for kids, and maybe a couple of fun surprises along the way.
We hope you'll join us, and share your ideas, as we continue to build a vital network, online and in person, of mobilized parents ready to stand up for their kids.
[Adapted from a LiveMom.com post.]
