Featured Blogger - Michaela Fox
Thursday 5th of December 2013 | Category: Opinion | Written by: Michaela FoxI started blogging about 14 months ago. I’d love to be able to say I thought long and hard about establishing a blog and fulfilling a long-held dream, but the truth is a lot more prosaic than that! Having had three kids in less than three years my life had become very home-based. I was utterly consumed by motherhood and felt like I needed to add another layer to my life. I have always loved words – both writing them, and in conversation - and my three kids have me plenty of writing inspiration. So one night, I thought of a post, jumped online and after a couple of hours poking around I had created a blog, chosen a free theme, named it, and pressed PUBLISH. How little I knew back then...
Does blogging ‘connect’ to your working life in anyway?
In my previous life BC (before children) I worked in marketing/communication roles and writing was an integral part of each position. I studied Professional Writing & Literature at University and so writing has always seemed a natural career choice for me. I am currently writing features for a number of publications such as Essential Baby, Melbourne’s Child and The Huffington Post. I enjoy the research and interviewing case studies that are part of the feature writing process, but I love the writing freedom that my blog enables me.
Tell us about your personal top three posts from your blog...
In no particular order, here are my top 3 posts:
Adequate: the new standard of excellence for mothers. I was pleased this post was so popular (and picked up by a major Australian newspaper) as it really speaks to mothers and the unjustified and unhelpful pressure we put on ourselves to be “perfect”. This post really sums up what my blog is all about – inspiring women to be softer on themselves and gentler to each other.
Labour...the second time around. This is a post very close to my heart for obvious reasons. I enjoyed writing it as much as I enjoy reading it. It’s a little step back in time and the key message is that the perfect birth experience is unimportant – it’s the end result that counts. A happy and healthy baby is all that really matters. Each time I read this post, I feel a close connection to my second-born daughter.
7 things I’ve gained since becoming a mum. There is a lot of sacrifice associated with motherhood. Sometimes we need to reflect on all the things we’ve gained. I wrote this post as a reminder of the many wonderful and significant changes that have occurred within me since becoming a mum.
What do you look for when reading other blogs?
I look for topics and writing that is different to my own. Mostly I look for compelling writing, interesting stories and evocative words. I love to laugh out loud (and follow a few bloggers who do humour much better than I do) and I enjoy opinion pieces that challenge me and beckon me to look at an issue in a new light.
How do your family and friends feel about your blogging habit?
I think they are mostly quite mystified by it! Most of my friends and family see it as somewhat of a mystery. And I “get” that. Before I started blogging I had little understanding about what it was and what it would entail. I have my younger sister to thank for encouraging me to start a blog and this writing journey. She is an artist and understands the creative process intimately.
What do you hope your kids will make of the blog one day?
I like to think that every time I write a post I am making a deposit into my children’s memory bank. I also think that there will be some posts they enjoy more than others! But hopefully they appreciate that my words are part of a creative process and also to capture time – a time capsule of our family experiences in the early years. In my blog, I try to keep more of the focus on my experiences as a mother as opposed to the focus being on the kids.
What do you enjoy about being a Trusted Blogger Club member?
It’s wonderful to be part of a blogging community as blogging, like parenting, can be an isolating experience at times. Even though most the Blogger Club members are oceans away from me, I feel like we are part of the same community. There is also a high calibre of writing talent amongst the members so I feel thrilled to be in their company.
You can only write one more post on your own blog; what would the topic be?
Awww......that’s a hard one!
I think it would be about meaningful mothering; reducing pressures and mothering more mindfully. Or perhaps a post about getting more sleep...as that’s something I definitely need more of!
