I've had these nice Babble essays in my browser tabs now for over a week, and I've been looking for an excuse to mention them, even though they're so chicky. [Disclosure: I wrote a couple of things for Babble when they launched, but it just didn't work out, though I stay an ovary-less fan.] I finally just figured a dad needs to indulge himself now and then, so here they are:
Amy Wilson's "Why Cookie Crumbled" isn't really about why Cookie crumbled, so much as how its unrealistic fantasies of sexy, modern motherhood made Wilson feel [hint: inadequate, frumpy]. Alas, it didn't make women feel as bad about themselves as Vogue does. So it had to go.
Carrie Kirby takes on/takes down the whole Momblogger Industrial PR Complex in "Little Dooce Coup," which is about how moms are such a powerful market force, what with their control of "85% of household spending" and all. And so mombloggers are such a powerful yet controversial PR force, what with their freebies and junkets and all. But then pointing that out or criticizing it is somehow sexist? And then I read this:
Many bloggers are very gracious recipients of these treats -- but not all. "A good number of these women who find themselves in this situation don't have the professional PR or media background to handle this," said Young, a marketing consultant who blogs about motherhood at Lynette Radio.And I just thank my lucky stars that as a dadblogger, I don't have to deal with Lady Problems like being told I should be gracious when some condescending publicist on a $5,000/mo retainer sends me a trinket and expects me to do her #%*ing job for her.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to head down to Crabtree & Evelyn and just pick me up a fun basket of bath salts. Have me some Me Time.
Greg, this is a big day for me. I am an avid fan of your blog and so am quite happy that you gave a shout-out to my essay on the end of Cookie. You can be chicky with me anytime.