I am the writer/owner of ‘MA! motherhood with attitude.’ The artist/owner of our company, Tiffany, will add her two cents on this blog now and then, as well. Tiffany and I often talk about the struggle to earn a buck through our freelancing as we also try to make the ‘MA! dream’ come true. Our mission is to expose ‘perfect parenting propaganda’ for what it is: hogwash! We adore imperfect parents (and embrace the fact that we are among them.)We’re Breathless
I have FOUR girls, ages 6, 6, 4, 4, running around my house and, if my motherhood sensors are accurate, dangerously close to the dog poop in the backyard, but I simply must take a moment for ME and write about what’s happening with MA!
Starting early last month, we jumped on a wave and we have been hangin’ ten ever since!
First, MileHighMamas highlighted us and we got a lot of local attention.
One week later, the extraordinary e-newsletter CoolMomPicks picked us as a favorite! That really set things moving! We got a bunch of orders and a bunch of retailers called us! THEN we discovered that the very same week, Real Simple magazine highlighted CoolMomPicks as their blog of the month, so we picked up a bunch of hits from their fortune!
THEN, we actually had a real-live photo shoot for a story run in the Colorado Springs Gazette! That was a total hoot because the picture was gy-nor-mous and the story was right-on.
OK, perhaps best of all — the Associated Press picked up the Gazette story and it’s been running all over the country! No lie! My friend in Rochester started yelling “LOOK AT YOU! LOOK AT YOU!” when I called her and told her to check her paper!
OK, then yesterday, something happened that had us screaming like giddy school girls: PARENTING MAGAZINE called us! They took some details about when we launched, how much our stuff is, etc. It was all via phone tag, so I have no clue what they’re doing or when they’re doing it.
Just to prove that motherhood still yanks us back to reality, at about the same moment we discovered that PARENTING called, my older daughter hauled off and BIT her little sister. This was a first and I was shocked, furious, and frustrated. I didn’t know how to punish her, was contemplating all the possibilities, when I got the message from PARENTING. I had to call Tiffany in the midst of it all and leave her a cryptic message because my girls were sitting with me and I wanted to keep the mood somber. I said, “I can’t sound like I’m doing back hand-springs right now but I am because Parenting magazine called. I’m in the middle of an ugly parenting moment and can’t share my real mood but, sister, we’re gonna be in Parenting!” (that last part came out as a squeek.)
Best of all, Tiffany and I keep saying, “This is fun!”
Hang Ten!
(Dang, one kid just came in and said I need to clean up the dog bombs…)
Hey, there! A friend sent me the link to your site. Very nice! I think we are kindred spirits! :) I write a column on mothering and family life, entitled Guerilla Mothering. I changed 3 poopy diapers today. Go, me! Anyway, nice to meet you–I enjoy your work.
Leslea Harmon
Comment by leslea — March 9, 2008 @ 6:47 pmlmharmon.com
Congratulations, you two!! What amazing news! You must be breathless–what a roll.
Comment by heatherj — March 9, 2008 @ 10:55 pmRead about you in yesterday’s Detroit Free Press, and just spent the last couple of hours browsing your fabulous web site. You two are on to something GREAT, so hang in there and give it your all. I love your cards! They are SO realistic, yet funny and sentimental all at the same time. Every parent and grandparent can relate! Keep up the good work. I can’t wait for my order to arrive!
Comment by sharon1241 — March 11, 2008 @ 1:11 pmYay MA’s! How exciting for you, but how do you manage it? I am still in the process of raising 4 of my 5 children (I gave my first born to the Army, hooah!) and I still don’t have time for the neccesities, let alone things that I really want to do.
Comment by dornbrau — March 12, 2008 @ 10:29 amThanks for bringing the spotlight to the realities of motherhood. All those June Cleavers and Carol Bradys really gave the world (including my dear husband) a false impression of what all is entailed in the daily rituals of raising a family. I find myself inspired.
But… if I may, your children are still young… you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! Wait til you have teenagers!
Dorn~