Habbermommy

Jürgen Habermas describes the public sphere in "The Public Sphere" as "a domain of our social life in which such a thing as public opinion can be formed." The internet, and therefore mommy-blogs, clearly fit the bill. Anyone who can access the internet (which is, admittedly, not nearly everyone) can participate in the conversation on a mommy-blog. There are primary content creators, the bloggers, in this case Kate and Lydia, but anyone can comment and add to the discussion. In class, we discussed public sphere locations as places to talk about the "critical issues of the day." Parenting has long been and will continue to be a so-called critical issue. Parents, and non-parents, endlessly debate, online and off, issues from how to toilet train, to what discipline plan to use, to what food is fit to feed children. Shows like SuperNanny and Nanny 911 have popped up as venues for discussion of these issues and mommy-blogs are another iteration of the phenomenon.

-Alexandra

About the Adventure

This blog is a project Jenn and Allison are doing for a Language and the Human Experience course at American University. The class has taught us to look critically at all uses of language, some that we were already tuned-in to (misogyny in rap music for Allison and language about undocumented immigrants for Jenn) and some that we have come to appreciate as linguistic treasure-troves, like public transportation ("The AU Shuttle: This is a gift from God for the linguist." - Professor William Leap). We hope to examine the linguistic practices of mommy-bloggers, specifically Kate and Lydia of Rants from Mommyland and the other individuals who participate on their site. Our examination will include a discussion of public sphere, the language of intimacy, ideology, consumption as good citizenship, and the phenomenology of image.

We have laughed our butts off and maybe even been close to tears on our adventures through mommyland. Perhaps it has helped prepare us to hopefully be mothers ourselves someday.

-Alexandra

About the Adventurers

Alexandra (known in real life as Allison Marie Butler)
Alexandra is a sophomore at American University majoring Journalism and Political Science and minoring in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She has no children, yet...but does have some kids fondly referred to as her "short boyfriends" by her mother (one even calls her Mommy sometimes). Alexandra never read mommy-blogs until Carrie got her into one, Rants from Mommyland. In fact, Alexandra is a little freaked out by the whole ordeal, but is open-minded and has to admit that three-year-olds say some funny schmidt (she can back this with personal experience, ex: "Max, do you want a carrot to fill you up with love...and happiness").


Carrie (known in real life as Jennifer Ann Johnson)
Carrie is s sophomore and mother of none, but is highly addicted to mommy-blogs and finds them hilarious and fascinating. She is an International Studies major and Spanish minor who spends much of her time catching up on Rants from Mommyland and laughing at the antics of Kate, Lydia, and their darling children (fondly referred to, respectively, as "indoor homeless people" and "little terror suspects"). Carrie was raised by a single, working mother who is AWESOME but regrets not being able to be a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom). Reading the blog gives Carrie a lot to think about and consider in terms of future life decisions...but mostly just makes her laugh, as she finds toddler potty humor hilarious. 

Rants from Mommyland

Rants from Mommyland (http://www.rantsfrommommyland.com/) is the blog that first captured Carrie's heart and inspired the linguistic work of this project. It started in 2009 and is as humorous as it is the word of captivating truth about motherhood.

Kate and Lydia (known in real life respectively as Kristen Keppler and Julianna Miner) were losing their schmidt. A high powered working mom with little time to spend with her children and a stay at home mother who hadn't finished putting away laundry in 6 months. Both felt like utter failures in a world that bombards us with images of "perfect mommies" who either flawlessly combine a successful career and child-rearing, or those SAHMs (Stay At Home Moms) who bring perfect homemade cupcakes to school on birthdays and only feed their children organic vegan gluten free gourmet meals, and frequently partake in mommy-and-me yoga. Also, their children are sleeping through the night. But in finding each other they realized that the fears and insecurities of motherhood are universal (unless you're Gweneth Paltrow), and created Rants From Mommyland as a place to escape from their hectic lives and share and connect with other Mommies who were going through exactly the same thing. And thus, the sphere of Mommyland was born, hilariously funny and heart-breakingly honest and true.