This week I am working on a project for KidsLinked.com that involves hunting down the best parenting blogs in Columbus, Minneapolis, Chattanooga and Indianapolis. We’re going to host a little contest to find the best blogs in each of the said cities.

As you can imagine, it hardly feels like work at all.

Here are two blogs I’ve found that have completely blown me away… I had to share them. And please, share some of your favorites back.

SWonderland

Erin is an Indianapolis mom to three children under three. But, instead of complaining and griping she is positive, uplifting and her writing is lovely. Start with this post about an ill-fated trip to Target and you’ll be hooked.

I also love her decorating style. Check out her dining room. Super shabby chic.

Joanne lives in Columbus, and yet this is the first time I’ve stumbled across her magnificent blog. I love her writing, her style and her voice. And in two days she’ll be leaving on a trip to Haiti and documenting what she finds on her blog and Twitter. Amazing. Can’t wait to read her stories and see her photographs.

Start with those and I’ll share more along the way. If you read any awesome blogs by moms or dads in Columbus, Minneapolis, Chattanooga and Indianapolis leave a link in the comments.

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P.S.

The Manifesto has been mailed. If you are moving or changing your address and you’re on the list – please e-mail me at mssinglemama@gmail.com so I can tell the mom in front of you on the list.

John Bear is learning how to cook, Benjamin is calling him Daddy and, after three weeks of sharing a room we’ve finally found a place for all of our clothes. I am about to dive into the manuscript for the book – I’m hoping it doesn’t keep me from blogging (just about my favorite thing on Earth, aside from Benjamin and pumpkins). So… cross your fingers on that one and I’ll keep trying to master my time management skills.

Related posts:

1. The Dawn of Mommy Blogs
2. Must Read, Must Link, Must Play
3. Bragging rights (thanks to you!)

Mankind’s media landscape has been controlled by men since the first printing press spit out a bible. Oh, and if you haven’t heard – you’re a rib.

Now it’s our turn

We are lifting the black curtains, inviting other families into our lives and are finding, above all, that we’re not alone. Stereotypes, perhaps you had one about single moms before reading my blog, are vanishing, walls are coming down and we’re finally speaking to each other about our fears, our joys, our losses and our victories – or about what our kid wiped on the wall last night. Regardless of what the topic, Mom blogs are a strong voice for women every where.

And now we have a matriarch – Heather B. Armstrong, or Dooce, as millions now know her.

The first mom blogger propelled into the national spotlight, Armstrong bears the brunt of mommy blog criticism. Now that her blog is rumored to earn her family $40,000 a month in advertising, the critics are even harsher – some say she is exploiting her daughter for fame and fortune. Keep in mind Armstrong has written candidly about everything in her life since 2001, before she even had a family.

She answered her critics this weekend in a profound letter to, Leta, her four-year-old.

“I have every reason to believe that one day you will look at the thousands of pages I have written about my love for you, the thousands of pages other women have written about their own children, and you’re going to be so proud that we were brave enough to do this. We are an army of educated mothers who have finally stood up and said pay attention, this is important work, this is hard, frustrating work and we’re not going to sit around on our hands waiting for permission to do so. We have declared that our voices matter.

You are a part of this movement, you and all of the other kids whose mothers are sitting at home right now writing tirelessly about their experiences as mothers, the love and frustration and madness of it all. And I think one day you will look at all of this and pump your fist in the air.“

Thanks Dooce. Your blog makes me laugh and cry … thank you a million times over for paving the way for the rest of us. And thanks to my readers for bearing with me as I find my voice in this little thing we call the blogosphere. I’m fairly certain this is just the beginning.

My blog is about to get quite a little makeover. I hope you like it! And yes, there will be room for advertising (I’ve had requests already) and no, they won’t be ugly or tasteless. And if anyone ever accuses me of exploiting my son I’ll just breath, sigh and then e-mail them a link to their daughter’s Facebook page.

For all of you who are also mommy bloggers, here’s an article you might enjoy, “Top 5 Reasons Why Mom Blogs are the Blogs to Watch.”

[Thanks to Random and Rachel for sending me the stories for this entry...and the pic is from the Wall Street Journal]

Related posts:

1. Destructivo Strikes Again! Super Mommy Limps Away for Nap.
2. Hey, mommy…is that a man?