It’s hard to believe that Ish Mom turns seven this year. In 2018, with a toddler, an infant, and two more kids glimmering on the horizon, the internet felt like a lifeline and a source of frustration.
Where was the parenting content that resonated with the reality I was living? The answer, I realized, was nowhere. So I decided to build it myself.
This is the origin story of Ish Mom.
Writerly Aspirations
Ish Mom is an extension of my passion for reading, learning, and writing. As soon as I understood what a book was, I demanded it be read to me. As soon as I understood what a story was, I began dictating them. A few years later, I was published (a poem in Highlights for Children).
I finished the children’s section in my small local library by second grade. So I began reading young adult and adult fiction. When I realized what good writing was (The Hobbit as opposed to, say, The Boxcar Children), all I wanted was to count myself among those who could produce it.
Throughout those school years, I was always writing in my journal, penning melodramatic poetry, and submitting short stories to regional literature collectives.
In college, I thought I’d major in English, but decided a psychology degree would be more practical (hahahahahahahaha).
As an “official” adult, my writing slowed. But it never stopped.
Kids Are Kinda My Jam
Ish Mom is also an extension of my lifelong connection with children.
My mom says that as soon as I was a toddler, I wanted to hold the babies. As soon as I was a preschooler, I wanted to round up the toddlers, etc.
I was a good babysitter and children’s organization volunteer. I sought out child development classes, even though I had no concrete plans to work with children, and I’ve always wanted to be a parent.
New To The Internet
I had our first son in 2016. The first wave of mommy blogging (1.0) had passed. Parenting content was deep in the monetization (and the beginning of the end) of mommy blogging 2.0.
But I didn’t consciously know any of that at the time. Despite the year and my age (33), I was an online newbie.
I was familiar with Facebook. I didn’t do Mypace or Tumblr or LiveJournal or Vine or any of that. I barely remember the early internet. I was famous in my group of friends for being a technophobe.
I became familiar with all of it at the same time (and years after everyone else): YouTube, Amazon, memes, online shopping and think pieces.
Having just had a baby, I was also suddenly exposed to parenting content: mommy vloggers, Instagram parenting influencers, online Sanctimommy “Support” Groups, and so much more.
…And Motherhood
I dove into that sea of online parenting content. And found it lacking.
It took too much effort to glean usable information: there were undisclosed sponsorships, plagiarism, and misinformation to wade through.
Also, was all of this a bit…annoying? In the late 2010s, parenting content was burgeoning and beginning to jump the shark. What we now call “sharenting” was in full force.
Could I Do It Differently? And Better?
I started to wonder if I could write about parenting.
I knew things that could be useful, things I could communicate straightforwardly. I knew that I enjoyed writing and was good at it. I was pretty sure that I was funny.
But most importantly? I strongly wanted to add unique and meaningful discourse to the conversation. Arrogantly, I believed the current landscape lacked crucial insights and perspectives that I, and perhaps only I, could contribute.
The Early Days
When I told Josh my idea, he was immediately supportive, which came as no surprise given his tech expertise. Together, we dove into researching blogging platforms, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and social media strategies. He built the Ish Mom website. I started writing.
For a few months, I published three articles a week, telling no one. When I had a little cache of articles about different topics, I did a Facebook introduction post.
We were so productive those first few years. To be fair, we had fewer kids. Additionally, the pandemic’s impact on Josh’s traditional 9-to-5 job allowed us to work from home on our respective online businesses (Ish Mom and Always Relevant Digital).
In the beginning, needing content, exposure, and connections, I did more local stories (like interviewing small business owners, doing a profile on a mover-and-shaker). Over the years, I’ve steered more towards publishing my own thoughts, systems, etc.
Future Goals
What’s next for Ish Mom? Buckle up, because we’re leveling up – big time! Our new website will be a hub for modern moms and women aged 35-55, offering a space for honest, insightful discussions about perimenopause, aging, and navigating life as an elderly millennial.
We’ll provide more think pieces, practical articles, and in-depth courses tailored to women who want to thrive post-40. Ish Mom is committed to becoming your trusted resource for living fabulously, parenting non-reactively, and tackling the challenges of perimenopause.
There’s even a new catch phrase. Ish Mom: 40ish, Healthyish, Holding it Togetherish.
Conclusion
My aim in starting Ish Mom was to foster unique conversations, challenge the conventional monetization of parenting narratives, and allow space for diverse experiences and perspectives.
It’s been an incredible journey of sharing my story and learning from yours. I can’t begin to describe what your engagement and support mean to me.
Want More?
Check out some more of my lore here:
- 36 Things I’ve Learned in 36 Years
- 38 Things I’ve Learned In 38 Years
- 40 Powerful Life Lessons I’ve Learned in 40 Years
- How Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) Taught Me To Protect, Enhance, and Monetize My Own Lore
Thanks for reading!
Love,
