What happens to the “mommy blog” when the kids grow up? Do the endless pages of stories and photos get lost to the internet? What about the mom behind the memories?
What Happens to the “Mommy Blog”?
I first started Baby by Oakley in 2013 as a way to capture motherhood from my perspective. It was a way to share the early years of our family. I documented pregnancies with fruit, vegetables, and other household items. I used chalkboards to highlight milestones and didn’t shy away from sharing both the highs and lows that come along with raising babies.
It served as a creative outlet for me the midst of working full time and going from one to three kids. And in the span of those 4.5 years, I (somehow?! miraculously?!?) managed to blog over 400 pages filled with our stories and memories.
And then… life.
The kids grew up a bit, I changed jobs, there was a global pandemic, things became even busier, and the metaphorical balls began to drop – and blogging was the first to go.
I’ve (over)shared on Instagram pretty regularly – short form content always seemed manageable while in the throws of toddler tantrums, childhood milestones, and pre-teen antics. But over the past year or so I’ve felt the urge to get back to my mommy blog roots.
Except it’s not really a “mommy blog” anymore.
Now that the kids are older, I’m more cognizant of how and what I’m sharing in regards to their lives. I also wanted to write about more than how long it’s been since I last showered or why, after 12.5 years of raising kids, I’m still changing diapers!
(Soon, someday soon, he WILL be potty trained!)
So, today I’m pushing myself to publicly hard-launch By Oakley, a nostalgic mommy blog from the early 2010s that grew up.
Everyone in the online world tells you to narrow your scope and find your niche – I’m kind of doing the opposite and expanding beyond just talking about the babies.
My goal is to turn this into more of a brand that encompasses things I’m passionate and curious about, and one that fills a creative void:
Lifestyle + Leisure
Think travel itineraries, road trip tips, and real life experiences based on our own family vacations. I’m slowly getting our past adventures added to the website so stay tuned for more.
Goods + Gear
I opened an Etsy shop to hopefully start selling some of my digital prints, canvas art, custom print-to-order graphic t-shirts, and other items as it continues to evovle.
Advocacy + Acceptance
Documenting our days raising a child with special needs has proven to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
I’ve had numerous moms reach out because they’ve recently been given a Down syndrome diagnosis and found my old blog through a Google or Pinterest search. Having information readily available and making a connection with someone who’s walked the path before you is pivotal. It’s what frames your entire outlook, for better or worse, when navigating those first few days/weeks/months.
I’m looking forward to advocating more and continuing to be a resource for new parents as we work towards a world where acceptance is the norm.
From Mommy Blog to Brand
It’s not perfect but it turns out I could spend hours and hours *designing* a website and mocking up merchandise without actually publishing or selling anything so maybe this will hold my feet to the fire.
I hope you’ll continue following along – something tells me the kids will continue to grow and time will speed up – but I’m excited to put some effort into this again and share the next chapter with you.