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I made that graphic for the amusement of my OG
mommyblogger friends in 2015. Ha! Grandmothers! Who could imagine that far-off future?Me, apparently. Over dinner the other night, Rael and I were casually discussing the 3-to-10-years-from-now big picture and I uttered these words: if we’re grandparents by then…
Life comes at you fast.
Also, no pressure, kids.
When I created that graphic I’d already been blogging for a decade. I was part of the pre-social media generation of bloggers who unwittingly transformed parenting literature by creating spaces for stories, conversations, and connection. The line between writer and reader was flexible; readers’ comments often fueled the writing, and comfort and care went both ways.
I’m not the first person to notice a similar vibe on Substack. A small-but-growing group of OG bloggers have gathered here along with a particularly thoughtful group of readers. No one expects to recreate the olden-golden days of blogging, but who knows? Perhaps a new iteration lies just around the corner. There’s a refreshingly hopeful human energy about this place. Do you feel it, too?
Here are a few OG bloggers I follow on Substack:
, , , , , , , , Jess Sanfilippo,, , and . The list is growing.Have any of your favorite bloggers turned up on Substack? Please tell me about them — I’d love to check them out.
And now, some good reading/listening I want to pass along. I hope you enjoy it, too.
“The first generation of mom bloggers’ kids are all grown up.”
Followup to above. Amazing that these kids have (in essence) grown up together. Some have become friends, just like their parents. Featured in the article: the kids of Laura Mayes, Jenny Lawson, Karen Walrond, and Rebecca Woolf who writes a gorgeous Substack publication,
.…the women writing about parenthood in the early-mid aughts — think of it as the post-LiveJournal, pre-Instagram era — not only disrupted the isolation and performance of perfect motherhood, they disrupted publishing, media, marketing, and advertising.
Read: The Kids Of Mom Bloggers Are Old Enough To Read It All Now. What Do They Think? on Romper.com
Christine Koh on the second semester ache
It’s Christine! My pal in co-writing, co-hosting, and co-living! Her new Substack newsletter brims with her trademark candor and generosity.
Christine’s oldest daughter, Laurel, is in her second semester of college. When Laurel returned to school after Spring Break, a tug of longing took Christine by surprise.
Perhaps it’s because now that we’re past the initial transition of college and middle school for my kids, I’m seeing them both through a different lens and feeling the pull of the years and their natural progression away from me.
Read: Is the second semester ache a thing? in
My answer: For me it was second year ache, but yes, it’s a thing.
Kelly Corrigan + Lisa Damour on communicating with teenagers
This is my third Kelly Corrigan share in three months. I accept this.
Kelly interviewed Dr. Lisa Damour, originator of the garbage bag metaphor that’s so genius I was inspired to render it in Sharpie. This podcast is studded with immediately-useful gems.
Listen: Feelings, Friction and Family with Lisa Damour on the Kelly Corrigan Wonders podcast
Read: Lisa’s new book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents — instant NYT bestseller
Jean Hsu on choosing how to spend your time
Like many examining our post-pandemic lives,
, a friend, parent and Bay Area entrepreneur, has questions.The big question on everyone’s mind seems to be, how do I want to spend my time, and going even deeper than that: What do we want our lives to look like?
Jean asks several more thoughtful questions in her post — they’d make excellent journal prompts.
Read: How do you want to spend your time? in
Claire Robertson’s essential lasagna
My final nod to OG bloggers goes to artist
. Claire and I have never met but were blog-comment buddies for years. is a catalog of things that fascinate and inspire her plus an artistic process journal for paid subscribers. At the moment she’s “crone cooking” 52 essential recipes to celebrate turning 52.Here’s my standard, everyone-demands-it-for-birthdays lasagna.
Read: Springish in
Finally, here’s a silly way to delight yourself. (Because we deserve more fun.)
From Dictionary.com: “OG is a slang term for someone who’s incredibly exceptional, authentic, or “old-school.” It can be earnestly used for a legend like Michael Jordan or more ironically, like for that friend who can unwrap a Starburst with their mouth.” I can not and will never unwrap a Starburst with my mouth.
Love you generous boo! And you know what, today is a milestone for YOU. The 300th full-length episode of Edit Your Life! Thank you for embarking on that journey with me 8 years ago!!
I love everything about this -- the memories, the links, the community, the love. It's all so perfectly Asha. How wonderful that we can go onward together, supporting each other still after all these years.
(And thanks Christine for highlighting the podcast milestone, wowza!)