I am Taking the BlogHer NaBloPoMo November Challenge!

Lately, I have needed a kick in the you know what to be inspired to get my daily posts up.  Some days the creative juices aren’t flowing and it can be tough to be inspired every day to write something that you think your readers will find inspiring, useful, or interesting.  That is why when I read about the BlogHer NaBloPoMo November Challenge, I thought this just might be the thing to get me back on track and start blogging/posting with fresh eyes.  Basically, the challenge is to write a post daily.  That’s it.  But if you know about the writing process – it isn’t always that easy to write good material! Don’t get me wrong, running and managing both my websites have allowed me to have the freedom to pick up my daughter after school, attend most of her activities such as Girl Scouts and soccer, and even take a day off or two during the week if I need a break.  But it can be a bit lonely and sometimes overwhelming.  Many days, my cat, Buddy, is my sole companion for most of the day until I pick up my daughter from school. But if I am going to have a furry companion – he’s pretty cute!

And at times I do feel overwhelmed with organizing the sites so that the content is relevant and interesting.  I think one of the nicest compliments I received was from another mom who helps run one of the larger lifestyle sites around.  She gave me  kudos for running the site with a handful of contributors – who thankfully are amazing!  The site wouldn’t be the same without the wise words and interesting posts from Justine Genest, Kelly McMullen, Dr. Heather Manley, Anita Reynolds MacArthur and many others!

About once a month, I get a little down and wonder if I am doing enough and is it good enough. Isn’t that a question most moms ask themselves?  But then I think about why I started dandelion moms.  It really wasn’t about me so much as it was about the essence of what is a dandelion mom, what it means to live a dandelion existence, and to encourage other women to stay mindful and enjoy the journey because it just go by too darn fast!  Dandelions remind me of childhood.  Children have the wonderful ability to be present and in the moment at all times.  What a gift this is!

When I created the site and thought about what is a dandelion mom  – these three words came to mind:  beautiful, resilient and strong.  To me, being beautiful has so much more to do with what  someone is doing in the world with their life.  Are they kind?  Do they try to do the little things that make someone feel special and loved?   Beauty to me has less to do with what is on the outside, but the glow that comes from within, and that I find has a lot to with how a person is feeling about themselves.  Because really at the end of the day, the outside aspect of beauty tends to fade away as we age.  And that is okay ladies!

A dandelion mom is resilient like moms;  Jodi Murphy, Valerie Maples, Jodi Hobbs and Charly James who all have special-needs children and walk the walk and talk the talk. I find all of these women inspirational and it is in reading their stories that make me remember why it is important to have this site.  When I get emails and am told how much it means to them to have this platform to write about something they care about – and how it has helped them in their daily lives – it makes my day, if not week!  Don’t we all want to be heard and isn’t there some solace when we are able to share our journey with other women!  Like Clever Girls co-founder Sheila Bernus Dowd who shared with us her story and fight with breast cancer and how she is beating this disease one day at a time.  She is the definition of a strong woman who walked through a very scary situation only to come out the other end and inspire other women to share in their journey when they had to Be Fierce with the Clever Girls Being Fierce Initiative.

Part of being inspired to go after your dreams is featuring women who are living their dreams!  Like Erin Condren who created a very successful business doing what she loves.  Creating and helping others stay organized – in a colorful and fun way.  I had a chance to speak to Erin and it is no accident that she has created such a successful company – it was hard work, sacrifices and a “we can’t fail” attitude that helped her along the way.  Women like this inspire me to keep moving along to live the life I want and I hope they do the same for you!

So this month, I am coming back to dandelion moms with fresh eyes and taking the NaBloPoMo challenge.   I made a promise to myself to start to feel more at peace that I am doing what I can – as a mom, friend, wife, daughter, writer and blogger – to the best of my ability.  And it is enough.   This site is for you and we always welcome your story, thoughts, ideas and aspirations.  Be Fierce. Be Beautiful. Be Resilient and Be Strong Dandelion Moms!

Thank you to Holly Caulfield who came up with the beautiful dandelion moms definition you see in the gorgeous banner Tracy Fernandez created!

To read more about the NaBloPoMo November Blogger Challenge Go here: https://www.blogher.com/novembers-nablopomo-here?from=bhspinner