Creating the Virtual Village

In earlier times, when people lived most of their lives in the same close-knit communities, most parents had a solid network of friends and family to depend on.

Today, the village is dissolving. Instead of staying in the towns where they grew up, many parents move, leaving behind childhood friends and family. And when most parents work full-time, there's very little time left over to forge new friendships. Parents of teens face more challenges today than ever-and they often have to deal with them alone.

But blogging moms may be changing all that.

Blogs-the word is derived from "web log"-are websites with dated posts similar to diary entries. Anyone can start one, and on public blogs, anyone can read and leave comments.

Parents get into blogging for many reasons. But the common thread that runs through most start-up stories is a desire to connect. "In an increasingly nuclear society where more and more households have two members who work, parenting can be extremely isolating. It requires an enormous amount of love, money, advice and support," says Lisa Stone. "That's why blogging is so popular - blogs are like a kitchen counter online where today's parents can meet."

In BlogHer's case, it's a big counter. This online network of female bloggers was founded in 2005. In just two years, the network has grown to include over 10,000 blogs-including 3,000 that focus on parenting. Many bloggers and readers connect through networking websites that feature blogs with common interests.

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Issue: November 2007