I love the first week of the year. It’s one of those weeks where anything seems possible, the fizz of potential simmers in the air, and those dreams you’re dreaming? You have the plan to put it all in place. Which is why, this time last year, I was busy umming and ahhing over starting Life with Baby Kicks.
Potential names were floating round in my head and I started to look at other blogs out there. Seeing what all the fuss was about with this whole blogging lark.
From there I fell headlong into a whole online world. A massive blogging community which welcomed me with open arms. Friendships formed over Twitter, from Facebook groups. Connecting with these people out there who love this crazy world.
So without further ado, here are some of my favourite parenting bloggers of 2015 and my favourite posts.
Life, Love and Dirty Dishes
Because as Claire says because what is life without a few dirty dishes (she must have sensed the state of my kitchen). Claire’s blog is filled with the fun and frolic side of parenting, hosting Friday Frolics a parenting humour linky where gems such as “Parenting Badges” can be found. As well as the more serious side of parenting, as featured in the Huffington Post as the #12 most popular posts of the year with “We are not rivals”
All that said my favourite posts of Claire’s are those witty takes on classic songs and stories, pure genius, my all time favourite being “The Toddler-O; A Mummy Alternative to The Gruffalo”
Mum of Boys
The top parenting blog out here in Dubai, my list couldn’t be complete without including Louise from Mum of Boys. Documenting the highs and lows of life in Dubai, detailing the adventures of Stanley and Wilfred. I relate to Louise on so many levels, raising expat children, having two boys – and nodding along with some of the annoying things people say to mums of boys – and well just being a mum in general. One of my favourite posts this year was “My Children Have Never Seen a Rainbow” which made me stop and think. Mine haven’t seen a real *rainybow* (thanks Bing Bunny) in the sky either – but they’ve seen other things I could only have dreamt about at their age.
Absolutely Prabulous
Prabs. What a woman. Sometimes in life you just click with someone, even when you are only able to use 140 characters to build that relationship (thank you little blue bird of Twitter). A fellow British expat, based out in Malta, she has had quite a 2015, anniversary posts that reach out and touch you, making you not afraid to say “me too”, posts on her adopted country of Malta and just why it’s breaking her heart. But Prabs isn’t all about the deep and touching, much like AbFab it’s all about the humour, looking at the lighter side of life, finding the funny in everything. Or the alcohol. That works too – “If they did a cocktail menu for mothers…..”
Quite Frankly She Said
I literally stumbled across Sian when we took part in the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt. From there I’ve fallen a little bit in blog and Instagram love! Little N is weeks younger than the Big One and though Baby J has already turned one he really isn’t that far ahead of the Baby so much of what is happening in Sian’s life is happening with me at the same time. Of course some of my favourite posts have been breastfeeding related with “10 Reasons Why Breastfeeding and Urinating are NOT the same” and my favourite – “Why I give my breastmilk to other babies”
Momma Boss
I love Jo’s approach on life, a Toy Story mum through and through she isn’t afraid to say the things that people often think but won’t say. She’s had an awful year, but hasn’t let it stop her choosing to be happy. More than that she is breaking taboos in talking about miscarriage. I admire her bravery and honesty, I love her zest for life and her spirit. Definitely a blog to lose yourself in for an hour.
Inside Martyns Thoughts
You’d be forgiven for thinking I only read Mum blogs, not true, I branch out ever so slightly into Dad blogs. Martyn was named one of the Tots100 top 10 Dad blogs in 2015, with his frank look at life, his honesty about his disability, his openness on mental health, his helpful and warm attitude in sharing his blogging tips all the way through to the funny posts like Ten Types of Dad you might find at Dad Club.
These are just six wonderful bloggers I’ve come across on my journey so far, with their inspirational posts. But they are not alone, there are an estimated average of 2.73 million blog posts published EVERY day, an estimated 152 million blogs in the blogosphere which goes to show that there are thousands of wonderful bloggers out there. This post only scratches the surface on some of the blogs I read daily, with the posts that have resonated, have made me laugh, have made me cry. These posts? These are what make blogs and I’m sorry that I’ve not been able to list every wonderful post that I’ve read in the past year – and believe me, there were plenty!
Lovely round-up. It is astonishing how many blogs are out there but some great choices to try here. I have only come across a couple of these before too.
Author
It’s crazy how many there are (and you are my favourite travel blog 🙂 ) but wonderful as well to see that people are putting wonderful writing out there!
Thanks for sharing these I don’t know them all and I am always looking for good posts to follow and read.
Author
You’re welcome! They are some of my favourites x
What a great round up – I’ve been meaning to increase the amount of parenting bloggers I’ve been reading, so sticking this lot on my to read list! I find with other parenting blogs that they reassure me that I’m not cracking up/doing it wrong/the only one watching Peppa Pig at 10am on a Sunday morning – so I can never have too many to follow!
Author
Funny you should mention Peppa myself and the Big One are currently in bed watching Peppa on YouTube…..
Awesome roundup, its amazing how many bloggers are out there and how much wonderful content there is. Thanks for sharing your favourite 6
There are so many bloggers out there now, it is great to find a list of completely new ones to read (including your own).
Thank you for sharing this round up, I shall grab a cuppa and go and take a look!
Oh you are so kind, this has made my day! There are some seriously awesome parenting bloggers out there and I’m so touched that you include me in your favourites xx
Thanks for sharing, I will definitely be checking these blogs out. I’m always on the look out for new blogs to read!
Such a great idea for a post, Ive not come across all of these yet so thank you as I will be checking them out! Cant believe there are so many blogs out there is general!! Xxx
What a great list – I have only come across a couple of them before. HOW many blog posts are published a day??!! Wow! Kaz x
What a great post – love seeing blogger love!! Agree with most of your choices and the others I need to check out!
Some great posts and bloggers here. Can;’t wait to read some of the ones I haven’t had a chance to. I really love seeing posts like this opening me up to some more bloggers I may not have been aware of. Thank you for sharing.
Can’t believe this…I commented on this soon after it was published…but my comment’s not on here! Anyway thanks so much for including me in this. What a lovely write up. Very lucky to have found each other in this at times weird and most definitely wonderful thing called the blogosphere. Raising a mojito you my lovely inspirational blogging BFF x
Author
Oooh bad blog site losing comments! Cheers my lovely! X