Blogaversaries, Lucky Sevens, and Really Big News Involving Cable TV

While I can’t seem to remember much about those early, sleep-deprived days of parenting, I do remember the moment I logged onto blogspot.com, and tried about 34 URLs until I discovered that eureka! Mom-101 wasn’t taken.

(I still curse you, City Mama, for stealing my first choice.)

“Hey look,” she thought. “Free ironic retro clip art!”

That was exactly 7 years ago today. 7 years? Good lord.

Actually I’m lying–my original backstory (cleverly named “The Backstory”) was dated January 29, but I believe in fact I wrote it on January 31, and backdated it so that that little sidebar would show two days of archives instead of that one pathetic, lonely one. Also because I wrote two posts in a day and I had learned from some “how to blog” article that you’re not supposed to do that. This being the first one.

I know what you’re thinking: shocking that Liz didn’t sign a five-year contract with Random House on that very day. I agree with you!

Now, looking back, I could not have imagined then what this blog would become or where it would take me or even that I would still love it in seven years. I say that without a hint of sarcasm, and with more emotion than even this week’s Downton Abbey elicited in me: I really love this place.

Certainly there have been a lot of accomplishments and other things I’ve experienced since 2006 that make me wonder, whose life is this anyway? But really, that was never the goal. For the most part I was merely hoping to wean off the snarky NYC message board, find my voice, and maybe a few readers who could commiserate with the hell of co-not-sleeping or the horror of walking in on your seven month-old daughter holding up a condom wrapper left on the couch the morning after Valentine’s Day.

So how fitting that today of all days, the seven year anniversary of Mom-101, that I get to share some pretty cool news:

I’m going to be joining CNN’s new show on HLNtv, Raising America with Kyra Phillips every Wednesday starting next week as a contributor.

Don’t ask me too much more than that because I don’t know a lot more. I know I get to talk about news as a parent with other parents, and I like doing that. I know I get to work with Kyra Phillips who I think is terrific. I know I’ll alternate between spelling her name Kira and Kyra for a while. (Sorry.) I know that I’m going to run out of TV-ready clothes (i.e. not black) super fast. I also am pretty sure that someone will do my makeup in-studio, which is definitely a huge plus at my age. Yes, Nate, you’re still younger than me and my music may be stuck in 1987, but someone carded me buying champagne on New Year’s Eve so…shut up.

Finally, I know I’m joining some amazing long-time friends and bloggers who are also contributors, like Heather Armstrong, Jill Smokler, Charlie Capen, Julie Cole, and Lindsay Ferrier, whom I’ve known since back when she was all paranoid and anonymous and told everyone her name was Lucinda. Plus, there are so many other talented writers and contributors that I’m excited to get to know better.

Here’s a video of host KYra Phillips very kindly welcoming me. (So welcome-y!) See if you can spot the best part of the whole video.

Hint: Sage caught it right away.

PS Kyra: If you need to spell my name Lyz from time to time, I totally forgive you.

I have no idea where this will go or where it will take me or how long they will keep me on, considering I’m not the type who likes to flip tables over during arguments and call you a prostitution whore so that they can play it over and over in commercial promos. All I can say for sure is that I’ll try to represent us all well, and I’ll try not to do that thing I do with my lip that I do when I really hate something that someone else says but I don’t want to mention it.

I’ve said too much already.

One more reflection: seven years ago, I recall reading posts a lot like this one. Where bloggers with more than 2 commenters mentioned some huge sponsored trip they were taking, some famous person they met, or an award they won and it all seemed just so…big. And exciting. But you know? Having done things like that myself since then, yes, they are remarkable, incredible experiences and I hope you all get to experience the joy of being rewarded for doing something you love. It’s a fabulous feeling. But really, what I most value and appreciate after all these seven years of blogging, is the thing I expected least of all from setting up shop on this here URL: true friendship, community, and my growth as a parent through the conversations we have.

Bloggers can fool ourselves into saying that “we write for ourselves,” but it’s just not true. Without you, there is no Mom-101.

That’s you, as in you.

So if you’re reading this? Thanks for a great seven years.

Please tune in to Raising America on HLNtv! I’ll be on starting noon ET (I think) Wednesday Feb 6. Also check the Facebook page for more info and follow us on Twitter via #RaisingAmerica