MomTech

Hello, my name is Tara. I am a wife and the thirty-something mother of an almost-four-year-old daughter. Before becoming a parent, my relationship with technology was a major part of my identity. I earned my living as a software training consultant kept informed of the latest trends in technology (e.g. I subscribed to PC World and Wired Magazine). I held a Microsoft Certification in Visual Basic programming and at times created simple applications to suit my own needs. And I wouldn’t go anywhere without my PDA. I was also the “IT Gal” for my closest friends and family. Then my husband and I decided to have a baby. 

Sometime during my pregnancy, I seemed to lose the ability to transfer information from short-term to long-term memory. That is, unless the information was related to babies, pregnancy, or parenting. So, thinking my days as a techie were behind me (at least for the next 18 years), and eager to embrace my new role as full-time Mommy, I let my tech magazine subscriptions lapse, unsubbed myself from all of my Microsoft newsgroups and shelved my PDA.  And, for good measure, I signed up for American Baby, Parenting, and Parents magazines (OK, I admit it. I tend to go over-board with these things). 

However, in spite of those well-presented publications, I soon found myself drawn to my computer by the instant gratification of the internet. I couldn’t wait a month for an article comparing different cradle cap treatments, etc. Nor, given our health insurance coverage (Kaiser Permanente), could I pick up the phone and reach my daughter’s pediatrician in the middle of the night. So I spent hours scouring the web for answers to my questions and for information that would help me adjust to life as a parent as I was experiencing it at the time. And I researched everything (books, rash creams, car seats, diaper bags, bedding, furniture . . . you name it!) for safety, value, and price and ordered it all online. I compared the advice of different experts regarding sleep issues, discipline methods, and even verified the medical advice given to me by my daughter’s pediatrician. I joined message boards and news groups and asked questions of more experienced parents. Then I emailed all of my new-mom friends about my discoveries and my favorites.

And before I realized it, my techie status was back. But, now I focus on how technology can help me and other parents manage the dozens (hundreds?) of tasks and decisions we are responsible for each day. And many of my parent-friends have told me that they find my periodic emails to be of value. Their reason being that, while a multitude of information is available to those inclined to find it, few parents have the time and/or energy to do the research themselves. I, however, love doing it. So, with a bit of encouragement from friends and family, I’m launching this blog. 

And, nerd and internet-addict that I am, I’m thrilled to have an excuse to spend time online! Here I will share my thoughts on things family-, technology- and convenience-related: consumer technology trends, internet and computer safety, and my favorite products and websites. I’ll also share a few tips that I hope will help others re-discover the ”tech-savvy” they may have lost since becoming a parent. You will probably hear a bit about my life and other interests (shopping, fashion, skin care . . . typical girl stuff), also. Basically, when I get excited about something I find online (or even offline, for that matter), I’ll post it here.

With a little luck and a lot of trial and error, I hope to help a few other parents manage their busy personal and family lives a little more easily. 

Ciao!
Tara