Moms Who Blog : Moina Memon

Hello and welcome to Mom Blogger October on the Times of Amma. As regular readers know, the Times Of Amma community is all about inspiring Moms and building them up as they work on being themselves, while juggling motherhood, as well. And so, this month is dedicated to featuring Indian Mom Bloggers from across the world. Today we meet Moina from Mommy Mojo. She blogs on parenting, inspiring moms, health and fitness for kids and moms, kids food and her blog is almost two years old. Originally from Mumbai, Moina is an enthusiastic and doting mom to two girls, 5 and nearly 2. An alumnus of St. Xavier’s College, Moina worked in the non-profit and corporate sector in Mumbai before she moved to Chennai. She finds contentment in blogging about her motherhood musings and connecting with other moms through 'Mommy Mojo’. Described by one of her readers as a“treasure-trove of information”, Mommy Mojo is Moina’s true creative outlet. As an active parenting blogger, Moina introduces her audience to various established and new parent-related brands and things to do in the city. She also has been an active contributor on a few popular parenting platforms in India. She believes in constantly educating herself as a parent and thus collaborates with experts to frequently conduct fun-filled and educational workshops. More than anything, Moina simply enjoys the roller coaster ride of motherhood. Moina also is a co-founder of InspirED Moms – a platform for moms to share their entrepreneurial journeys. Broadly, inspirED Moms is an education resource for moms to learn about the various inspiring and success stories of veteran mompreneurs. If Moina isn’t found doing any of the above, she’s either at the park or at the beach with her girls,cooking something with them in the kitchen or painting with them.

Indian Mom Blogger, Moina Memon in the Times of Amma

What was it that prompted you to become a blogger?

I loved writing as a child and contributed in my college magazine too. After my first daughter was born I created my personal blog to document her childhood and my journey as a mother. Being a new mom, I was figuring out a lot of things in Chennai where I was fairly new and didn’t know too many moms. As a new mom I felt the urge to connect with women sailing in the same boat and I joined many discussion forums to find out about the various things I could do with my baby. As my older daughter started school and I got to network with many other moms, I kept learning about a lot of new things in the city. There is actually a lot to do with the kids. Thus I thought that it is important for me to start putting these lists out for new and young moms. Especially, for the moms who solely rely on the internet to read and figure out things for themselves. I wanted to write and being a mom gave me enough reason to pen down all that I am learning about parenting and the life of a mom in Chennai city. Writing as a mother came effortlessly.Thus, with the intention of creating a resource center for moms to answer most of their questions, Mommy Mojo (meaning : Being in your element as a mom) was born. Which has been your most memorable post to date and why? Chennai is on the coast and we are beach lovers. When I found out about the Olive Ridley baby turtles being released after a hatchery season, I could not stop my self for going for the release repeatedly and beating the drum about it on social media. Once I found out a lot about the way to get in touch with the authorities who let you participate in it, I felt that every mom/parent should know about this. And really, we are very lucky that the mother Olive Ridley turtle chooses our coast to leave her eggs, which organizations like ‘Save the Turtle’ hatch in the hatcheries built, at the coast. Once the babies are born a day is chosen to happily bid good-bye to then in the sea. And the kids get to learn so much about the sea and the turtles, play in the sand and have a lot of fun. Thus, putting down the details of when, where, who, how to be a part of the turtle release with the contact details of the volunteers was exciting for me. My readers loved the post on social media and I’m sure some parent somewhere must be blessing me for this. But personally, I felt truly satisfied writing about this particular experience. What has the most memorable comment on your blog been so far? Well, I don’t have a very memorable comment as such on the blog. The comment was on insta about the turtle release post... by an acquaintance in chennai who said why should this be a thing to do for a toddler alone.. I'd love to do this too.As far as the blog is conecerned, a memorable comment was on a post about ‘Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention’ about how the article is beneficial. I was the editor of this article and I helped Mahima put down the article for me because she is an expert in the field. Do you stick to a regular posting schedule or do you post whenever inspiration strikes?Do you have a writing routine? I don’t have a routine and I write when I come across something that really needs to be sent out there so that someone reads and benefits from it. I am only beginning to make a calendar for 2019 now. Have never used one. Do you find it hard to get your voice heard in the crowded blogosphere? Yes, I do sometimes find it hard to get my voice heard. I am still growing and learning about how the blog world works. Writing is one part of it which I do for personal satisfaction. But to be honest, I do struggle with the SEO and getting a reader to reach my website and get that excellent post read and heard. What has helped is creating my Facebook group of moms and sharing my links there and on my personal wall and Instagram. So, at least somewhere someone is really reading my posts written with love. At least, it is not going waste.

Many say that blogging is dead thanks to other micro-blogging avenues like Instagram,Twitter and others. As the owner of a traditional blog, how would you respond to that?

I think a blog is the place for a writer and a reader. Yes, micro blogging is a form of writing these days, but for a writer to voice her deep thoughts requires using a traditional blog. Additionally, it also mean organizing your content and making it more appealing to the reader. For me, the social media platform is a teaser and a marketing tool. The blog has the essence of your personality and your life too. It's the real world of the writer/blogger and her/his own personal baby. Do you see your blog as a stepping-stone to something else? Do you see yourself wearing the tag of 'blogger' five years down the line? I am sure it is a stepping-stone to something because the blog is growing with my babies. I mean I might switch to writing about something else then and will let this process unfold slowly while I enjoy my journey as a mom, the childhood of my kids and my journey as a ‘writer’. Who knows I might end up creating a parent education program or an app out of the current blog. Today, becoming a mom for me was a stepping-stone to becoming a Mommy Blogger and I don’t know where this will take me next. Till then, I’d like to enjoy this to bits

What tips do you have for other Indian Mom bloggers?

I know it’s a difficult journey to even get noticed after all the hard work of thinking and writing. But truly, I’d say keep at it because it’s doing good to you, forget the rest of the world for now.. If it’s meant to become big, you will feel an impulse about taking it in a particular direction. Just trust your gut and believe things happen when they’re meant to happen.

You can follow Mommy Mojo here as well as on Facebook and Instagram. If you are an Indian Mom Who Blogs, follow the Times of Amma on Instagram and Facebook for more features with Indian Mom Bloggers and live interactive sessions for Aspiring Mom Bloggers. If you are new to the world of Indian Mom Blogging, don't forget to get your copy of 'The Beginner's Guide to the Indian Mom Blogger Universe' here. Click here for the 2016 and 2017 edition of the Mom Blogger October.