Editor’s note: Today’s feature is the newest installment of our parenting column written by two sets of Richmonders: Jorge and Patience Salgado (veteran parents of four gorgeous children), and Ross and Valerie Catrow (parenting rookies who have only been doing this “raising a child thing” for a little while). Check back fortnightly to watch them discuss/agree/disagree/throw down over all kinds of parenting issues, Richmond-related and beyond.

Richmond has a fabulous community of blogging parents sharing their child-rearing joys, wisdom, and woes with the world. We thought it’d be nice to highlight our faves and give them a little linkage love. Some are funny, some are inspiring, and all are must-reads.

You’re All a Bunch of Liars

How can you not love a blog with that title? Sarah Whitehead calls out every parent on the planet in a causing-your-drink-to-shoot-out-through-your-nose kind of funny. This is a must read for every expecting parent in RVA. (shmutzyboy.blogspot.com)

Mommy Gourmet

Vanessa McCauley has a magical way of infusing food and community together. Even those with the most undistinguished of palates will feel invited to the table. Her matter-of-fact humor, stories, and recipes make this blog just delightful and yummy. (mommygourmet.blogspot.com)

Late Enough

Sugar coating really doesn’t do anyone any good, and you can count on Alex Iwashyna to put it all out there — the good, the bad, the ugly, the REALLY ugly. A philosophy student who went on to get her medical degree and THEN decided to become a poet, Alex is smart (hello, DOCTOR), funny, and willing say what she thinks. And if you don’t agree with her, she’ll still be really nice to you. (lateenough.com)

A Happy Nest

Sure, sure, her husband just HAPPENS to be an Internet superstar, but Nikole Sarvay is the absolute bees knees when it comes to providing Richmond parents with creative inspiration. Whether she’s reminding us to be grateful or inspiring us to support an important cause, Nikole never fails to blow us away with her creativity, honesty, and good, good heart. (ahappynest.typepad.com)

Spark

Follow along with Jess Lucia as she does a joint photography/art 365 word of the day project with her seven-year-old son, Griff. With a mix of thoughtful parenting, creativity, and beautiful photography, you are sure to think about all kinds of things in new ways. You can even throw your word into the hat for the project and see what this mother and son duo come up with. (theloushe.typepad.com/spark)

Home Slice

Talk about honesty, man. Cristina Del Bueno has faced some tough times of late, but she continues to grace us with her experiences and insight, helping us all remember that parenting is hard for everyone, that life is messy, and that humor is always necessary. (delbueno.net)

On Bramble Hill

Popular RVA photographer Tisha McCuiston started a new site this winter exploring her life on the suburban homestead. This Jane-of-All-Trades shares her tips on homeschooling, recipes, gardening, photography, and beyond. This blog makes you feel both tired wondering how she does it all and yet totally inspired all at the same time. (onbramblehill.com)

Fuck Yeah, Motherhood!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you already know we love hearing stories about her dates and her thoughts on pop culture, but did you know that The Checkout Girl is a mom two times over? And an awesome one at that. Fuck Yeah, Motherhood! follows her experiences raising two teenagers on her own, mixing the humorous with the heartbreakingly honest. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll laugh while you cry. But, ya know, in a good way. (fuckyeahmotherhood.com)

Knit…Simply Knit

Amy Joyner’s blog Knit…Simply Knit chronicles her dreamy country life in Goochland with her kids, husband, and of course, her thriving knitting business. She has a wonderful gift of cultivating a simple yet soulful way of living. Her photography and writing will make you wish she was your next door neighbor, and somehow you feel like she already is. (knitsimplyknit.blogspot.com)

Ok, now it’s your turn

What are your favorite parenting blogs, local or not? Share your favorites below! (And fill us in on any dads chatting it up out there!)

As the editor of RVANews, Valerie Catrow spends most of her time wrangling people over email and muttering to herself about the content calendar. She also contributes to our parenting column while maintaining her own blog, Made in Richmond. It should be noted that she loves tots, both the potato and child varieties.

Patience Salgado lives in a state of dreamy chaos with her husband Jorge and their four kids in the Westover Hills neighborhood. She slings a baby while she writes for Supersisters at PBSparents.org and tries to think up her next guerrilla goodness project.

13 Responses to “Raising Richmond: Favorite RVA parenting blogs”

1. 1. Tiffanie says:

   Love this list. Except now my Google Reader will either 1. seem more neglected than ever or 2. completely take over my life. I’m betting on 2.

   on April 13th, 2010 at 1:36 pm

2. 2. Brando says:

   Are there any blogs for women who will end up childless but owning 10+ cats?

   on April 13th, 2010 at 1:54 pm

3. 3. Leigh says:

   Can I plug my parenting blog? For those who want to teach their offspring about God and His Word – we have tons of great ideas to help you out!

   on April 13th, 2010 at 4:14 pm

4. 4. Leigh says:

   The blog is… http://impressyourkids.com

   on April 13th, 2010 at 7:32 pm

5. 5. Blair says:

   Locally I read my friends blog http://263and-dna.blogspot.com/ because sometimes it’s easier to catch up that way and my blog but I don’t really read that as you can tell from the lack correct grammar and punctuation . Lame I know but we are busy. Not local blogs I check on the regular are http://www.dooce.com/ http://www.prudentbaby.com and http://cookingwithmykid.com just to name a few.

   on April 13th, 2010 at 8:49 pm

6. 6. Nicole of Irandless says:

   Brando – check out Cafe Darkness. (http://cafedarkness.wordpress.com)

   on April 14th, 2010 at 10:01 am

7. 7. Homeslice says:

   My heart is overflowing with mad throbbing love. Thanks for the mention. The fastest way to a blogger’s heart is by pimpin’ the aforementioned blogger’s blog.

   Hopefully my audience will stick with me through the insanity that is my life right now. Hi Ho Silver!

   on April 14th, 2010 at 10:19 am

8. 8. Maggi says:

   I guess it wouldn’t be right to plug your own blogs, but I really dig kindnessgirl.com and madeinrichmond.net! Also reverendartistmother.blogspot.com/ by a local artist who, coincidentally, will be at Spring Bada Bing this weekend ~

   on April 15th, 2010 at 4:11 pm

9. 9. vanessa says:

   Aww man…

   That was really cool thanks for the mention!!

   Now I must go blush in a corner.

   on April 15th, 2010 at 4:50 pm

10. 10. Mel says:

    I don’t understand the appeal of blogs. First of all, with 2 kids I hardly have time to read them. Second, reading about a stranger’s daily life strikes me as a bit sad. You should be out living your own life, not wasting time reading about someone else’s.

    on April 16th, 2010 at 2:14 pm

11. 11. Valerie Catrow says:

    Mel, for me, I was the first of my close friends to have kids, so I had no one to talk to about things (at least no one who was going through it at the same time as me). Blogs like these have made me feel less alone in this process.

    on April 16th, 2010 at 2:28 pm

12. 12. Blair says:

    Ditto to what Valerie said. It was nice to know I wasn’t the only one out there crying about latching and going back to work.

    on April 16th, 2010 at 3:10 pm

13. 13. suzanne l. vinson says:

    oh, sweet! thank you maggi for the mention!

    along with A Happy Nest, I love following http://astilllife.com.

    on April 17th, 2010 at 5:31 pm