Blimey, it’s been one whole year since Rock My Family launched. One year of fun and most importantly one year of your amazing support. First birthday’s are a fabulous excuse to don your party frock and eat cake so that is exactly what we will be doing today. Ok, we may be more likely to be in jeans but there will most definitely be cake. And perhaps jelly and ice cream. It isn’t a first birthday without jelly and ice cream.
I may be getting carried away on the cake front when what I really wanted to say was THANK YOU. Thank you to each and every one of our fabulous readers. You lot are amazing and without you Rock My Family wouldn’t be what it is today. Yes, I may be gushing a bit but it’s true. We are so happy that you love what we are doing and that you all take the time to share your own stories and thoughts with us. It’s this little community that provides so much support and advice to each other. Something every mum definitely needs.
We’ve been lucky enough to share a host of posts with you over the last year. The team has shared the motherhood musings, personal experiences and a whole heap of pretty. We have also been honoured that some of our readers have allowed us to share their own stories with you. They have been incredibly moving and the bravery that was shown in writing these humbles me. Take a peek at the end for some of your favourite posts from over the last year.
Motherhood is hard. But it’s so much easier when you can share and talk to others, even if only on these blog pages.
So before we embark on the next year of our RMF journey we wanted to find out a bit more about you, our lovely readers. Drop us a little note below and tell us anything you like (within reason!). How many children do you have and what are their ages? Most importantly we want to know what it is that you found most useful about RMF and what have been your favourite posts. We do plan to do an in-depth reader survey soon so keep your eyes peeled but in the meantime we’d love to find out that little bit about you to help us shape the content we bring you. Without your feedback we won’t know what it is you really want to see so get sharing.
So thank you again for being the wonderful community you are and for allowing us to rabbit on about all things little.
Now, whose joining us for cake……
Happy Birthday RMF! I was an avid reader(still am) of RMS when you announced to new blog. Before you announced what it was going to be, I had no children and wasn’t pregnant. The rumour was it would be motherhood/child related blog and, selfishly, I hoped it was something else, something more relevant to me. Turns out it was very relevant! I discovered I was pregnant on 21st September 2015. I am now mummy to a beautiful, happy 4 1/2 month old boy. It’s been as life changing as everyone tells you it’ll be but not in any way I could prepare for or comprehend before my son was born. So for me the timing of the launch of RMF was perfect feel that RMF has been there for me throughout my journey from pregnancy, labour, birth and now motherhood. Keep up the good work RMF!
I forgot to say what my favourite bits were! All of it really. I love the readers stories and labour/feeding stories too. I like it its a welcoming, non judgemental space for us to discuss and share our feelings. Its a tough job being a parent so we need all the support we can get.
Happy Birthday! I love RMF particularly the pieces around labour, breast / bottle feeding / fashion, readers stories. Basically all of it! I’m a big fan of all of the team. I have really enjoyed Cara’s posts, I’ve been able to relate to those a lot. I’ve found them refreshing and they’ve given me the confidence to be more honest about what I think we’ll work for me with my mat leave next year.
Happy birthday RMF ?
My favourites are the fashion (for little ones and mums) and interiors posts. And I love the readers stories. Xx
Happy birthday RMF. I’m a long time reader of RMS (having fallen over from RMW) and when you launched RMF I found it really helpful in the months leading up to us trying to conceive our first. Am currently the proud keeper of a tiny bambino/a in my belly (9weeks – eek) and I have loved re-reading all your articles. I especially love your straight up discussions on issues with conception, pregnancy loss and early motherhood. I love how you include so many peoples different perspectives too (and get annoyed with the haters who complain). Also, spilling the RMS brilliance over to fashion, i love these articles as they are great for ideas for little gifts for friends who are pregnant/just had a baby. Selfishly, I’d love more tips on dressing bumps at different stages.
Happy birthday RMF.
My favourite thing is the community and the feeling of closeness with the writing team. It’s very very rare to see anything even slightly negative in the comments (I can think of one occasion only in the whole year) and that is exceptional in the tinternet world. In terms of posts I love readers stories and labour/birth posts but also cake and fashion! I would like more stuff to do posts if that makes sense- activity ideas etc.
Ps would also be interested in the analytics from the first year- individual visitors, views, views on post themes. I guess that would be helping the competition but I find the stats fascinating.
I have been a happy lurker just finding inspiration for nieces and nephews. However, I’m now 8 weeks pregnant and have been going through the maternity style back catalogue of posts to see how on earth I’m going to style my personal pumpkin!
The honesty and variety of posts have been wonderful 🙂 x
Happy Birthday to you and congratulations on developing and nurturing a truly helpful and supportive online community. Pre RMF, I used to frequent other parenthood websites and forums and in all honesty, they made me feel even more isolated and ‘different’ from all the other mummies. But RMF have a knack for honing in on relevant themes, taking on board suggestions and responding positively to a range of all different opinions. Oh – this has turned into a far more analytical post than I intended but basically it’s a big thumbs up from this mummy!! 🙂
I’ve been a reader of RMW since the start, moved over to RMS when it launched not long after I got married, and as I’m mum to an almost 2 year old (and step mum to a 13 year old) I now read both RMS and RMF. Love the community you guys have created across all the sites, and I think Lisa and Cara have been great additions to the team. Happy birthday and keep up the good work! 🙂 xx
Happy Birthday RMF! I too have followed from RMW to RMS and love them all. I have a 5 month little boy so the last year has been pretty perfect following you throughout my pregnancy and early motherhood. I really enjoy all the personal experiences posts- labour, breastfeeding, reflective/emotive type ones. I think it’s fantastic that you get readers involved to share their stories and I love the way the team interact with readers in the comments. Keep up the good work and enjoy your cake 🙂 xx
I graduated from RMW to RMS/RMF. I like interiors the best, discussion over work and the more difficult parts of family life. “Hey; it’s ok” type of posts. I’m mum to Humphrey dog, Our star baby Alexandra and our second baby due next week eeep! Oooo and craft tutorials on these pages would be good or clubs for kids. Shameless plug for Guides & Scouts that are so important to me and the husband.
Happy birthday RMF. What a year!
Thank you for everything ✌❤
Happy birthday! My son is four months old and I found out I was pregnant just weeks before you started so the timing couldn’t have been better. From helping to pack my hospital bag, deciding on our pram to looking ahead at weaning you seem to time your posts just right. I couldn’t afford NCT and Wilf was almost two months old before I found a group of lovely NCT mums who took me in, so a big thank you for all your help!! Tracey x
I really like the breastfeeding stories. Also the emotional side of motherhood, such as Lolly’s post the other day.
Happy Birthday Rock My Family!
I was a big Rock My Style fan (still am) and was so excited when you announced you were starting a family blog. I look forward to my email every morning telling me what the day’s post is all about! I have a 2 year old boy and I love the posts about boys fashion and really enjoy the nursery/bedroom tours for ideas. The photography is always stunning too and very inspiring. I think you have it spot on with all the wonderful content. Thank you for making coffee breaks at my desk work all the more enjoyable! K X
Happy birthday RMF!! I too came over from RMW and RMS. I’m mamma to a 15yr old, 3 yr old and 4 month old. I love the frank and honest posts about motherhood and also the fashion/home inspiration for little people and their nurseries. Keep up the good work! Xx
Happy Happy Birthday RMF! Having devoured RMW when planning our wedding and been hooked on RMS since its early days I was reading RMF from day one, before there was even a possibility of children in the future. Fast forward a year, I’m 20 weeks pregnant and can honestly say that the site has reassured me no end as to the possibilities of life after children. The range of topics which you cover, the no-nonsense way in which you deal with issues and the constant lovely imagery on these pages has made it the only parent-y website I frequent – I love it!
I particularly enjoy the interiors and real life posts, trying to snag any tips and ideas where I can. From a selfish point of view I’d love to see some more maternity fashion as I battle my rapidly shrinking wardrobe.
Happy celebrating and I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Rock My… empire! x
I’ll have a cake in your honour!! I am yet another reader who has followed along from RMW to RMS and now to RMF, and I love reading the posts everyday. I have one little girl who turned two in August, I think she sits nicely in between Mabel and Hector/Elle so a lot of the posts are very timely for us – either what’s about to come, or something we’ve just been through ourselves. My favourite posts are the real life ones that provoke a lot of useful ideas in the comments section – whether that’s on travelling with a little one, getting rid of a dummy or toothbrushing! I’ve just had a look at the categories on the menu, and although I read the posts everyday, it’s the ‘Motherhood’ ones I think that have engaged me the most, and I expect they’re the ones I’ve commented on the most too. One that I particularly remember, on both here and RMS was the morning after the EU Referendum, I was really pleased that you addressed the issue, and although reading everyone’s comments didn’t make me feel better (nothing could have!) it really felt like I was in the right place, and glad that others were feeling the way I was!
I personally don’t feel as engaged by the fashion/interiors posts – partly because the items featured are usually out of my budget, but also because I think they are often quite gendered (although I appreciate that this has been addressed somewhat recently).
Happy birthday RMF!! x
Happy birthday RMF! I followed you over on RMW when I was planning my wedding in 2013. I then lingered than I should have because I just adored all the pretty! I was quite pleased when RMS started and was even happier when RMF started even though I wasn’t pregnant then. Now I’m the mother of a beautiful, wonderful, 9-month-old son. Oh btw I am German.
I can’t really say that I have favourite topics, I really like everything you post. I love the variety and I love the community. It almost feels like I personally know you, the writers, and damn I’d love to sit down an have some cake with you all!
On recent events I have to say, I find Cara”s posts very entertaining and honest, witty and like that she speaks her mind. However I am worried about the comments that pop up under her posts. It feels very angry and hateful and that’s not something that belongs in the RMEmpire.
Love to you all,
Anja
Happy birthday RMF!! I love all your blogs, but this one has been the most useful to me as I am the proud mummy of an 11 1/2 month old! I love all the posts, but I think the personal stories, the baby/toddler clothing, what books to buy and interiors things are my current favourites but that is purely because they are the most relevant to me, and to copy an earlier post some crafting posts would be cool going forwards. The hospital bag post was incredibly helpful to me as I ended up going into labour the day after I packed my bag, prompted by your post, and all the breastfeeding and labour stories etc are so useful I think to everyone to show nothing is normal or abnormal and we can all get through it no matter which way. Thank you to the RMF community for being so supportive, I don’t know any other blogs (the RM family aside) which are so wonderful. I genuinely look forward to my daily dose!
Happy birthday RMF! I’m mum to a 10 month old boy so this blog felt like perfect timing when it started up since I was already a keen follower of RMS (and still pop back to RMW every now and then!). I love the variety of posts – that one day there will be a thought provoking or emotional reader’s story, and another there will be a more light hearted shopping or nursery tour post. I love getting to know each of the writers and their different personalities through their posts. Most of all I love the open, honest, non-judgy atmosphere – there are different approaches to parenting discussed and the overarching message I get is that we’re all doing the best we can in our own way. Thank you all 🙂 xx
Happy Birthday RMF! It’s been lovely to read all the comment on here about RMF and feel the love for RMS and RMW too.
As many of you will know there are no kiddiwinks at Chez Coleman but RMF has helped me massively understand what my friends are going through as they navigate first-time motherhood, so thank you for that lovely ladies. Can’t wait to see what the next year brings to RMF. You girls rock. Mwah xxxx
Happy birthday! I’m a mum to an almost-two-year-old boy and have another little boy on the way who is due in the new year. I love the fashion and interiors posts for inspiration (I’ve made a fair few purchases on the back of RMF and RMS posts!), and the ones sharing experiences and struggles – births, breastfeeding, juggling work and parenthood etc. I think you’re all doing a great job! x
Happy Birthday RMF?? I’m currently 20 weeks pregnant first time mum to be,
Fell in love with Rock My Wedding first then Rock my Style now Rock My Family!
Love the useful practical advice such as your checklists and product reviews, Im glued to your blog for all the advice & support, none of my friends have babies and I don’t much family either, so I’ve never changed a nappy or bathed a baby let alone known anyone to ask about breadt feeding etc so all the posts are reassuring!! I’ve actually you tubed how to put a nappy on a baby ??
Happy Birthday RMF! You have given us 12 months of engaging, entertaining and original posts. This is the first website I visit each morning, and I am almost always interested in what i find on these lovely pages. I particularly like the “real mum” posts – for example, Lolly’s recent posts (about Hectors language and her figure) have really struck a chord. It’s great to know you’re not alone in confronting these issues.
I’ve really battled today with whether or not to post the second half of this comment. I have to say that the one thing that has troubled me has been the response to reader comments on Cara’s posts (e.g. My comment on the gender post). I have absolutely no ill will towards cara at all, and I actually really like her Instagram account. However, RMF is a community and part of being in a community is the ability to engage in challenging and thought provoking conversations. Conversation is a two-way street and there’s only something to be gained if you are willing to listen to opposing view points (you don’t need to agree with them). One of RMF’s strongest points is that it has attracted a diverse readership of intelligent women from all walks of life, who have valid and valuable contributions to make. The world would be a very boring (and scary!) place if we all had to agree with, and support, everything that someone said without being allowed to challenge or question.
I have also followed you through all the blogs. I first became aware of RMW around 2010/11 when I was working for a wedding magazine. I used to write all the real life wedding features for the mag and shamelessly used to approach all the photographers featured on RMW because they were always the best in the industry. Once I’d left the magazine I continued to read RMW as my then boyfriend is a wedding photographer and I was always nagging him to submit his work. Then we got engaged and I legitimately had and excuse to continue my daily wedding blog indulgences. Then came RMS around the time we bought our first home together (hello endless interior inspiration from the real life home tours) and now I’m a mama to my seven week old boy I read RMF on a daily basis. I guess I’m trying to say your amazing blogs have followed the patten of my life and been there for me exactly when I needed them. Although I was reading RMF looong before we thought about babies but husband doesn’t need to know that! I’m lucky and honoured to have shared my pregnancy and labour diaries on these wonderful pages and I’ll be so happy to know that they may have helped others. The best things for me are the real life stories, the nursery tours and product reviews which I found essential in knowing what to buy in prep for my little dudes arrival. Thank you to all the team for an amazing blog which I’d be lost without and the gorgeous other ladies and maybe some men?! Who regularly comment and create such a welcoming and informative community. Alice
Also I’m up feeding aforementioned baby right now, hence why I’m posting at 2.30am ?. Alice
Belated happy birthday RMF! A poorly toddler yesterday means I’m late to this particular party! I was also a reader of RMW and RMS, RMF launched a few months after my little girl was born, so in the early days I looked forward to the weekly baby post on RMS. The great thing about RMF is the real experiences, so relatable. And Cara is a fabulous addition, I spontaneously bought myself some beautiful blooms from the florist the other day. I can’t help but think her lovely Instagram encouraged this 😉
As I said RMF wasn’t around while I was pregnant, but for anyone who may go through something similar, a future post on Hyperemesis Gravidarum would be awesome. I found so little around particularly from UK blogs while I was suffering and it was hard and people don’t really understand it. So if you could help anyone who could benefit from a bit of support, that would be amazing x
[…] been enjoying birthday week here at RMF, we certainly have. Thank you for all of your comments on yesterday’s post – it’s really helpful to know what you’ve enjoyed and found most useful in regards to […]
Yay for RMF! Happy birthday for yesterday and I hope you guys celebrated in style – what a fab place you’ve created here!
I really enjoy the nitty gritty personal posts on here as I’m definitely still finding my feet as a mum and it’s so useful to read other people’s experiences. I really like that you guys aren’t afraid to broach the taboo or the more difficult and painful subjects. Keep on doing what you’re doing I say! ????
Hi! Sorry this comment is a little late, I hope you still read it! I’ve been reading RMF since it very first launched, long before I was pregnant, but I’ve always found it full of really good advice to help ‘prepare’ me for motherhood if you like. I’ve recently found out I am pregnant (7 weeks) and I’ve found the blog invaluable. I often go back to posts that I remember reading months ago that apply to me at the current moment.
What I would really love to see though is a list of what each of you RMF mamas feel are essentials for a new baby, what things are handy to have, and what things really are just a waste of money. I’ve not wanted to buy anything for the bambino just yet as it’s early days and I don’t want to tempt fate, but I’ve been reading in the baby mags those lists of supposed ‘must haves’ and thinking ‘surely I don’t really need all this stuff?!’ Like a nappy wrapper, or a changing table – are they really necessary? (I hope not as by the time we’ve crammed it all in to our tiny 2 bed house the poor baby will end up sleeping in the shed haha!) So I’d find it really useful to hear from you guys who have been there and done it what you think I really need, as I trust your opinions completely. If you could do a blog post on this then I would love you forever! Happy birthday RMF! Xx
Happy belated Birthday RMF. I’m a mum to a gorgeous 6 month old boy. Like other commenters I came to RMF via RMS and RMW. I love the variety of posts and have particularly appreciated the posts on pregnancy loss having dealt with it myself.
On a more technical note have you thought of linking to the next and previous posts like you do on RMS? On occasion I miss reading every day and this would make it easier to catch up on posts.