Beth Feldman: Pioneer and Mom Rolled Up Into One
If you don’t know Beth Feldman, you are a bit remiss in your "mommy blogger" history. Beth is one of the founding bloggers of the “mommy blogging” movement. She can be compared to "Martha Washington" except Beth is currently "alive" and blogging up a storm!
Laid-back and a "go-getter" at the same time, I've never known Beth to be anything but the first one onto the scene whenever I circulated a pitch request or was in need of an interesting guest during my television days. The lady makes everything look effortless, which seems to be part of her recipe for success. There's lots more ingredients, though, I assure you.
Savvy, smart, and a social media icon, Beth mixes motherhood with business masterfully. She is a woman of many hats -- all of which she wears extremely well.
I don’t know anyone who can’t learn a thing or two from Beth Feldman, which is one of the many reasons I placed Beth at the top of my “get-to-know” mommy blogger list.
Enjoy her interview.
What is your full name?
Beth Feldman
Where do you live?
New Rochelle, New York
How many children do you have?
Two
If you were asked to describe yourself in one word, what would that word be?
Creative
Tell us about you and your life.
I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York, and lived there way before it became the “hip” place to be. I am truly grateful to have spent my childhood living in a place where I remained grounded, worked hard for everything I achieved and made friendships that have lasted a lifetime.
Throughout my life, I always wanted to pursue a career in entertainment. At first, my goal was to perform on Broadway but after I surveyed the competition, I realized my talents were better served behind the scenes. As a result, I’ve now spent 25 years as an entertainment and lifestyle publicist having launched some of the biggest television series in history. I’ve worked with some incredibly amazing people along the way.
I’m also the founder of Role Mommy, an online community, events company and blogger network, whose mission is to inspire working parents to pursue their passions while raising their families. Plus, I’m the author of two books, Peeing in Peace: Tales & Tips for Type A Moms and See Mom Run: Side-Splitting Essays from the World’s Most Harried Moms. I’m also a proud pet owner — we have a dog, two cats and a bearded dragon named Guapo.
Share with us what you wanted to be when you grew up.
I wanted to perform on Broadway or become the next Barbra Streisand. While I have been lucky enough to appear in several musicals and original productions...they have been way "off-Broadway" (in my shower or in my car with my kids begging me to stop singing so that they can listen to their music).
How long have you been blogging for? Do you blog for any group blogs or websites beyond your own?
I have been blogging for more than a decade. I call myself a dinosaur in the space but my business partner says I’m a pioneer. Either way, I started blogging because I wanted an outlet for my humor/writing. I found it the moment I figured out how to start blogging. I currently write mostly for my site but do contribute to The Huffington Post, The Stir on Cafe Mom, Traveling Mom and Westchester Family.
What is the name of your blog? When was it launched? RoleMommy.com — 2005
What is the primary focus of your blog?
The primary focus of my blog is to inspire parents to pursue their passions while raising their families. We also write about topics of interest to parents of teens and feature product reviews on our site as well.
What makes your blog unique?
I try to include my sense of humor on the blog and have even added my husband this year as a contributor. The writing on our site is top notch and I like to cover topics that would be of interest to our readers.
Tell us about your blog in depth, including what you hope to accomplish through it.
I write about topics that interest me - from vacation destinations, to books that I love to the ongoing trials and tribulations of life as busy working mom and pet parent. No topic is off limits — unless it is banned by my kids
Are you a Brand Ambassador and if so, for which companies?
I have been a brand ambassador for a host of companies, including Swiffer, Capital One, Avon among many others.
Beyond your blog, do you engage in other social media outlets such as Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, etc.?
I engage with others via Facebook and Instagram. I also have found that Pinterest has been quite helpful in driving viewers to my site. One of my best posts is “Top 10 Things to Do In Bar Harbor Maine”. I wrote that post nearly four years ago and people are still pinning it to this day!
What is the one piece of advice you would give to moms who may be interested in beginning a blog?
Don’t start a blog by thinking it’s going to be become a lucrative business. Write about what you know and what you love and suddenly opportunities will present themselves to you. Connect with bloggers in real time and you will open your world to a group of like minded individuals who have found a way to do what they love while raising a family. The possibilities are endless. Whether it’s writing, sharing beautiful photography or producing YouTube videos, do what you feel is the most comfortable for you and the rest will fall into place.
Do you support – either formally or informally – a particular social cause?
I’m on the advisory board of Stomp Out Bullying and am incredibly passionate about protecting kids from becoming victimized either online or on the playground.
Explain to us why this social cause became your cause of choice.
I think, as parents, it’s imperative to be aware of what our kids are doing online. As a blogger, I have been able to stay a few steps ahead of them. I want to make sure that my husband and I are raising two kids who support one another as well as their friends. We have also raised them to look out for others who might not be as fortunate as they are and so far, they’ve turned out to be pretty awesome. It’s so much better to support one another than tear people down and I love the fact that both my children don’t engage in that kind of behavior.
Explain to us how you help and how others can get involved in helping too.
I have helped spearhead events on behalf of Stomp Out Bulling. Additionally, on October 5th, you can encourage your kids to stand up to bullies on “Blue Shirt Day.” Wear a blue shirt to express your support of the organization and the importance of supporting your friends and peers. Visit www.stompoutbullying.org for more information.
When all is said and done, what is the one thing you hope your loved ones and those who knew you remember about you?
I hope people remember that I spent my life doing what I love and supporting others to help fulfill their passions as well. It’s not about being famous or rich. It’s about living a life you can be proud of and raising incredible kids with the mindset that anything is possible as long as you work hard and believe in yourself and your abilities.
Need I say anymore about this incredible woman whose successfully pioneered an industry and the equally large task of keeping her priorities straight while doing it. I've said it before and I will say it again, Beth, "My hat's off to you!"