“Mommy-blogger,” “momfluencer,” and “mompreneur” are all titles that grace the names of a few women throughout the county who have stepped into the influencer world from the perspective of a parent.
Online parenting groups and websites have been popularized through social media, and aim to give those raising children advice and a community, offering tips on everything from the best local swim classes to fun date spots for nights when the babysitter is on duty. The people behind the posts are usually moms who rely on their own family experience.
In Howard County, a few women have found their passion in being “momfluencers.” While they engage with the parenting community in different ways, ranging from publishing online magazines to hosting open forum Facebook groups, they all share a love of the parenting journey.
Jessica Buswell, creator of M.OTHERS
After trying out a few parenting groups in the area, photographer Jessica Buswell landed on one she thought was a good fit for her and her two kids. But she said the mom-group drama that came with even the average “Who is a good pediatrician in the area?” questions, pushed Buswell to pave her own path in the mom-influencer world.
With a focus on creating an inclusive group for parents of all races, sexual orientations, and gender identities, Buswell started her own parenting group called M.OTHERS in September. Fast forward to present day, and the Howard County chapter of this budding group has nearly 3,000 members.
M.OTHERS was originally a Facebook group for all things parenting, but Buswell quickly expanded the organization into a magazine after she saw the impact her Facebook group had on local parents.
“I decided that the best way to spread community inclusivity and community kindness was by starting an online publication that people could read,” Buswell said.
The organization now has chapters in Anne Arundel County and Montgomery County, along with the founding Howard County chapter. As the organization expands, Buswell says her priorities remain the same.
“It’s extremely important to highlight that I never set out to become an influencer, that was not what I intended,” Buswell said. “I just was myself, and I was like, ‘This is ridiculous. We need to find a group that doesn’t exclude people based on their gender and their sexual orientation and their race.’”
Buswell said the community response has been overwhelmingly positive, minus a few trolls that commented on the inclusivity of the organization.
“I have had people come forward and said, ‘Thank you so much for creating this inclusive space, because I have a child who just came out who is gay, and I love knowing that our future generations are going this way.”’
Kris Schneider, founder of Howard County Moms Facebook
Even though she has run one of the most popular parenting Facebook pages in Howard County for the past 15 years, Kris Schneider doesn’t tell many people about her large following on Howard County Moms.
Schneider started the group in 2009 and now has thousands of followers. Back then, her three kids, now 20, 18, and 13, were much younger, and Schneider wanted to create a platform to bring parents in the county together.
“I just wanted to bring this information to the community and allow parents, moms, grandmothers, and any caretakers of children to just come and see what’s going on,” Schneider said. “I don’t charge anything, and I barely get paid for it. It’s just something I really like to do.”
She started being paid by Facebook for running the group last year when she reached 10,000 followers. However, Schneider, who also owns a company where she does transaction management for real estate agents, said the money she makes online barely covers her expenses.
The Facebook page has grown up with her children, and Schneider said that has shifted the content she posts.
“It did [change] initially, but then I was like ‘Oh, I still need to talk about younger kids,’” Schneider said. “My kids, they’re what I’m focused on.”
While Schneider said she gets some flack about not doing more promotional posts for businesses and services in the area, people typically enjoy her page and the information she shares. Schneider says her nightly post asking followers what they’re making for dinner always gets a big response.
Parents will share recipes, dining recommendations, and even accomplishments. One commenter wrote, “My son got his driver’s license today! He will decide where we eat tonight.”
Patrice West, Mocha Moms Howard County President
Patrice West was introduced to Mocha Moms Howard County during a brunch with women she had never met before. West was a new mom and had just moved to Maryland. Despite being an outgoing person, she was struggling to figure out how to meet people. That’s when a friend suggested she reach out to the Howard County chapter of Mocha Moms, a parenting organization for mothers of color.
After contacting the chapter, West was invited to a brunch at a member’s house. Although she didn’t know the woman, or anyone attending, West said she trusted the process.
Everyone brought a dish … and they were welcoming, and that was over seven years ago,” West said. “From that day, I got right involved and it was a really great support network.”
West is now the president of the chapter, serving her second term. Mocha Moms, which has chapters all across the country, was originally started as a space for moms of color, specifically Black moms. However, West said the group welcomes any parent, regardless of race and gender.
While a lot of their work is supporting fellow parents, Mocha Moms conducts various outreach and community service events. From organizing tree plantings for children to partnering with local nonprofits to gather food and necessities for families in need, West said members and their families are deeply involved in the community.
“We feel [outreach] is important because there’s so much distraction in the world,” West said. “I think it’s important to keep the kids grounded, even ourselves.”
Her three daughters, who are now 10, 16, and 17, are still involved in the organization. However, West said it is more like a resource for her, and a way for moms to find and support each other.
Recently, the vice president of the Howard County chapter lost her husband. West said the members came together to help the family with meals, errands, and support.
“I sent emails and the women just came with all the support,” West said. “And some of these people never even met her. So it’s that kind of support, that whatever you need, as long as we can, we’re there to support each other.”
Claire Duarte, Columbia Mom
Although she had been using her personal social media accounts for years, Claire Duarte recognized the true power of “mommy-influencing” in 2020 when she decided to create her own platform. The Columbia Mom, which in addition to being a website also has accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and even TikTok.
Duarte, the mom of a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old, said the Columbia Mom started as her “passion project.”
“It all really came from my passion because I am a mom,” Duarte said. “So I was like, let me build a platform around something that I already do, and that I know and love.”
On her social media accounts and website, Duarte shares places she goes within the county and the state, for date nights and for fun with her kids. She said she thrives on new experiences and meeting new people, so running the organization is a fun outlet.
However, Duarte’s platform is slightly different from other mom-influencer pages. She likes to highlight more mom-centric content, rather than kid-focused posts typically seen on some parenting sites.
“I wanted to know what’s a great date night spot, what’s the best cocktail in the area, and where is a really fun outdoor playground to take my kids,” Duarte said. “I just decided that I wanted to build a platform around the things I know and love around Howard County and beyond.”
Duarte has turned the platform into her full-time job, while also holding a part-time job that only requires her to work a few times a week. This way, she can put most of her time into what she loves doing — being a mom.
