Mindy Roberts, a mom of three, in San Jose, CA, launched her own blog in 2002 to connect with far-flung family. Her site, www.themommyblog.com, now has more than 700 visitors a day. For Roberts, whose entries are full of motherhood, mayhem, and mirth, her blog is "the first place I run to when I want to jot something down for posterity or catch up with friends." She's on to something: There are thousands of baby blogs on the web today. Here's how you can get blogging, without being a tech whiz:

Go surfing. Visiting other moms' journals will give you a feel for the tone and setup, and might just satisfy your need to connect. Julie Moos, editor of www.dot-moms.com, lets readers contact her. "It's a way to meet moms I might not otherwise know. I e-mail with them in the middle of the day or the middle of the night — whatever works for us. "

Use a blogging service. The easiest way to start your own blog is to use a service that provides software and hosts your page. Free sites like www.blogger.com and www.ebloggy.com provide simple tools, so you literally can be posting within minutes.

Be a joiner. E-mail the hosts of group blogs like www.workingmoms.blogspot.com and www.milkfactory.typepad.com if you're interested in contributing. Or start your own group blog with friends using tools at blogging service sites.

And check out...

►www.dot-moms.com Rich reads from the 35 women who post here; links to 570 more mom blogs.

►www.corporatemommy.mu.nu This Chicago mom writes provocative entries about balancing work and family.

►www.alittlepregnant.com Despite poignant subjects, it's one of the funniest baby blogs around.

Parenting, July 2005