Skip to Content

OMG I’m only a blooming vlogger now – thanks Channel Mum!

What the hell is vlogging anyway? I am about to find out as we are now a Channel Mum, upcoming vlogging talent, so from now on expect more videos from us here and everywhere else, even on Pinterest!

At the end of March, things were a little frantic in the KiddyCharts household, we were preparing to go ski-ing and for some insane reason I decided that this would be a good time to apply to be a video blogger on the new Channel Mum venture, set up by the same lovely lady that founded Netmums. Channel Mum is a network of mums that vlog. I blogged, and had always wanted to vlog, but have never really known how to go about it.

My logic for applying was this:

  • I had absolutely nothing to lose; if I failed no-one was going to know I had even tried, as I didn’t tell a soul, not even the husband. Not that he would have understood what I was going on about anyway
  • I am 41; there is very little left in the world to embarrass me, and talking to myself on a computer screen is one of the tamer things that I have had to do in ten years as a parent. I left a lot of my self-consciousness at the door when I gave birth, along with a good deal of my dignity
  • I wasn’t going to bother to worry about what I was saying in the video. If they wanted me, then they were going to get me. No prep, no script, and probably a a bit of coughing here and there too. My background wouldn’t be up to scratch either, it never is *makes mental note to check washing is put away, and tidying up for future vlogs*
  • I wanted to help other mums and dads, young or old, and figured that some of the advice and printables that we have on the blog might work on video. I just wasn’t sure how. I figured that those with more video genes than me might be able to assist; enter Channel Mum and the other lovely vloggers on there
  • No-one ever managed to get anywhere sitting on their arse. If I wanted to try something different, I had to hang the consequences and just DO IT. I can’t stand skiing because there is this horrible feeling of everybody else being in control, and you are about to career off the edge of the mountain. This meant applying was actually a very big leap for me, totally into the un-known and very possibly off the edge of a cliff. However, I decided that the Channel Mum mountain might be worth disappearing off the edge of. Mainly because there weren’t going to be too many people to see me fall….

So the day before I went on holiday I submitted this video – one take, no bullshit, just me:

It wasn’t much to be honest. I wasn’t sure how the advice would take form on the channel I was thinking of, and whether they would be happy for me to do my printables. The ideas I had here mean a lot to me, and I needed someone else to believe for me to get them started. It was worth a shot though. I have already done a fair few hangouts, but not really known where I should be taking them. I needed a mountain guide….

A few weeks later, I was chosen from all those other lovely mums that sent in their videos, and have managed to stay on my feet – no cliff diving as yet. I even published my first channel mum video and associated blog post last week too. We have drawn a worry tree for your kids to help ease anxiety; and its free to download. Why not nip over and subscribe to me on YouTube…promise we’ll be sharing some great free stuff for you and the kids in the coming months, and hopefully years.

KiddyCharts will share a new printable regularly, and vlogging it to help show you what it is all about. From education, to anxiety, potty training, to visual aids; we will be trying to help you out.

I am hoping that Channel Mum will stick with us for a good deal yet. And if you fancy applying to Channel Mum – why don’t you give it a go too? You never know, you might make it, just like me.

If you have any ideas for checklists, educational and visual aids, charts, or games that you would like to see us do, then give me a shout. I would love to hear your ideas, we are always open to thoughts from our readership, and viewers (ooh I just said that!), so come along and let us know what you’d like us to do.

Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine! Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time. KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania. Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on. Get in touch TODAY!

Sharing is caring!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.