So this is my much overdue Blogher '07 wrap up. Honestly, I'm still absorbing it all. There is so much that has happened in my life this past year that took its toll on my spirit, and this conference was just the inspiration I needed.

Just when I thought I had a great handle on most of the women blogging about sports and fitness out there I realize that I haven't even scratched the surface. I met so many more women that were sports and fitness bloggers at BlogHer in Chicago that I don't even know where to begin. Should I start with Carmen? I met Carmen from The ELFF Diet and I didn't even know it was her. I probably drank free wine at the same table with her for an hour and never made the connection. Do you know she lost 75 pounds? She looks fantastic.

To say that motherhood changes things would be the equivilant of saying hitting yourself in the head with a hammer would hurt. Of course things change. One of the aspects that can be hit the hardest is friendships. When you become a mother and your friends are still single or child-free, it can put a strain on a friendship. At best you find yourself trying to defend your lifestyle at worse you find your friend has "broken up" with you.

I grew up in a neighborhood where all of the moms knew the kids and all of the kids knew the moms. Dusk was the time when the Moms sat in driveways in their lawn chairs as they watched the kids play. This was the time that notes on motherhood were shared, recipes swapped and advice given on life, love and motherhood.

I am a mom, a wife and a daughter. I am a writer, a volunteer, and a soccer mom. I am a Suburban dwelling housewife that drinks too much coffee and laughs at jokes that are rather inappropriate. I am also a drug addict. (What did she just say?) Yes, I am a recovering drug addict. If you met me, you wouldn’t know it by talking to me or just hanging out with me. I am more than 6 years clean. I have a nice home in a nice neighborhood with good friends. I am just like you, but so much not like you.

I am a member of a club that I really did not want to join. A club I would have run from if I had the choice. However, in January I went from Jr. Status in Training to a full fledged member when my Mom died. We pay no dues, but the price we pay is extremely high. We don't have nametags, but when we meet another in The Club, we know we have met a kindred spirit. There are no meetings, but once we find another Club Member, we hold tight to that connection, because none of us wants to be in The Club. We do not discriminate. We have members of every race, gender, age, background and financial status. What Club am I talking about? The Motherless Club. Many of us joined when our Mothers died. Some of us were forced into The Club through childhood abuse, neglect or abandonment. What we all have in common is that we are Motherless. And it sucks.

Did you know that the 37th season of Sesame Street kicks off Monday, August 14? As in the Monday that you are probably reading this?! I didn't either! But the Lovely Mrs. Davis knew and she is celebrating it! To mark this occasion, she is asking for your help. Yes, you. I personally grew up watching Sesame Street (I remember when only Big Bird could see Mr. Snuffie and I remember Mr. Hooper. Oh, how I could go on!) Which is exactly what she is calling you to do.

I would be totally remiss if I did not completely bow down and praise the amazing work that the following women did to bring childcare to BlogHer '06. Innovational. Necessary. Appreciated. These were all words I heard associated with this amazing feat. If you did not see the childcare area, let me tell you this much, it would have blown you away by all the hard work that was done to achieve this.

It was bound to happen. The closer we get to BlogHer, the more the nerves come out. The more the fear of High School Horror reveals itself. (Me? I just want to figure out what to wear. Is that so hard?) Here are just a few of the examples of the normal (yet honestly unfounded because BlogHer is all about inclusiveness) worries.

Summertime. Mid summer to be more precise. That time when drudge the bottom of the activity pond to find something to entertain our children. We feel as if it involved more than a ball of yarn, a bottle of glue and a popcicle stick. We want to stimulate them with fun activities that makes us feel less like loser parents while we enrich their lives. (Not that we are loser parents. We just don't want to feel like them!)

You can also find JenB on her blog jenandtonic.ca I know I generally tend to prattle on and on about whomever I link here on BlogHer, usually only providing one link or two, but my linkage queue is getting huge. There are just so many good blogs here in the great white north. I am lucky that I am not restricted by topic. I can give you music, art, erotica, food, shopping, all in one mouthful. Today, I give you THREE, THREE luscious links HA HA HA. (sorry, too much Sesame Street).

Contributing editor Jenn also blogs at Mommy Needs Coffee and Hip Mom and Trendy Tweens. Did you remember that Father's Day is this Sunday? The Mommybloggers did! In fact, all week long fathers from all over the Internet will be to submitting essays about fatherhood in general. And let me tell you now, there are some great men participating!