Today and in the coming weeks we are asking a few Mommybloggers.com readers to submit guest essays to our site. We know you want to hear from some of your favorite bloggers, so we gave a shout out and will be randomly featuring them. Our first is Dana Tuszke from The Dana Files. Show her the love!

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There's a topic I haven't really touched on my personal blog; my feelings about the term "Mommyblogger".

I have to confess, I came into the world of blogging later than most women. I started a blog on Blogger in 2004 while I was pregnant, but I only wrote one post and promptly forgot about it. I didn't know what online diaries were about and I cringed at the thought of someone else reading my inner-most thoughts. It's obvious that I've grown out of that phase rather quickly.

When I started The Dana Files, I made a promise to myself that I'd write about my life; marriage,
work and my struggles with motherhood. Gradually I worked in politics, news and health issues until my blog was more than an online documentary of my daily activities.

Blogging was therapeutic for me. I craved my keyboard. I couldn't wait to tap out my thoughts for the whole world to read. I was comfortable with my words. I was in love with the community I found online.

And then someone threw out the words "Mommy" and "Blogger" in a very negative way and I began to wonder what the heck she was insinuating.

Why, yes. I am a mommy. I am a blogger. Put it together and you have a compound word to describe me. Mommyblogger. Say it again. Mommyblogger.

What is so wrong about that word? Why are others threatened by this word?

By the time I started to analyze it, I discovered many female bloggers before me had attacked the subject. I didn't feel I needed to re-hash it over again.

But it continued to nag at me, and I realized I wouldn't be satisfied until I said the words myself.

I am a Mommyblogger. And I'm proud of it. There's a great feeling of power after writing it and saying it. I AM A MOMMYBLOGGER! (I feel better already!)

Years before I became pregnant, I struggled with infertility. I had to overcome situations that were out of my hands. I couldn't deal with feelings. I hated "going with flow."

Then I had my son. I was in control (most of the time). Every decision I made was mine. Every thought and feeling was mine. The frustrations were mine. And I didn't know how to deal with this newfound power. I was afraid and I had to deal with it. I'm a mother. Holy heck! I'm a MOTHER?

I knew the basics of baby care, but that wailing, tiny human was intimidating. What if I held him wrong? What if he wasn't eating enough? What if I put the diaper on wrong? How do I baby proof the house? So many questions. So many feelings. So many insecurities.

Then I began writing. I opened up and shared my thoughts and discovered that I'm not alone in this struggle. I'm not the only woman in this world who has no idea what she's doing when it comes to child-rearing. I'm not the only mom who is making it up as she goes along. Over time, I realized that I loved my title of Mommyblogger.

The camaraderie in the mom-o-sphere is almost surreal, and something I've never felt before. We Mommybloggers are strong. We don't give up; we don't throw in the towel. We support each other. We root for each other. Sure, it's not a bed of roses all the time. A few thorns will stick out once in a while. But in the long run we truly admire our fellow Mommybloggers.

It's like a degree. I'm Dana Tuszke, MB. I've earned it, you've earned it, and no one is going to take that away.