Turning 50,000

Sometime today, in all likelihood, On Balance will reach a remarkable milestone: 50,000 comments in less than one year. The equivalent of at least five books. So. instead of our usual race to be the first poster, one of us will be the 50,000th.

When washingtonpost.com asked me to start an online column about juggling work and family last year, I thought moms needed a forum to dish about our daily lives. What's surprised me most is that everyone -- fathers, babysitters, doctors, teachers, nannies, grandparents, and people who don't even have children -- have joined in.

Since the blog's start, we've written hundreds of thousands of words dissecting 245 columns about supermoms, single moms, stepfamilies, postnups, the lies moms tell, our best (and worst) moments as moms and dads who stay home, Britney Spears, Anna Nicole Smith, Ann Richards, Linda Hirshman, business trips, guilt trips, and $100,000 nannies. Thanks to all of you, I've learned what people of different ages, professions, religions, incomes, Zip codes, genders and politics think about hundreds of topics. And it's been good for me.

Despite the regular thrashings I (and others) regularly receive, I enjoy writing and reading this blog. I feel I know the regular posters like I know my family. For better or worse. Despite the fact that I don't even know your real names. I am perpetually perplexed that a community that doesn't physically exist still feels like a community.

What about you? Why do you visit On Balance? What's been your favorite topic? How do you explain the appeal of a cyberspace village?

By Leslie Morgan Steiner |  March 7, 2007; 7:00 AM ET  | Category:  You Go Girl!
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