I started Dear Springfield Mama exactly one year ago by creating what I wished existed when my son was a toddler: a guide to help moms get outside when little legs were restless and mature minds exhausted.
It blossomed into a ritual of exploration for me and my son, who both of us delight in finding new places to mark on our map of home. Every time we pull up to a new destination, one of us throws open the door and says, “Let’s see what we see!”
What was once an audience of few — mostly friends and their families — has grown to a number of locals I can no longer imagine gathered all together in one room.
In one year, I’ve written 50 email newsletters, produced 92 blog posts, and grown from 100 moms on an email list to over 2,300 email subscribers, mostly through word of mouth. (I can’t bring myself to pay Meta for advertising!) In May, when several competitors had emerged on the scene, I decided to start sharing my work more regularly on social media, and in a few months added 3,300 Facebook followers organically.
I send a “things to do” email every Sunday night to tons of parents and caregivers in the Springfield, Mo. area. It’s full of free ideas that always match the season we’re in.
The parents who tune in each week help guide me forward, pushing me to explore new nooks and crannies of the city I grew up in.
At the end of this year, I sent out a reader survey to a chunk of my blog’s followers, and the feedback was heartening.
Over 130 readers told me how they felt about my Sunday night emails — their favorite parts, why they read each week — and 63 strangers took the time to write out notes of encouragement at the end. It was those extra paragraphs at the bottom of the survey that sustained me when the effort to keep going seemed too much on a busy mom’s schedule.
“Keep doing what you’re doing. I never skip an email from you! :)”
“I love reading your honest reviews and tips of affordable outings. Thank you so much!”
Behind the scenes
The truth is, keeping this thing going has been a time-consuming labor of love. On average, I devote 15-20 hours per week to produce all the elements: curating the events list, visiting a destination, taking and formatting photos, writing the blog post, writing the Sunday night email, then sharing all of these parts and pieces on social media so they can reach new people.
Looking back over the year, I feel a swell of pride for the body of work that my weeks, stitched together, have created. More exciting, however, is realizing that Dear Springfield Mama has been the impetus for countless memories between me and my son. Fulfilling the promise of a new email each week has been the fuel I needed to try new things, be intentional with free time, and take pictures that could fill many family albums!
“I really enjoy your newsletter and am so happy I found you on Facebook. Our area really needed something like this. I am from St. Louis and see their mom/explore stl posts all the time and always hoped I could find someone doing that here — so thank you!”
“I genuinely love your emails! We’re new to Missouri, having moved up from Texas, and your emails help me find new things to do. Springfield has a SHOCKING amount of activities, family-supportive services and outreach.”
What’s next for Dear Springfield Mama?
In the next chapter, I’ll keep building on the weekly events and practical local information you rely on. I want Dear Springfield Mama to become even more useful: more blogs walking you through new places, more Ozarks spots worth the drive, and more resources that help parents plan life with little ones.
More than anything, I’ll continue to apply journalistic standards to my work, using in-person, firsthand experience, real photos, and human words to light the way.
“Your suggestions, although I can’t use all of them, help me to process and sort through what I can do and not be so hyper fixated on what I cannot do. You’re doing such great work, please don’t ever stop!”
“Your emails are the ones I actually read and look forward to every week. I’ve shared about your emails/blog with several of our friends, and I find great value trying out many of the places and recipes you share.”
As year two begins, I’d love to know: What would make Dear Springfield Mama more useful to your family? A place you want me to visit, a question you wish someone would answer, or a guide you’d love to have? Send me a note anytime.
To all of you who’ve made Dear Springfield Mama part of your routine and trusted me as a guide to your town, thank you.
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