Mom GAL!

I was doing some research online for Mom Gets A Life and searched “Moms without kids”. Google immediately asked me “did you mean: Moms with kids”?

Notice the italics on the “with” — just in case I wasn’t quite sure where I had gone wrong in my search. I mean why would I need to know anything about Moms without kids? Do moms even do anything without kids?? Although I am rational most of the time, I sensed a certain level of judgment on the part of Google.

I am no internet wiz kid but even I know Google’s search engine is not controlled by some tiny little mom-judging demon in my computer. It’s results are based on algorithms or something just as serious sounding.

But what?

Moms – without – kids

No typos, no misspellings…

…yet the Google machine just had to check – is this really what I want to search for?

I mean why in the world would I or anyone search for Moms without children? (In fairness to Google “dads without kids” turned up the same question.)

It reminded me of a conversation I just had last week with a former president of a leading moms organization. We were discussing how to address women who are mothers without invoking issues of children or parenting. I want to know how to speak about our members and visitors – Moms that are focusing on their own needs – in a way that respects we are more than just a relationship to our children?

Even Google struggles when we try to search without our kids!

I’ve come up with an answer. I’m calling us MomGALs (aka Moms Getting A Life). I like it. I checked with Google and apparently the little judging machine does too because when I searched “Mom GALs without kids” it did not question me.

So welcome, Mom GALs! Whether you are passing through or plan to stay, we are so glad you are here. If you are searching for ways to move yourself up on your own priority list you are most certainly a Mom GAL!