If I can do anything with this blog, it’s my hope that I can help others. I don’t do this so I can land a spot on a Top 50 Bloggers list, or earn tons of money in ad revenue, but so I can reach moms wherever they are and have them feel like they have a place to belong. Period.

So when Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, president of the National Crittenton Foundation, asked me to mention two initiatives they are working to promote, I said, “Sign me up!”

Both of them are through Change.org, and if the ideas get enough votes, then they will be presented to appropriate members of the Obama Administration to become reality. Let’s make it happen!

The first is a program proposing that young single mothers who graduate from high school with a certain GPA be eligible for college grants and scholarships. Who can’t get behind that? If we help young moms continue their education, we can help break the cycle of poverty that so many get entrenched in. Click here to vote for this initiative. It needs 72 more votes to make it to the final round!

The second initiative is beyond brilliant. They are proposing that we create family networks for young single mothers, who too often end up parenting alone and don’t have the support they need to become happy, fulfilled moms. This network would allow them to reach out to young moms in their area so they would have a local support system to lean on when times get rough. (And we’ve ALL been there.) Click here to vote for this initiative. It needs 13 more votes to make it to the final round!

So what say you? Can you take a moment or two to vote for these initiatives? I did my part – will you?

I’ve been on Twitter for about two years now (wow, has it been that long?) but I’ve only really started to use it professionally (I’m the ghost-Twitterer for my org, yes indeed) and now I’m starting to use it personally.

So…I’m Tweeting about the latest and greatest updates in the young mom world, at 140 characters at a time. Follow me at @TheYoungMommy. See ya there!

And here…we….go:

1. Would you feed your child another woman’s milk?
2. My friend Jennifer’s blog, Baby Making Machine. She’s 23, been married for four years and is trying to decide if her baby clock is ticking. Go help her out!
3. A look at the new Dora the Explorer. Now, while I don’t think she looks like a “tramp,” as some moms have claimed, I do think they strayed too far away from what makes Dora, well, Dora.
4. Love this quote:  “ A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.”
5. ESPN – Go behind the scenes at WNBA star (and soon-to-be young mommy!) Candace Parker’s ESPN the Magazine cover shoot.

Lil’ Sugar – 10 Finger Foods to Get Your Baby Started

Motherhood Uncensored – The Real Victims of Motherhood

On Parenting – Is Dora the Explorer No More?

YumSugar – Celebrity Chefs Share Recession Tips

The Imperfect Parent – How not to get pregnant