Quick Start Guide For Moms-On-The-Run
We hope you find this site easy to navigate and useful. The following highlights should make it easy to find your way around. Check this page often, as we'll add hints as they develop. If you have a specific question you don't find answered here, please send it apettitt@scrippsweb.com.
We'll start on the home page:
Step 1: Log in or register in the upper-right hand box.
Please click "Not A Member?" to access the registration page. Fill in the boxes requested, agree to the "Site Terms of Use" and submit. You'll be asked to fill out all of the questions, except the "About You" section before it will accept your registration. Once complete, you'll be directed to My Profile page.
Step 2: Set up "My Profile."
The My Profile page basically is your Command Central. It's loaded with features to help you get the most out of this site and all sorts of shortcuts to enable you to make the site your own. Set your preferences, add friends, update your profile, receive site updates, Mommy News and track comments you've made on the site and then see what everyone else is saying.
This also is where you'll be able to keep up with your own Mommylog and post your photos.
There also is a "Bulletin" feature that posts a message to all of your friends; unlike a forum post, which the entire site can see.
This also is where you can upload and view photos, up to 50 mg. Just go to "Upload" in "My Pictures," browse to find the right photo on your hard drive, click on it to put the location in the upload window and click "Upload Now." At this point, you must enter each photo separately, although we hope to allow multiple uploads eventually. Once loaded, just click on it to add a title and description.
Step 3: Decide what you'd like to do on this visit. Here are your options on the home page:
Datebook (on the left side of the page) is where you'll find something to do. Just click a featured event or choose "View All Events" to see what is going on around the area. If you want to add an event you think other parents would appreciate, click "Add An Event" and answer the questions. Be sure to add as much information as possible, particularly the complete address of the event.
Mom News is where you can catch up on the latest happenings or topics of interest. You'll find a broad and varied topic selection. If you have any suggestions for topics you think should be included, feel free to email the site's Head Mom.
Mom Connection is the place where you can share your point of view and find out what others have to say. It's a place of great discussion, debate, understanding, empathy, sympathy, tips and sometimes plain silliness. "Mom Talk" captures conversation from several different entry points around the site, including the obvious "Mom Talk" tab and well as the Q & A section. "Find Other Moms" also links to other access points on the site, including in "My Profile." The cool thing with this tool is you can select a child's general age and find other Moms with kids near the same age and likely sharing experiences similar to yours. If you know the username of a specific Mom, you can find her via the search engine. If you want to see who all is registered, click on "View All Moms"
Newsletter Sign-up gets you a weekly shortcut to some of the best picks to help you plan your week. You'll get the heads up on contests, information and events specifically chosen for their interest to parents.
Q & A section feeds directly into one of the Mom Talk forums. Get some of the best advice in the area – from other parents and community experts!
Find takes you directly to either "Places To Go" or "Something To Do."
Latest Kids Pic makes it possible for you to see the latest pictures posted across our Mommy community. Click into the feature to upload your own!
Mom Resources This is an ever-growing area that will change with the seasons and your requests.
Step 4: Still looking for information? Near the top of the home page, you'll find three major categories that cover much of what people like to do on this site - talk, shop and find info.
In "Mom Talk," you'll find several ways to connect with other folks raising children, including the following categories and focus: "Mom Forum": This closely resembles the popular "Mom Talk" forums found on our original site, but you'll notice quite a few improvements. For instance, this site makes it really easy to see the newest posts, regardless of the forum. If you want to see all of the forums or the traffic on a specific forum, you can go to "Go to the Boards" at the top of the new post collection or click on "View All Posts" at the bottom of the new post collection.
Once you are in a forum, you'll see the tools to "Reply" if you want to comment on something someone already said; "Post New Topic" if you want to launch a new discussion; or "Subscribe" so you don't miss a single post on that particular forum. From here, it works very similar to the old Mom Talk site. If you want to use a smilie (or otherwise!) you see on the bar, just click on it and drag it to the place you want it in the message body, while holding down the mouse button. Release the mouse button when you have it in place. Mom Advice is another access point for the "Mom Talk" forums.
Mom Stories: This is an access point to the site's "Mommylogs." Everyone has a story. This is where you can share yours. There's nothing to set-up. Just type and post. Oh, and you can use insert an image, if you'd like using the same process as detailed in "My Profile."
2. "Mom Shop":
This is where Moms (and Dads! Grandparents, too!) can find things they need, things they don't need and everything in between. You'll find recommendations from other parents and showcase specials. Check out the "Mom Shop" forums. While commercial businesses are encouraged to take advantage of our business listing specials, Moms are encouraged to sell their crafts, gently used items and post their freebies in this area.
3. "Mom Resources":
This is where you'll find the site's business listings, child care, eating out, local parks and fun places. Be sure to use the drop-down options in each area to customize your search. This is a constantly growing area, so check back often! We'll also be expanding this "Quick Start Guide" in response to view comments. If you have a suggestion or tip, feel free to send a message to the site's Head Mom!
