The blogging world has lost a pioneer.
Heather Armstrong, a writer who kick-started the mommy blogging trend by chronicling her parenthood journey on her website Dooce during the early aughts, died May 9, according to a post shared to her Instagram page. She was 47.
“Heather Brooke Hamilton aka Heather B. Armstrong aka dooce aka love of my life,” the May 10 post read. “July 19, 1975 – May 9, 2023. ‘It takes an ocean not to break.’ Hold your loved ones close and love everyone else.”
Armstrong died by suicide at her Salt Lake City home, her boyfriend Pete Ashdown told the Associated Press. He noted that Armstrong had experienced a relapse after being sober for over 18 months.
Armstrong began blogging under the pseudonym Dooce in 2001, rising to mommy blogger fame as she gave an unflinching look into her family life on the domain of the same name. She wrote extensively about mental health, her recovery from alcohol abuse and insights into motherhood as she raised daughters Leta, 19, and Marlo, 13, whom she both shares with ex husband Jon Armstrong.
