Mommy blogger Heather Armstrong, known as Dooce to her fans, has tragically passed away at the age of 47. Armstrong, who gained fame for her candid portrayal of motherhood and her personal battles with depression and alcoholism, died by suicide according to her boyfriend Pete Ashdown. She was discovered on Tuesday night at their Salt Lake City home.

While Armstrong had been successfully maintaining sobriety for over 18 months, she recently experienced a relapse. Further details surrounding the circumstances were not disclosed by Ashdown. Heather Armstrong, who co-parented two children with her former husband and business partner Jon Armstrong, launched her blog Dooce.com in 2001. Over the years, she transformed it into a lucrative career, becoming one of the first and most influential mommy bloggers. Her writings were characterized by frank discussions about her children, relationships, and various challenges.

Armstrong’s success in the blogging world led to book deals and opportunities on platforms like Instagram. In 2009, she released a memoir titled “It Sucked and then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown and a Much Needed Margarita.” She also made appearances on shows such as Oprah and was recognized as one of the most influential women in media by Forbes.

In 2012, Heather Armstrong and Jon Armstrong announced their separation and later divorced that same year. She subsequently entered into a relationship with Pete Ashdown, a former U.S. senate candidate, nearly six years ago. They lived together with Armstrong’s two children, Leta (19 years old) and Marlo (13 years old). Ashdown also has three children from a previous marriage who spent time in their shared home.

Armstrong’s online presence, both on Instagram and Dooce, was characterized by unfiltered authenticity. She often expressed herself candidly, even incorporating curses into her posts. As her popularity grew, so did the criticism from detractors, who accused her of poor parenting and worse.

In one of her posts on Dooce, she shared a significant milestone in her sobriety journey. She celebrated six months of sobriety on October 8th, 2021, describing the emotional turmoil she experienced during that time. Armstrong wrote about the immense grief and pain she faced, acknowledging that sobriety was not an easy path but rather a process of learning to live with her wounds.

Heather Armstrong’s memoir reveals that her blog initially started as a platform to share her thoughts on pop culture with distant friends. However, it quickly evolved into a space where she shared personal experiences, including her frustrations with office life and her transition into motherhood. Despite her initial intentions to give up blogging after having a baby, Armstrong continued to chronicle her journey as a new mother, sharing both the highs and lows.

Throughout her life, Armstrong battled chronic depression, having distanced herself from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the religion in which she was raised. In 2017, following the breakdown of her marriage, she experienced a decline in popularity. Armstrong’s depression deepened, leading her to participate in a clinical trial at the University of Utah’s Neuropsychiatric Institute. In this trial, she underwent chemically induced comas for short periods to alleviate her despair and find a path towards a happier, healthier life for the sake of her children.

The untimely passing of Heather Armstrong is a devastating loss for her loved ones, her community, and the blogging world. Her vulnerability and willingness to share her struggles provided solace and connection to many who were navigating similar challenges. While her journey was marked by ups and downs, she leaves behind a legacy of openness and the belief that storytelling can bridge the gap of loneliness.

By: Mr. WWK