The Real Housewives of Oklahoma
It all started on Wisteria Lane with the Desperate Housewives. Then came the Real Housewives of Orange County, then New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, Beverly Hills, and finally Miami.
But what about us in the middle? Meet the real housewives of Oklahoma, and they are real. You can find them watching football practice in 40 degree weather, or working to keep their family fed, clothed, and happy.
But instead of showing their lives on television, they talk about their lives on the Internet. Just click on www.therhok.com. (You can also find links to their individual blogs under Associated Links to the right of this story.)
"The people that read our blog are, they become our virtual friends," said Jonni Segnar. "But they're our real friends."
Their purpose is simple: to help other women. They post recipes, review books, and share stories about their kids.
In an upstairs room of Jonni's Tulsa home, her oldest son, Michael, explains how to play Bayblades. "Okay so what the tops are gonna do is battle in this stadium," said Michael. "This part are very rare, only found in video game packages at Walmart." In his element, he seems like a normal twelve year old.
"He's doing what a lot of other kids are doing," said Jonni. "He's not as big a fan of mom as he used to be. Well you know it just gives us more blogging material.
But 10 years ago Jonni noticed that Michael wasn't developing his language, not even a babble. By the time he was three years old, Michael was diagnosed with Asberger's Syndrome, a form of autism.
"Even though I knew it was coming, it still was heartbreaking," Jonnie said, and she didn't have a friend to turn to for guidance. Early on I said 'I'm not going to make any other mom do this, I will find a way to get the word out so that moms can network better.'"
So she sat down and started blogging. Like the other housewives, Jonni shares her experiences for other moms to learn from. In return, she's gained support, perspective, and appreciation for her son's diagnosis.
"He's a very loving child, and it's just been really nice to . . . to be a recipient," Jonni said, while wiping a tear from her face. "Sorry. I hate that."
The raw emotion, is also tireless passion for the cause. Her dining room is packed with silent auction items for a fundraiser called "Smarts and Arts for Autism." When we meet her at the event, which she is volunteering to chair, her fellow housewife bloggers are there by her side helping.
The Real Housewives of Oklahoma live their goal to support each other, while educating their readers, and giving a voice to the women of Oklahoma.
But there's always the question "what if?" Channel 8 asks "So what would happen, if ABC sees this story and they say 'Oh my gosh I love Oklahoma housewives, lets give them a reality show?"
One of the housewives answers with a screech, then housewife Jen Lyness responds "Well we've talked about this before. I'm all for it as the PR and marketing gal."
In the meantime, click on the video icon to the right to watch the reality of the Real Housewives of Oklahoma.
