I have to admit I was blind-sided when my co-host Kristin called this morning to ask if I had read the front page of today's Boston Globe. On this particularly busy morning, during which my husband allowed me to sleep past 7am, I hadn't seen the article in question.

I was surprised, shocked, and frankly...stunned. Dr. Rob, our resident pediatrician, the very man who was set to come to my house tonight to record his long-awaited return to Manic Mommies, was outed as the blogger who wrote about his malpractice trial under the pseudonym "flea."

This was news to me. And to Kristin. But his secret blog was apparently a hot topic in the world of doctors and lawyers who blog. It wasn't long before one of our most loyal Boston-area listeners sent an email with her opinion of the situation. As the producer of Manic Mommies, I feel I have to respond, but it's difficult because:

A) I think Dr. Rob is a fabulous pediatrician
B) I am a blogger myself
C) Dr. Rob's honesty and frank talk is what makes him the ideal pediatrician for Manic Mommies.

I'll never forget the first time Dr. Rob came on our show. He made a statement about how unnecessary he feels it is for parents to have to get notes from their pediatrician in order to send their child back to day care following an illness. This was the first time I recognized the power of podcasting. Within hours of releasing that show on the Internet, we received several emails from moms who disagreed with his statement. In fact, most sided with the day care centers: citing the pervasive problem of working parents sending kids to school or day care when they really should be kept at home.

Dr. Rob was supposed to return to the show tonight to answer listener questions. Regrettably, he has canceled his appearance. My guess is all the media and Internet buzz is getting to be too much for him and his family. Not to mention that every word he says from now on will likely be examined and reexamined ad nauseum.

Sadly, the same technology that allowed Dr. Rob to take our listeners' questions, lend a sympathetic ear to a nervous new mom, provide thoughtful, caring and unabashed advice on everything from constipation to vaccinations, is the same technology that has him on mute today.

And that, my friends, is the reality of life in the Internet age.