Mothering to Go Web-Only - Page 6

[zannster]

I'm one of the ones who never bought the hard copies. I came here for advice, and I never had time to read magazines! I did subscribe to the digital version for a while, but I seldom got around to reading it. I'm not too surprised by the decision -- I imagine it is difficult to operate and finance a smaller magazine like this. Good luck to everybody at Mothering, and I hope the website continues to flourish.

[Acacia]

This is really sad news, but I have no one to blame but myself. I never renewed my subscription. I have no idea why other then I never got around to it when it stopped coming in the mail box. The advice I got from the magazine was perfect and I am thankful that I had the privilege to learn so much. I hear everyone is running to get back issues and are sad about there not being any way to pass Mothering on to other new mom's and friends. It would be really fantastic if Mothering in it's entirety could be published in book form. I know for a fact I would purchase it as a gift for new mothers as well as have a copy for myself. It may be a good way to preserve the content in a positive way and give advertisers a chance to contribute to a permanent publication.

[mamabearsoblessed]

I was given a copy of Mothering in Jan. 2001 when I told an old professor and friend of mine that I slept with my baby and wouldn't have it any other way. That issue~ the family bed issue, changed everything for me. It was like walking through the back door after being away for too long, being welcomed by the smell of your own home, the warmest, truest hug ever. It felt so good to find a safe place to turn, to be affirmed when I felt I could lose me way.

Thank you Peggy and every staff member for every issue over the years, for helping me become the mother I am. Thank you for helping me to help other mothers listen to their instincts and feel secure in our knowledge that our gut will never lead us astray.

I've gone through infertilty, birth, loss, each amazing stage of childhood with Mothering by my side. Literally.

Thank you for your love and friendship, and Peggy~ as a blessed and frazzled mother of 4, I will forever be grateful for your quiet place.

I wish you all blessings every day. :grouphug

[georgia]

Thank you so much for your kind words. 

Quote:

It would be really fantastic if Mothering in it's entirety could be published in book form. I know for a fact I would purchase it as a gift for new mothers as well as have a copy for myself. It may be a good way to preserve the content in a positive way and give advertisers a chance to contribute to a permanent publication.

Wow, that would be huge, wouldn't it?! One of my very favorite already-existing books to give as a gift is Peggy's Natural Family Living Guide. Mothering's shop is out of stock, but I know it's still available from other booksellers. A Quiet Place is also a great collection of Peggy's essays. Having a Baby, Naturally is also a great go-to guide for expectant mothers. 

[baturay]

I have a question, since we paid for advertising that won't be published. Will advertisers be refunded since the issues won't be printed?

And on a personal level, this really breaks my heart. I love Mothering, I love reading the magazine, I love the articles. It's going to be a huge loss to our community. :(

[Cynthia Mosher]

baturay, you should have received an email about advertising. If you didn't receive that please let me know and I'll find out who to direct you to.

Thank you for the kind words. It is such a loss but we have great hope for the future and how Mothering can continue to spread the good word. :)

[Kindermama]

I'm going to miss my favorite magazine- heck I'm pretty darn sure it's the only one I've subscribed to in almost a decade! It's going to be such a huge loss......hopefully Mothering web carries on its legacy! 

[laurabfig]

My heart is so saddened by this.  I read Peggy's editorial almost as if I couldn't believe it was actually true.  There is just something comforting about the print copy- holding it in my hands, turning the pages, taking it with me on the go to read.  I have a large stack of back issues that I was going to give away but now I'm going to keep them ALL! :)

The staff of Mothering are all in my prayers and thoughts- I hope that it is a smooth transition for you all.  You all will never know how encouraging this magazine has been to me for the past 10 years.  I will stay active on MDC, but the print magazine being retired truly feels like a personal loss to me.  I feel nostalgic about it already!

(Also- I had a letter to the editor that was going to be printed in this very issue with a photo of me with my son after he was born...I'm really sad that I'll never have that copy of the magazine to save forever for him and my kids to see.) :(  somehow it is just different seeing it online instead of in print.

[justKate]

I haven't had a chance to read all of the responses, but this is definitely a sad day all around.

I came to Mothering via MDC, and only bought a print subscription a few months ago, because I like having a magazine to read in the tub, on airplanes, and in waiting rooms.  I don't "do" twitter, FB, or podcasts, so I do feel like I'm losing something that I just found.  I'll still be here on MDC, of course, learning from my sisters, but I don't expect to pour over the pages of the website and daydream about the products in the ads the way I do over the print version.  That being said, it was good while it lasted, and I'll continue to support Mothering.

[Tradd]

For those of you who seem confused by the suddenness, please note that something of the same has happened with large and medium-sized newspapers across the U.S. Staffs cut drastically overnight, papers no longer printing, with barely a web presence. Some going to a web presence with maybe 1-2 issues a week.

That's in addition to all of the magazines that have folded.

Please don't think anything sinister or under-handed is going on here. It's simply economic reality, that sometimes comes on suddenly and other times more slowly, giving the hope that disaster might be averted.

I used to be a newspaper reporter. I loved it. But even if I wanted to get back into it, there are no jobs in it.

The publishing industry has changed. In a major way, economics having a big part of it.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[Meksmama]

Sad news! I have subscribed since 2006 I believe. Mothering has helped me in my journey to become a natural minded mama! I will continue to come to MDC to get and give answers.

Blessings to the staff and Peggy, you probably didn't make this decision lightly.  

[~threemoons~]

I feel soooooooo sad!!! Like I have been punched right in the gut :-( I picked up my first copt of Mothering at a local health food store and it changed my life! Seriously. I had been making my 18 month-old dd sleep in her own room and from that day on we started co-sleeping. I always felt kind of wrong about her being away from us but I was young and that was the standard that I had been exposed to. Mothering opened up a whole new world! I will miss it dearly! Such a bummer. . . . Nothing out there compares.

[karne]

So very sad.  At least I've kept all of my copies.  I'll second the motion for a "collection" of Mothering mags to be put in book form.  I'd buy it!  I'm going to miss all of the beautiful covers.  What a loss.

MDC is wonderful, but I still miss the old format...just have to say it.  Too many changes for me.

[seed17]

Everyday for the past few weeks I have eagerly, hopefully checked the mail only to find that Mothering magazine was not inside...I have looked forward to the arrival of your beloved magazine in the same way I would lie awake as a child, overcome with excitement on Christmas Eve.   Mothering magazine has validated me as a new mother as I navigate these unfamiliar waters.  Thank you.  I cried when I read this news.  I am losing a dear friend.  I can only hope that by some miracle funding will magically appear that will keep Mothering alive?......

*sigh*

[Arduinna]

I just wanted to come back and say that I'd have rather seen Mothering raise their subscription and individual print issue prices than go digital only.

[treeoflife3]

I agree.  I was just about to buy a subscription and am really glad I didn't because I sure as heck don't want anything other than mothering... I would have been willing to pay more however.  I'm not happy with how this was handled at all.  I plan on staying within the community here online but some of my respect was lost with this shady business practice.
 

Originally Posted by Arduinna 

I just wanted to come back and say that I'd have rather seen Mothering raise their subscription and individual print issue prices than go digital only.

[baturay]

The email we received didn't say anything about refunding us. It said that the magazine would not be published and offered us a discount on online advertising.

I responded that I wanted to be refunded and didn't hear back.

Mothering Staff -- you're an amazing company and with so many years of being honest and trustworthy. I am really counting on you to do the correct thing and refund advertisers --- many of which are small WAHMs companies. Please refund us what was paid to Mothering for ads that now will not be printed. There's no reason at all for not refunding advertisers that are not going to receive the printed ads we paid for.

[laerhk]

Just saw the news and am sad! Still, I don't subscribe any longer, so I know I contribute to the problem.  I'm thrilled M will continue online, as I DO heavily support that format, and am relieved these boards remain.  I'm here daily re: my 2 wk old, and M saves my sanity!

[kittywitty]

Originally Posted by baturay 

The email we received didn't say anything about refunding us. It said that the magazine would not be published and offered us a discount on online advertising.

I responded that I wanted to be refunded and didn't hear back.

Mothering Staff -- you're an amazing company and with so many years of being honest and trustworthy. I am really counting on you to do the correct thing and refund advertisers --- many of which are small WAHMs companies. Please refund us what was paid to Mothering for ads that now will not be printed. There's no reason at all for not refunding advertisers that are not going to receive the printed ads we paid for.

I never received an email. Also, I emailed the email address given and have not heard back. This is very frustrating.

[georgia]

I know that the office staff is working very hard to work their way through their email volume right now. If you've already emailed and not gotten a timely response, please call 800-984-8116. They have the authority to make things right for you to make sure you are satisfied, but I do not. So, it's going to be very important for you to work this out directly with those who are empowered to make customer service decisions. Sarah and Simone can both assist subscribers and advertisers: 

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

Thanks so much for your understanding.