Mothering to Go Web-Only - Page 4

[alexsam]

I must say- this sucks. I wasn't always the "biggest fan" of every single article, but Mothering was a rock at our house. It's not *just* this ephermeral "intangible" that is lost without a print copy. The internet requires you to search for terms or your click on titles that interest you. While this makes "sense", what you loose is that little snippet of something you wouldn't have read, the byline that catches your eye and pulls you in further to something you haven't thought about, exposure to images and ideas that you normally would not look for. And, as others have mentioned, a print copy you can pass around. Many of the ideas in Mothering are "hot button" issues, and instead of being able to, in a friendly and casual way, put an article in someones hands and say "Oh, I was just thinking of the conversation we had! I wonder what you think of this idea?" you have to tell them "Go on line to this-address-you-must-remember and look for "Why ciscumscion is harmful and don't listen to your husband or mother" and weed through those other articles to get to this.... You'll do that, right?". And, like other's have said, it is a loss on the magazine rack stocked with Parenting and the likes. The forums are good, but... different. I suppose I am preaching to choir. It's a done deal anyway.

Look, I get it. And, I get that people are bummed (and more) over at the magazine. And I get trying to be "excited" over the new direction or see how this might be "logical". But I have no other words than "This sucks".

Well. Best of luck.

[JMJ]

Originally Posted by georgia 

Originally Posted by JMJ 

Please e-mail us, and it would be nice to have an announcement at the top of the forums.  I get e-mails from Mothering often, so it shouldn't be too hard to send out a mass e-mail.  Not everyone is on facebook, and a lot of people don't hang around this forum much.  It looks like nobody found this thread for 2 days after it was posted.  I know there is a lot to do when canceling the magazine, but the people who subscribed to Mothering deserve the personal contact.  We love you, Mothering.  Please continue to nurture our relationship with you.

We're going to also be putting the news in next week's MDC newsletter. We still have several very cool newsletters to help everyone stay in touch. Please check them out here: http://www.mothering.com/newsletters/

Thank you for your response.  I just think that something this big deserves its own special e-mail coordinated with the other announcements rather than being a small part of a regularly scheduled broadcast.

[amandaleigh37]

I love and support Mothering, but one thing that does bother me about this is that there have been comments by mods in response to questions about Jan/Feb print issue. "I have been informed that issues should be arriving shortly in mailboxes."

But my understanding now is that the Jan/Feb issue was never printed, and never will be, correct? So really they weren't even close to arriving in mailboxes...

That kind of bothers me. I hope this comment won't be deleted (again?). It's just an observation. A little honesty goes a long way.

You will be missed, Mothering.

[Cynthia Mosher]

Originally Posted by alexsam 

Many of the ideas in Mothering are "hot button" issues, and instead of being able to, in a friendly and casual way, put an article in someones hands and say "Oh, I was just thinking of the conversation we had! I wonder what you think of this idea?" you have to tell them "Go on line to this-address-you-must-remember and look for "Why ciscumscion is harmful and don't listen to your husband or mother" and weed through those other articles to get to this.... You'll do that, right?". And, like other's have said, it is a loss on the magazine rack stocked with Parenting and the likes. The forums are good, but... different. I suppose I am preaching to choir. It's a done deal anyway.

We have a number of topic reprints that are available for purposes like the one you described. See here. The plan is to continue to create these so there will be a way to put information into people's hands. 
 

[Geigerin]

To all of the folks who are so dedicated to the production of this magazine, I am so sorry. I imagine your heartbreak is even greater than what we feel as readers. I consistently refer to your publication for parenting tips that you won't find elsewhere. This leaves a hole in the world of publishing that cannot be filled.

[Cynthia Mosher]

Thank you Geigerin.  Your words are heartfelt. It has been such a hard thing for all of us and we are definitely mourning the loss. 

We plan to carry on the spirit of the wonderful magazine that brought us all together over the years by focusing on developing and expanding the fabulous web resource that Mothering.com has become. 

[dancebaraka]

Mourning along with all of you! <3

[georgia]

Originally Posted by amandaleigh37 

I love and support Mothering, but one thing that does bother me about this is that there have been comments by mods in response to questions about Jan/Feb print issue. "I have been informed that issues should be arriving shortly in mailboxes."

But my understanding now is that the Jan/Feb issue was never printed, and never will be, correct? So really they weren't even close to arriving in mailboxes...

That kind of bothers me. I hope this comment won't be deleted (again?). It's just an observation. A little honesty goes a long way.

You will be missed, Mothering.

Hi, yes, those were my words. It wasn't until just recently (as in a few days) that it was determined that the issue was not going to be able to be sent to the printer. I've been expecting my issue to arrive as have all of Mothering's loyal subscribers, as did the staff. It's my understanding that Peggy and the entire staff have done everything within their power to get Jan/Feb printed, but the financial reality was finally too much and hard (and heartbreaking) decisions had to be made. The plans have always been to send the issue to press. It's not just the subscribers, but there are also advertisers who are affected by this as well. So, please know that this decision was not made without exhausting every available resource. Mothering in print will definitely be missed. We hope that you will stick around and be a part of the Mothering community going forward. We really do need and appreciate your support in making it happen! 

And I've not deleted any comments in this thread :) Please PM me if something wasn't posted or has gone missing because there are several of us working together today to ensure that questions get answered. Thanks!

[Maluhia]

I am truly deeply saddened I’ll no longer be able to slip a magazine into a new mother’s gift, or something similar but I hope with the ongoing development of this wonderful site that it will become an ever more active resource for families.  Although it is sad to miss those who don’t have access to the Internet I am glad that we are reaching so many with our website community and articles.  I’m looking forward to the development of this website inclusive of articles and resources that can be used in our 21^st century life.  I can just imagine emailing a link to a nursing mother who reads it on her iPhone late at night while figuring out a fussy baby – that instant ability to help a mother using modern technological artifacts that have become ubiquitous in our lives.   

Thank you Peggy and staff for years of hard work, and please know you have my support during this difficult but worthwhile transition to an ever more thriving online resource for families around the world. 

[CarenSwan]

I felt a pit in my stomach when I read this on facebook this evening. I join all the other Mothering fans in mourning this passing. It's true that I consume most of my media online, but that beautiful publication...  *sniff*  As someone else said in this thread, it asks the questions I don't even think to ask.  I can google any particular question, but I can't google wisdom.  I totally understand and support the publishers for making this tough decision, but understanding the reasons doesn't make it any less painful.  Goodbye Mothering Magazine, you will be dearly missed.

[rcr]

Sad, like e everyone else.

[jessjgh1]

I'm so sad by this too.  I do think the magazine was an important presence- just so real to be able to flip through and look at the letters and photos-- it just meant so much to me.  

I can't help but hope that somehow there will be some tangible something that will come out of this in the end--- whether it be pamphlets or a newsletter or one yearly edition/calendar or something yet to be discovered. 

I have to shyly admit that my magazine stash has been so precious I have wanted to give it to all the new moms I see, but also have NOT wanted to let them go out of my own home. I've wanted to give a gift subscription to a few places locally (and did so to my midwife one year), but the price was just a little out of reach to be that generous. Maybe a pamphlet or other form will end up being a more manageable medium to do a little of this and spread the word both about the community and the information available here.

The thing is, a digital forum can't be left on the table for my husband to catch sight of.  I can't bring it in my bag/purse so I have it with me for a spare minute and bring it out at a drs office, playgroup, etc.  I can't bring it with me when I visit my family and have an opportunity to bring something up. 

I'm hoping that my sadness is a little  short-sighted because I expect there can be  many new options open now, but I am still sad.  I wish everyone at Mothering the best of luck and thanks for all the work they have done.

Jessica

[georgia]

Thanks, so much, y'all. It is really sad--it's so nice to be surrounded by others who understand the loss. Thank you for all of your kind words. I know the entire staff is soaking them up during this time of transition. So, thanks to everyone who has taken the time to post with such sincere and caring intentions. 

[Channelle]

I'm buying as many back issues as I can...I'm just worried that my money will get taken, and I won't get anything!

Why can't we use Paypal for buying back issues??? I don't have a debit account, only a paypal account!

[Otto]

Originally Posted by tankgirl73 

At any rate, the implication is that approximately $40,000 is for printing and mailing costs to 100,000 people (or nearly that many), with the remaining $60,000 being for the actual production of the content.  I'm certainly not a publishing expert, but those numbers don't make sense to me.

Well, it's a full- and part-time staff of what, around 20? Salary, benefits, rent, insurance, equipment, hired professionals... it doesn't strike me as an outlandish figure. The cost of the print run certainly doesn't.

[smokeylo]

I am truly sad. I love Mothering and will really miss the print edition. I paged through my back issues during both pregnancies and looked forward to Mothering being part of how my kids learned about what it means to nurture. Can't exactly leave stacks of websites lying around for my girls to peruse. I'm seriously bummed.

[ABMama]

I sit on the board of a non-profit that has a magazine publication. Each issue we print is around 16-20K and we only do 4 a year and we only have a distribution of 10,000ppl. This recession and web culture hit us hard too and we small in comparison. 

I am really sad that Mothering can't have magazines anymore, but it is just the way it goes...you know...like Cassettes and CD's... 

[aentwood]

Frankly, this sucks.  I understand the financial issues but I seriously think this is a huge set-back for the natural parenting community.  Nothing beats giving a pregnant mom a copy of Mothering...you can direct them to the website and talk up the forum all you want, but that issue with the glossy photos staring at you from your coffee table is what gets them hooked.  We spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME online as it is and now great information will probably be missed.  I especially wonder about dads...my husband would read Mothering cover-to-cover but I can guarantee he will not come to the website.

This is really very sad.

[CelinerD]

aaahhh... so bittersweet, kind of like the way I felt when I gave birth to my first baby 31 yrs. ago on Sat (especially the first)... and how my 2nd daughter might be feeling today after giving birth at home on this past Friday.. so sad, the loss of one's life as it was before the birth, knowing there are challenges ahead that one might not be able to welcome or enjoy at the moment... but such excitement at meeting a new life, watching this new baby grow and thrive, learning how to parent well again as each one arrives (and every child is different)...

I read my first copy of Mothering magazine 31 years ago and bought my first subscription almost 30 years ago and was privileged to read all the first issues as well.. I remember when Mothering Magazine went to glossy covers and shiny paper after being printed on newsprint for so many years... few of us liked it at first.. some people didn't want to subscribe anymore.. some people felt Mothering had sold out..joined the mainstream, lost its uniqueness.. and then we all learned to enjoy the new look, and I am sure, we will (most of us) learn to enjoy the many benefits of mothering.com.

As for me, yes, I love to curl up with a great magazine, and Mothering magazine makes a great gift (as did New Beginnings), and one could buy a number of old editions to pass on as gifts in the future.. but I am also very very excited about the web opportunity!

So many times, as a LLL Leader, when moms ask me a question, I tend to end up on this site.. in the forums (as I did recently with the mom of a tongue tied baby that was having a hard time learning to breastfeed after his frenotomy..).. I had an opportunity to learn how other moms were feeling and pass that link on...which I do frequently.

I look forward to the future of mothering.com... we are evolving away from the printed page. I look forward to a lesser impact on our environment... I think of the fossil fuels and trees we are going to save.. the ink, the electricity, the vehicle wear and tear.. I think of a cleaner future for my grandchildren, and yours... and I feel blessed that we have the opportunity to embrace change... and like a new mother, like being the parent of adults... sometimes it takes time to get around the loss of what is familiar and welcome our old friend in their new clothes..

Congratulations and Thank You for your contribution to my life as a parent, a woman and a spouse.

[tracymom1]

My heart is breaking. What makes me most sad is simply the fact that a natural family living magazine cannot support itself. Sometimes I think our society has come a long way towards understanding and embracing the holistic and compassionate values in our beloved Mothering magazine, but here we are. Having to say goodbye is always hard, especially when such powerful sentimental ties have been created.

Thank you, Peggy, and everyone at Mothering for helping me blossom into the parent I was always meant to be.