anyone else dissatisfied with mothering magazine? - Page 2

[Momtwice]

I understand the frustration, if a particular issue is long on ads and low on articles,

but keep in mind, unlike Parenting, Parents, Child, American Baby, etc., etc. Mothering will not accept formula ads because they adhere to the World Health Organization/UNICEF recommendations, the "WHO Code" of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. Which means the Mothering staff have the ethics to refuse BIG money that comes from BIG, stinking rich* formula companies. They tend to have more ads from work at home moms and smaller crunchier companies.

(*It is not wrong to be rich. I've been working on my attitudes about abundance lately, and the phrase "stinking rich" implies it is wrong to be rich. But the way the formula companies get their money...lying to and deceiving mothers, bribing doctors and hospital staff...does stink.)

Hurray for the ethics of the Mothering staff!

[merpk]

I actually like all the ads. As a WAHM, I like seeing mom-made or mom-oriented stuff that's not from the Stepford Corporation.











(In case anyone's too young to get that, it's a reference to "The Stepford Wives," a movie ... oh, never mind.)

[Momtwice]

Don't worry merpk, They're remaking it right now so if someone doesn't get it, they will soon.

[Arduinna]

The think this is a completely appropriate topic. I have to say I loved the latest issue. In fact I noticed a distinct change from the usual fare this time. The ads don't bother me, especially because I know that the pirce would be even higher without them and that would result in some people not being able to afford to purchase it.

[Addie's Mom]

This is such an interesting topic on a Mothering sponsored Discussion board. I am not an avid reader of the magazine, but I do like looking though it periodically at the library. I'm kinda stuck in the middle. I think Parenting, American baby, and the like are appalling, BUT I am totally committed to keeping my DD up to date on vaccinations and had a very medical assisted birth (thank goodness, too- I had pre-eclampsia.)

Anyway, I just try to glean what I can from the magazine and disregard what doesn't fit. I enjoy the support of the online community here. Everyone who visits here seems to be committed to parenting (including respecting) their babies, todddlers, and kids.

As far as the title of the thread, I think that a healthy discussion of the magazine and it's contents would be appreciated from a magazine like Mothering and the thoughtful parents who read it.

Gretchen

[Jennifer Z]

I have to say I love the ads. I had never heard of the magazine until my dh brought me a handful of parenting magazines when I was sick one time. The ads were the first thing I noticed when I flipped through the magazine...I had never seen anything like it and was so amazed at the products out there, most of which I had never even heard of. I think I went through and typed in a lot of the ad websites before I noticed there was a mothering website. At the time, some of the articles seemed a bit "over the top" (not vax your child! Don't these parents care!...lol) to me and it took a bit for me to really appreciate them...had to read through the magazine a few times to let it seep in a bit. The ads, especially for all the breastfeeding stuff, are what drew me in initially.

I always thought the magazine was pretty thin on ads compared to the mainstream magazines. Most of the time with those magazines, I have had to rip out half the dang ads just so the magazine will open properly. Also, in mainstream mags, there is a tendency to have ads "disguised" as articles...this is something I haven't seen in mothering and I really appreciate it.

I must say, in reference to the above statement about articles being "over the top", I find that I really value the alternate perspective and it has influenced my thinking by the simple act of making me think about things that I hadn't even questioned before (vaxes, cding, ebf...all things I might have done the mainstream way because I hadn't really thought to question them). I agree that it is frustrating that so much of the mag seems geared toward "the rich", but then again, so are the other mags. It is just a part of being poor...but I like that the basic ideas can be incorporated into my life even if I can't afford organic foods or aios.

I also find that some issues are more relevant in my life than others. Of course they are...some of the older issues have articles that are relevant now, but of no use when I originally read them. We are all in different stages as parents, and at different stages in how crunchy/mainstream we are and it is good to have a wider scope of support for all the mamas who have a general like-mindedness. Mothering is a window to a world I would have never known existed had it not been for a fortunate accident of a kind dh who didn't realize it was anything special.

[Lucysmama]

Well put, Jennifer Z.
ITA Mothering Mag is wonderful for mommies who aren't exposed to AP IRL. When I was pregnant, I didn't know any breastfeeders, CDers, CoSleepers, NonVaxers, etc... I never even realized I had options. Or, free will, you could say. It had been "Parenting-ed" outta me.
Ok, so I can't blame them for turning me into a sheep while I was preggo....entirely.
It makes me happy that there is such a wonderful publication out there to educate/encourage we amateur mamas who never realized we could still follow our hearts about parenting, in spite of what was being drilled in from all other directions.
Mothering and MDC.

[Delilah]

I have really enjoyed

the articles that have research and science behind the principles I adopt and adapt as a parent or a nurse. I think the science in the article gives the magazine a broader appeal to health care professionals that are interested in developing families. I also think it is interesting to challenge the information I received professionally.

I liked the article on Attachment and the Biological Roots of Love, and I enjoy the one-page-alerts about things like soy in the diet of infants (soy formula, etc) and whether there is a relationship between feeding soy or being intolerant to anything other than soy formula, and infertility and auto-immune diseases.

I also felt enlightened to hear about HIV mothers who choose not to take AZT, why, and the difficulties they face.

I like the poems, dietary, and natural living info also. I think part of the purpose of such a "shopping cart" sidebar on the Feingold article was to show that there are foods that meet the criteria of not having artificial ingredients, but are already prepared, even if they are heavily processed foods. When I told my doctor we were trying Feingold for our son's problems, his comment was "You can't eat anything on Feingold," so I think there are public myths to dispel, and M helps do that.

[Fianna]

I must admit that I have a true love/hate relationship with the magazine. There are SO many articles I love and I am so, so glad I found this magazine. I have shared so much of the information I have received with family and friends and even our pediatrician.

However, I often feel very alienated and almost attacked by the strong political tone of the magazine. And I have a number of friends and acquaintances who I gave copies to hoping they would subscribe who chose not to subscribe for that same reason. Often I wish that the powers that be would realize that there are very AP moms out here who aren't members of the Green party (or even liberal democrats for that matter).

[liz-hippymom]

I LOVE MOTHERING
i remember the first issue i ever read and how i suddenly felt not so completely alone-
i have learned so much from that magazine and heck thats how i found this disscussion board, and WHERE would i be without all of you/????
that said- mothering IS very strong in opinions, on everything including politics. I LOVE THIS. all the other magazines are whishy washing and have no opinion except what someone has paid them to have. they rely to much on "good enough parenting" as in, well its good enough so im sticking here. personally i always want to do BETTER as a parent and and i do strongly believe there are some right and some wrong things in the world of parenting- politics ends up being very imesed in this- how can you speak of our children's futures if you dont bring up politics? i am all for mothering supporting green party and liberal ideals since those are most often centered around protecting the enviornment FOR our children and protecting our children. and remember mothering is an ALTERNATIVE magazine-therefor it presents alterative ideas. do you see and articles in parenting about the green party- NO WAY- because it is not mainstream.
just so you know i dont always vote green party so this isnt just my political views.
i am just trying to say that what people are complaining about are some of the things that make mothering great... as far as the ads go, i love them! there is NOwhere else i would be exposed to ads for such wholesome products often sold by WAHMs !
printing is expensive and mothering is a small operation and is around for its readers not for mass profits and i think we should all be very thankful it is still around!

[kama'aina mama]

It might help to remember that Mothering is not simply an AP magazine. It is "The Magazine of Natural Family Living". AP is an important part of that but it is not their entire purpose.

[hazeldust]

thank you for all the responses! you all gave me alot to think about. in my defence, in regards to the title, the focus was on my opinion, and it is the truth, i am dissatisfied with the magazine. in the latest issue, i enjoyed the article about organic school lunches, but besides this and the poetry it seems that it has been a long time since i really enjoyed an issue. with regards to the feingold diet, i just do not understand the reasons behind putting this in a natural family living magazine. it seems to me that it is along the same lines as if they were to say 'well we dont agree with letting your child cry it out, but for you mainstream parents who are going to anyway here is the better way to do it...' again just my opinion. and to whoever it was who wrote that the magazine does sort of address wealthier people more, but that is just what you have to put up with when you are poor, in different words, i disagree. a magazine with such a grassroots history such as mothering should hold on to that. i dont feel like i should settle for being treated like i am poor, just because i do not have money. i do have a greater appreciation for the magazine now because i do get and have gotten alot out of it. one magazine cant please all the people all the time and i understand that better now.