What articles and features of Mothering issue 148 did you enjoy?

[Jacque Savageau]

Mothering would like your opinion on the articles you enjoyed most in the May/June 2008 issue 148 of Mothering Magazine. Please vote here (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=jgU2XH7DZF7Pa_2b0iA0I4mQ_3d_3d
) for the articles you enjoyed in issue 148. Feel free to post your input about the articles as well as other things you might like to share about issue 148.

These are the articles and features in issue 148 that you may rate:


A Quiet Place: Where's Joseph? (Peggy O'Mara's Editorial)
Your Letters
Bulletins
Mommy Rituals
Stories, Songs, and Snacks
Real Girl vs. Real World
Righteous Babe y Mama - Interview with Ani DiFranco
Pumping Nine to Five
The Never-at-Home Homeschoolers
Getcha Grub On
Joy to the World - Media Review
Strokes of Genius - Product Review
Living Treasure - Allan Shedlin



Thank you for taking the time to give your thoughts and opinions.


Please keep in mind the forum guidelines (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=591327) when posting

**IMPORTANT PLEASE READ**
Posting Guidelines (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=591327)
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[Channelle]

I would have to say I enjoyed the homeschooling piece. It just made me excited, and confirmed my belief that homeschooling was for me, I was home schooled, and I loved it. I plan on homeschooling my children someday.
There is right way to home school and a not so right way. As long as the child is getting socialization in other ways besides a classroom, then it's a wonderful thing. I feel that instead of my child becoming friends with people because they are forced to be shoved in a classroom together, I would rather my children make friends with people who share their common interests because that is where they would meet their friends. Playing sports, at the library, at the museum, etc.

[littlecindy]

the ani piece, definitely!

[swimswamswum]

I loved the entire issue, but the Ani piece was my favorite!

[elanorh]

I'm sending copies of Real Girl vs. Real World to my sisters who have daughters. I thought it was an excellent summation of the research which has been done regarding the social/cultural situation facing girls today.

Also - in re: the "Finding Joseph" article - two men I would suggest for the upcoming interviews would be:

Noah Wyle (I am assuming they are an NP type family since they are so involved with the "Happiest Baby" books)

Alton Brown - a Food Network personality who I suspect may be APish. He definitely is very strong regarding locally grown/organic, and a few of his episodes have commented on human milk/cow's milk in a glancing way. You'd probably need to research to ensure he's a good fit, but I hope he is.

[70toes]

I loved the never at home homeschoolers. We're starting to lean more toward unschooling, or natural learning, and God lead us to this article at the right time! It gave me such a piece of mind and helped me let go a little. I feel the article has the ability to speak to a variety of homeschoolers, no matter what the method! It was really inspiring.

[echodonn]

I love Peggy's editorial "Where's Joseph?" a single dad friend said how much he loved mothering mag. but feels slighted by the name. It's fine with me but I can appriciate his feeling left out.
I also wanted to know why you publish some of the replies in "Your Letters". I don't think that this magizine is for everyone and it has a responsibility to the faithful readers to support and discuss alternative parenting life situations and ideals. If you want something gentler go read Parenting or some other main stream mag. If we do not talk about no circ, homebirth, no/selected vacs, local/ organic foods, carsenogens in personal products, etc. WHO ELSE WILL?
Eileen
Downingtown, PA

[elanorh]

If I could add another suggestion of a possible Dad to profile - Mark Thomas, husband of Brenda Frese, the women's basketball coach at Maryland. She gave birth to twins vaginally this spring, and he is a stay-at-home-dad for their twins. I again have no idea what their family parenting philosophy is, or will evolve to become, but he might be interesting to research a bit. :)

[bluegrassgirl]

I really liked the interview with Ani. It was very inspiring.

Jessie
(single mommy to Angela, 3 years:chair:and Emma, our angel in heaven:angel)
:cd::slinggirl:fambeds1:goorg::gd::selectivevax:

We are a pro-nursing family!:toddler::1pump::bfs:lactivist:

[KikaKika]

...was my favorite. :)

[WriterMom2be]

Ani Difranco...It was great to see an artist I was a huge fan of when I was a teen talking about being a mom. For some reason I thought she'd talk about being ready to be a mom vs not (she has a song about her abortion at 17) but I guess that's a little dark and not the stuff for a parenting mag.

[Piper's mama]

I was so, so, so incredibly excited to see Miss Ani D. on the cover of Mothering. Two of my favorite things all smushed together. And to hear Ani's homebirth story was just the icing on the cake. I called my best friend right away (meaning the second I left the mailbox) to let her know Ani was in Mothering. She doesn't have a subscription, but I'm sure that has changed now!:love

[SophieAnn]

My favourite article was the Ani Difranco interview. I'm a huge fan of hers and was thrilled to see her on the cover.

Next was the pumping 9-to-5 article. Excellent advice and a great resource. I will be referring back to it in the future for certain (well, hopefully).

As always, I devoured the whole issue cover-to-cover within a few days now I'm patiently :irked: waiting for my next one. I wish Mothering came every month.... :love

[smokeylo]

I love the pumping 9-5 article and the real girl vs real world article.

I was NOT pleased to see the ad for Milkin Mamas "milk-bank," which is a for-profit milk bank that sells donated milk to a company that manufactures fortifier.

[mama_kass]

Still reading it. I loved Mommy Rituals.

[questionable]

I loved the real girls article and the homeschooling article.

It really bothered me to see the ad for the for profit milk bank.

[dillonandmarasmom]

I so miss getting my own issues and was so thrilled to see Ani and her family on the cover of my MIL's copy. She saw my face and asked, "Wanna borrow it?!" with a big grin. I think she could tell I was coveting her copy a bit (as was DH, who has a small thing for miss DiFranco....).

I loved the interview with Ani. Always great to "hear" her wise words. Her wisdom and wit are so spot on with where I am in my life (seems they always have been, too).

I really appreciated the article about girls growing up in such a contradictory world. This was very much how things were for me 30 years ago. Being an athlete whom often competed against boys, it was always a challenge to still be considered a girl among them. I see my DD (now 3) as a great balance of both genders thus far. She can quickly switch between nasty pirate or conquering Knight and graceful ballerina or charming fairy. At this moment, she is seated on the couch reading a story to her friend H (a young boy), and they are both enjoying her version of a fairytale. Oh wait, now it's a book about baseball (at which she is becoming quite good).

Thanks, Mothering! I will continue to steal--er, borrow--MIL's copies with pleasure!

[mama_kass]

I just wanted to say that this is the best issue in a long time. I loved that there were articles for post baby mamas like myself. The mommy ritual article was my favorite, and I did like the homeschooling article a lot because it was fresh. Thanks again for some interesting reads that really nourish my soul.

[*Ela*]

I loved "Where's Joseph?"

[slmtoya]

Mommy Rituals was my favorite piece from this issue. I definately needed to read it at the time.

[khanni]

Real Girl vs. Real World was my fav. I thought this issue was the best one in quite a while.

[papercranegirl]

This is a great issue that the whole family enjoyed. We, of course, loved Ani (& her partner on the cover) but also appreciated Where's Joseph, Real Girl vs Real World, and getcha grub on. I, personally, appreciated the mommy rituals article.

[RubyLu]

The Ani article. Especially where she describes her freedom with homebirth (the stairs!). That cracked me up.

And the pumping article. Will come in handy as I start planning for my new arrival this fall (and back to work in Jan).

[Twinklefae]

I loved "Where's Joseph?"

Me too!

[muchpeace]

I really liked these:

Real Girl vs. Real World
Righteous Babe y Mama - Interview with Ani DiFranco
Pumping Nine to Five
Where's Joseph (my DH loved this)

[carmel23]

I really liked the homeschool article and the Real Girl v. Real world.

In fact, it would be interesting to read a similar article examining the effects of media, expectations and the "world" on boys, as well. I think the pressures are different, but there... as a mama of boys and girls, I'd like to have this kind of article to think through issues with my boys, as well. :)

[Sweet Kat]

The homeschool article was super encouraging to me! Thanks so much! It came at a time when I really needed to hear it.

Yay Homeschooling!

[Breastisbest2008]

Really loved it TOO!!!!:thumb

[CourtBChase]

We don't have a subscription yet, but I purchased the magazine at the news stand because Ani was on the cover. I really enjoyed the editorial "Where's Joseph, and DH appreciated it as well. I love involved daddies :-)

[Makini]

loved real girl vs. real world. as an elementary school teacher i thought it was right on! i also loved the homeschooling artcle. it was inspiring.

[clothdipemomof2boy]

I loooooved Wheres Joseph but i love everything peggy writes. I also loved the homeschooling article as well. It came at a really good time as i am know taking my oldest out of school he just went to preschool so we are going to try HS him for kindergarten and my youngest we are going to try preschool. I also realy like righteous baby mama it was really good the way she talked about how women need to be able to make there own desicions on thier birth process. I really loved this issue alot. Thanks:treehugger::love

[slymamato3]

Seeing Ani and her tribe on the cover literally brought tears to my eyes :love
I immediately called my oldest DD(14) so I could tell her about it. She has been listening and joining me at shows since she was 2. What an inspiration, and it just makes so much sense. Two things that make me oh so very happy put together, made my day and then some. Thanks~~~~

[sarah&dina]

Loved the homeschooling article! It was written beautifully. And best of all, even though I don't plan on HS I can incorporate so much of what the author said into our home in order to raise my daughter in an educational and stimulating environment!

One related ancedote to share: My brother and I were not HSed, but my mom was always taking education out of the classroom and learning with us whenever and wherever. One summer I went away to sleep-away camp. When I got home I immediately ran up to my room and opened the door. Before anyone could warn me othwise butterflies start flying out! My mom and brother had used my vacant room to "grow" butterflies over the summer!

[Ivan's Mom]

I just read two Mothering magazines and they are upstairs with my sleeping family. I hope I am commenting on the correct issue.

Because of the article on having storytime with friends. I came up with the idea of having a scheduled Storytime/Playtime with my mama friends at my home each Tuesday. We will have it outside on nice days and inside on cold/stormy days. We will have tea and snacks and the kids can hear some nice stories and play together. I LOVE MOTHERING!!!! :joy:

[~Megan~]

I loved the piece at the end about dads. It made me smile and I shared it with dh. He also enjoyed it. I love reading things about the importance of the other parent in our children's lives.

I am also thrilled to read the Circumcision article. I now have a susinct and thourough article to which I can refer those with questions about HIV and circumcision.

[nerdymom]

A Quiet Place: Where's Joseph? (Peggy O'Mara's Editorial) - VERY GOOD! SHARED WITH DH.

Mommy Rituals - LOVED IT. WANT TO PRACTICE IT.

Real Girl vs. Real World - MADE MY MOTHER READ IT (two young sisters still at home)

Pumping Nine to Five - GAVE A COPY IT TO A FRIEND

The Never-at-Home Homeschoolers - LOVED IT! I WAS A NEVER-AT-HOMESCHOOLER. :)

[Nathan1097]

:love

[Lissybug]

I really loved the "Where's Joseph" editorial. After my first son was born I was rather surprised at the lack of father related....anything. Our midwives had really included him throughout the pregnancy and birth, then all of a sudden *poof* it's just mom. I felt so sad about that, like I'd been duped. He had a hard time adjusting to his roll as a papa, and I think that could have been ameliorated by just seeing more role models. It so happened that he was the first of all his college friends to have kids, didn't work with any dads- just was really isolated, so the adjustment took a long time. It's been SO much easier with our second son. Any way...

Also- I love Ani so that was fun
And was inspired by the home schooler article.

When I read the mommy ritual article I was feeling sad that I don't have a girl. I KNOW there will be, and are, plenty of rituals I can do with my sons...just...wistful a bit.

Thanks

[A&A]

"pumping 9 to 5."

[PiePie]

bought it for the pumping piece but :love the ani piece. but also liked the state by state map on the pumping piece.

[Breastisbest2008]

I really enjoyed the homeschooling article.