Mothering (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Mothering is a magazine focused on natural mothering practices, which began publishing in 1976.
The November-December 2010 issue was the last printed issue of the Mothering magazine. On February 15, 2011, Mothering magazine announced that publication of the magazine would end completely after the March-April 2011 issue, and that Mothering would subsequently become a Web-only company.
Publication Cessation Controversy
Subscribers who renewed their subcription even a few days before the announcement of publication cessation were not given a refund. The subscription department was shut down. Businesses that paid for ads were also not provided with refunds. Subscribers instead were told they would get a free subscription to a smaller publication, Natural Life (magazine)
(about a third of the pages and articles, with a very different focus) for the remainder of their subscription term.
The first issues for former Mothering subscribers did not begin arriving until June. As of August 2011, Natural Life is demanding that all former Mothering subscribers sign up and pay a full subscription - refusing to honor the subscription periods paid for by the former Mothering subscribers, some of whom had only renewed in early February of 2011.
options, and advocates breastfeeding
, alternative education
, homeschooling
, co-sleeping
and opposition to vaccination
. It takes a stance against circumcision
and endorses HIV/AIDS denialism and promotes anti-vaccination. It has received both favorable and critical reviews by other mothering and parenting resource centers, and has been criticised for its editorial policy by health advocates such as John Robbins.
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History
Mothering was founded in 1976, and in the 80's, Peggy O'Mara became editor and publisher.The November-December 2010 issue was the last printed issue of the Mothering magazine. On February 15, 2011, Mothering magazine announced that publication of the magazine would end completely after the March-April 2011 issue, and that Mothering would subsequently become a Web-only company.
Publication Cessation Controversy
Subscribers who renewed their subcription even a few days before the announcement of publication cessation were not given a refund. The subscription department was shut down. Businesses that paid for ads were also not provided with refunds. Subscribers instead were told they would get a free subscription to a smaller publication, Natural Life (magazine)
Natural Life (magazine)
Natural Life is a Canadian magazine, founded in 1976 by Rolf Priesnitz, who continues to act as its publisher. It is owned by Life Media, an independent Toronto-based book and magazine publishing company owned by Wendy Priesnitz who is the magazine's editor...
(about a third of the pages and articles, with a very different focus) for the remainder of their subscription term.
The first issues for former Mothering subscribers did not begin arriving until June. As of August 2011, Natural Life is demanding that all former Mothering subscribers sign up and pay a full subscription - refusing to honor the subscription periods paid for by the former Mothering subscribers, some of whom had only renewed in early February of 2011.
Content
The magazine covers alternative childbirthChildbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
options, and advocates breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for six months or...
, alternative education
Alternative education
Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education or educational alternative, includes a number of approaches to teaching and learning other than mainstream or traditional education. Educational alternatives are often rooted in various philosophies that are fundamentally different...
, homeschooling
Homeschooling
Homeschooling or homeschool is the education of children at home, typically by parents but sometimes by tutors, rather than in other formal settings of public or private school...
, co-sleeping
Co-sleeping
Co-sleeping is a practice in which babies and young children sleep close to one or both parents, as opposed to in a separate room. It is standard practice in many parts of the world, and is practiced by a significant minority in countries where cribs are also used...
and opposition to vaccination
Vaccine controversy
A vaccine controversy is a dispute over the morality, ethics, effectiveness, or safety of vaccinations. Medical and scientific evidence surrounding vaccinations generally demonstrate that the benefits of preventing suffering and death from infectious diseases outweigh rare adverse effects of...
. It takes a stance against circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
and endorses HIV/AIDS denialism and promotes anti-vaccination. It has received both favorable and critical reviews by other mothering and parenting resource centers, and has been criticised for its editorial policy by health advocates such as John Robbins.
Publications
Mothering has published books through a division of Simon & SchusterSimon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
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- Mothering Magazine's Having a Baby, Naturally: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, Peggy O'Mara. Atria publishing (2003) ISBN 978-0743439633
- Natural Family Living: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Parenting, Peggy O'Mara. Atria publishing (2000) ISBN 978-0671027445