Gearhead Mom

Monday, December 03, 2007

Jenny’s Favorite Magazines

Posted by Jenny M. @ 1:11 PM

Deciding to become a parent is not unlike getting engaged, in that there is a Whole New Horizon of Readings and Propaganda out there you didn’t even know existed. Remember how many bridal magazines littered your house? Now take stock of the parenting books, magazines, and catalogs. Brides-to-be ain’t seen nothing yet in terms of sheer volume. Since conceiving my first child almost five years ago (wow, really?), I’ve waded through subscriptions to various parenting magazines, drowning in a sea of advice, product endorsements, and subtle pressures. I am happy to report that I am confidently coming up for air committed to (only) two parenting magazines which meet all my needs, thank you very much. 

They are Brain, Child and Family Fun.  At first glance they couldn’t be more different:  Brain, Child is cerebral and Family Fun is, well, fun-oriented.  But they have several key characteristics in common:
1. Neither makes me feel frumpy (no photos of glamorous moms wearing $400 tops canoodling kids in unbelievable outfits)
2. Neither makes me feel guilty, resentful, or like I need to be out there doing more and being more. (I know, I know! Nobody can make me feel anything. Except MAGAZINES FOR WOMEN!).
3. Neither magazine presupposes my income level or my status as working or stay-at-home Mom.
4. Neither magazine is overtly political, moralistic, or preachy. How refreshing!
5. Neither magazine targets parents of children of a specific age—i.e., I won’t “grow out” of these magazines in the near future.

Let’s start with some Family Fun. This magazine isn’t slick, stylish or trendy. It’s exactly what it bills itself as: fun, for families, in doable, affordable, cookable ways.  The emphasis is on kid participation in family activities, so there are simple and creative crafts (no offense, Missy, but the complexity of Martha’s projects makes my eyes roll back in my head), kid-and-Mom-friendly recipes (lots of holiday ideas), vacation recommendations, and toy reviews. There’s always a goofy section where people send in photos of their kids with the cake or craft they made, inspired by the magazine. I sort of love its down-home nature. The last issue included features on “10 Steps to a Greener Christmas” and one family’s winter tradition of performing “anonymous acts of kindness.” I can pick up this magazine any time, flip to a page, and appreciate some little idea offered there.

Brain, Child, on the other hand, is the self-proclaimed “magazine for thinking mothers.” And I will concur that thinking is what this magazine is about: there are no product endorsements or recipes. No photos at all. Lots of text. This magazine has some of the best writing I’ve encountered in any magazine of any type—and that makes it slightly intimidating: These are Super Smart Mothers (and the occasional Dad) both editing and writing for this periodical. I am always humbled by the thoughtful, witty, poignant, and provocative pieces (and a little chagrined by the fact that these, too, are busy, overwhelmed parents but who have managed to Channel Their Talent Effectively). Despite the fact that Brain, Child covers politics (there is a section with updates on legislation affecting families), the magazine does not take an overt political stand other than giving voice to parents of all demographics:  married, divorced, single, gay, adopting, natural-birthing and medicated, naturally conceiving and with the help of technology, working and non-working.  Each issue features a debate between authors of differing views on such topics as TV and prenatal sex selection, and fiction and essays, humor, poetry, and book reviews. One memorable essay was about a mother and her daughter muddling through her husband’s deployment in Iraq…and then dealing with the marital and parenting repercussions upon his return.  Another recent piece recounted a mother’s struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. While the topics can be heavy, not all is dark at Brain, Child: the sassy, smart, and sometimes sarcastic takes are often a nice escape from the world of parenting where it’s easy for all of us to take ourselves A Wee Bit Too Seriously. 

Snapshot
• These two magazines in concert appeal to two aspects of your parenting brain: the intellectual/emotional and the fun/practical. 
• Great gift ideas for new and/or expecting moms (and dads!).

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