BlogHer - Parenting Manifesto: The Gospel According to Mom (Or Dad) - Comments

Me too!

Diana — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 21:17:49 -0600

I can be counted among the masses, I stopped reading parenting magazines all but entirely when I discovered the Mommy Blog circuit. ;)

Mainstream Media

mcmilker — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 06:50:15 -0600

No, I don't read mainstream parenting magazines, yes, I do read, "Mothering" and other niche publications. The blogsphere finally enables the many different parenting niches to be served like the mainstream media never could!

MC Milker

Wow..I just realized how true that was....

Crunchy Carpets — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 01:45:17 -0600

all the years of listening to people complain that parenting magazines favoured the big formula advertisers, etc....

Not once did I ever read something that helped you pick bottles, nipples sterilizers and so on for your kids.

Totally Agree

A Elliot — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 21:54:01 -0600

When I realized/was told by a lactation consultant that I couldnt' breastfeed, I was pretty upset by the lack of information about formula feeding in the parenting magazines. I would have loved to breastfeed, but I am medicially unable to do so. Where were the articles about how to choose formula, nipples sizes, to heat or not heat, how to choose bottles and nipples, how to travel with formula etc? Sure your kids doctor can give you answers, but if you don't know that nipples come in different stages, you won't know to ask. That's why I started my blog. I started my "sub-blog", Crafts for the Clueless, because I hate how parenting magazines always recommend these crafts without giving crucial information such as "will I need to bath my child afterwards" and "will I need to take two tylenol and perhaps have a glass of wine after this craft in finished."

A. Elliot

'Have always hated parenting magazines....

Grace Davis — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:10:11 -0600

...and was thrilled to discover our no-holds-barred mommyblogosphere. My God, I used to throw those mamby-pamby, everyone is smiling (and white skinned) magazines against the wall with frustration.

Plus, there's no cussing allowed in the magazines. What's with that?

You did that reporter a favor, Mary. You got her caught up in the Zeitgeist that is mommyblogging.

Grace Davis State of Grace
BlogHer Contributing Editor

My monthly magazines are

Deaf Mom — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 08:44:10 -0600

My monthly magazines are sitting in a pile because I'm spending more time in cyberspace reading the blogs instead.

Karen
"Life is too short to pout all the time."
A Deaf Mom Shares Her World

blogosphere

mcewen — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 18:06:13 -0600

The blogosphere is an area that the vast majority of the population know nothing about. I'm in the heart of Silicon Valley, techyland and the vast majority of my friends don't even know what a blog is [I have trouble translating it for them as a newbie] but it goes to show that there is a vast galaxy of opportunity out there for us all.
Cheers
McEwen Whitterer on Autism
http://whitterer-autism.blogspot.com
e-mail; m.mcewen-asker@att.net

Parenting Manifesto: The Gospel According to Mom (Or Dad)

Mary Tsao — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 21:32:41 -0600

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to a reporter about parenting magazines and mommyblogging. Specifically, I told her that I had stopped reading parenting magazines once I discovered the mom-centric writing in the Blogosphere. She seemed surprised at my declaration that real information--written by real parents--can be found on blogs, unlike the trite and contrived information I often found in magazines.

Brian Reid of RebelDad and his Manifesto Project is a perfect example of the kind of writing I find online, writing that offers real advice written by real people.

Reid is challenging readers of the Washington Post parenting blog On Balance to "share [their] universal truths about parenthood." Readers can email Reid a five-hundred word manifesto on any parenting or balance topic they choose. He's posting the replies on either his blog RebelDad, or on the Washington Post blog.

As a start, Reid offers his ten truths about parenting, starting with truth #1:

"All kids are different: What works with your eldest won't automatically work for your youngest, and what worked for your mom or your brother or the dad next door isn't necessarily going to work for you. Be flexible."

He's compiled all of the manifestos he's received to date on his blog. Here are a few samples:

From Cathy White's parenting manifesto:

"90% of the advice we get on child-rearing is pure shit. If youâ€™re a brand new parent, you might want to write this on your hand. I donâ€™t care if the advice comes from your parents, your in-laws, your sweet grandmother, or your best friend. Advice is great when you hear it in large quantities from different sources. Itâ€™s a source of ideas for solving your own problems. But believe you me, most of the stuff you hear is either patently untrue or will not work with your particular situation. You can trust your gut when it comes to whatâ€™s best for your family and your children. Donâ€™t forget that Aesopâ€™s fable starring the man, the boy, and the donkey."

From Elizabeth of Half Changed World's parenting manifesto:

"Children aren't nearly as fragile as we sometimes think. You don't have to get it right 100 percent of the time, which is a good thing, because none of us will. An abundance of love will make up for most other failings. When you screw up, don't be afraid to admit it and apologize."

Hat tip to Parent Hacks for the link.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Mary Tsao also blogs at Mom Writes.

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