I have a confession to make.
I am a magazine addict.
I like them all. The glossy covers. Words just waiting to be read. Ads beckoning me to buy something I never knew I wanted. I'm not picky, either. While I could spend hours in the bookstore and never leave the periodicals section, I'm just as happy in a crappy waiting room with a mangled copy of Car and Driver. It drives Mike batty. Picture it for yourself: we finally have a moment to ourselves, precious time to reconnect after a crazy day. We're snuggled together, chatting away, when I spy it. A magazine I haven't read. It calls out to me, and the next thing I know his voice is like the teacher from Charlie Brown.
So it might come as some surprise to you that I have two categories of magazines: ones that I will read (that would be virtually anything) and ones that can barely make it from the mailbox into the house without being devoured cover to cover. Actually, there's only one magazine that makes it into that category for me, and that's the one right there at the top of this post.
I discovered Brain, Child by accident when Elena was still a toddler. I was in the check-out at Wild Oats in Nashville when I spotted it. One of the by-products of my addiction is that I can rarely leave a check-out with a magazine. I was already immersed in all publications of the parenting sort, but I'd never seen this one. It came home with me and I've been hooked ever since.
I love it for all the things it is: smart, funny, insightful, honest, brave, heart-breaking, different. I love it for all the things it isn't: preachy, condescending, fluffy, sugar-coated. I initially thought I would post a review of an article from the latest issue that I found particularly good. Problem was, I couldn't single any one out over another. The term article doesn't even really apply – each issue is filled with essays, fiction, debates, reviews, along with a feature article (this issue's feature was on "Eco-Housewives: Enlightened Caregiver or Feminist Nightmare?" It rocked.). There's nary an article about "Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night Tonight!" or "Lose That Baby Weight For Good!" It's more like hearing a girlfriend tell you like it is. Or hearing her tell it like it was for her, so you can think, "Cripes, I never thought of it that way!" For those of us who spend the majority of our day with little people who exhaust us physically, finding an outlet that makes us think can be a relief, making you feel like a bit of your old self is still there.
Brain, Child is a little magazine, without a huge advertising budget. In order to grow, they depend on their readers to spread the word. In my little corner of blogdom, that's what I intend to do.
Check them out on-line and see for yourself. They're nice people over there. How nice? They've offered to give one of my readers a free one-year subscription. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post, and I'll pick a winner at random (or I'll let Mike do it. Being he has a background in statistical things and such). In honor of Thanksgiving (and an upcoming post!), just tell me one thing you're thankful for. I'll close the contest November 30.
I am thankful for margaritas,…..okay
what I meant to say is that I am thankful for healthy children, great girlfriends and family, even if they do drive me crazy on occassion.
your blog is great! Have a great turkey day. I can’t wait for April! Rebeccca
What? Mike gets to pick?
Rigged.
I am thankful for leaves, they change all sorts of colors and fall gracefully one at a time making a blanket …to keep my yard warm for the winter.
Eli’s haircut reminded me of the monks I read about. Keeping the forheard clear of impure thoughts …and mullit-free …there’s no party going on in the back either.
If you haven’t read pilars of the earth and have two weeks of vacation, nothing going on in bed for awhile then I reccomend you read it and you will apreciate how easy we have it today.
I’m thankful for my family, immediate and extended and chosen. You all know me and still love me (most of the time). You know where I’ve been and how far I’ve come and how much more I have yet to accomplish! Big hugs to everyone!
I’m thankful for all the wonderful mommies (and babies) in my playgroup! They keep me sane and give me something to look forward to every week!
Hi Angie. I love Eli’s haircut. He’s looking like such a big boy.
Happy Thanksgiving! The magazine looks cool. So here you go…
I am thankful for this healthy child I carry, for the comfort we have in our family, our health, and well-being. What else can you ask for?
I’m thankful for Joe, Lyla, our wonderful friends, Phoebe the dog, cheese, and Guitar Hero World Tour (Mike’s choosing, right?).
I am thankful for the human capacity for introspection, the ability to accept our mistakes, our privilege to learn from them, and the grace of our friends to forgive us.
I am thankful for so many things this year…watching my Deaf child sing and boogie better than any other first grader in her school performance…weeping as she signed (ASL) to “You are so beautiful to me”…knowing that my dad, who we almost lost 3 months ago is there watching her perform today…seeing the pride in my son’s face as he tells me he is big enough to pick out his own clothes now and loving that the tie-dye is his favorite…laughing with my husband who i am still madly in love with 8 years later…knowing that i have friends, family, and comforts in life that so many do not. I am thankful for my life.