We're Talking Brain, Child

Stuff That Won’t Be Online, Yet You Must Read

2011-12-13T15:10:00.003-05:00

I just realized that I often go on about the pieces we put online. And they are indeed awesome. But the content that isn’t online is just as swoon-worthy. Here’s a rundown of what else is in the Winter 2012 issue:

“Toy Story” by Meredith Fein Lichtenberg. Meredith gives a talk to new mothers in motherhood and sexuality at the famed Babeland sex-toy shop in NYC. She talks to the women about, on one hand, respecting your feelings to just not get it on, and, on the other hand, worrying that your relationship will become boring. I’ve read this one many, many times, and there’s a scene that still makes me crack up.

“Should You Police Your Child’s Appearance?” by Heather Mahoney and Talisa D’Amato. Ooh, this debate is a good one. Heather argues that appearance falls into the same category of nutrition and health issues: kids need guidance. Talisa sees it as a First Amendment issue.

“Stalking My Daughter’s Birth Mother” by Melissa Hart. This is a fabulous one. Before adopting her daughter, Melissa has idealized open adoption. But then her daughter’s birth mother—who lived a pretty rough life--decided against visiting in person. I don’t want to ruin this; you have to read it.

“Locked Ward” by Barbara Dara Cooper. Barbara’s daughter struggles with anorexia and her family struggles with its treatment. Oh, it’s such a strange world, and Barbara’s rendering of it is exquisite. This one will stick with you a long time.

“Any Idiot Can Do It” by Mary Rees. Mary’s short story is fabulous, especially for those of us hesitated on the edge of becoming a mother before taking the leap. There’s an imaginary stepmother. And girlfriend is funny.

“Eat, Sleep, Protect” by Stephanie Wilkinson. Who loves themselves a mystery? (Me!) Stephanie reviews some recent suspense novels in which mothers—and the impulse to nurture—play a big role. It’s going to be a long winter, peeps: you can do a lot worse than to stock up on Stephanie’s recommendations to get you through it.

“Child Development, as Narrated by Rock and Roll” by Meredith Greene. Meredith traces the growth of your child through rock lyrics. My favorite: “She’s got legs. She knows how to use them.”

Good stuff, no? (Here's how to get it in print or for your e-reader.) Feel free to leave comments on these pieces below!

All My Children

2011-12-12T11:06:00.002-05:00

Our lives as mothers to more than one child are filled with sibling rivalry and sibling revelry. Author Katherine Ozment investigates new ways of looking at these age-old relationships.

Psyched Out

2011-12-12T11:05:00.001-05:00

At a crossroads in her life and looking for her next move, one mother turns to an L.A. staple: her psychic. Dani Klein Modisett tells the tale.

Fear Itself

2011-12-12T11:03:00.001-05:00

Shriek! An oscillating fan and other unspeakable horrors of childhood. An essay by Catherine Newman.

Inappropriate

2011-09-24T14:47:00.003-04:00

How the uncomfortable becomes comfortable. An essay by Tracy Lynch.

Wedding Guests

2011-09-24T14:46:00.003-04:00

My daughter's birth mother's sister's big fat wedding. An open adoption story by Sarah Werthan Buttenwieser.

Glass Half Full

2011-09-24T14:43:00.004-04:00

Have mothers complained too much, already ... or not enough. Katy Read examines the evidence.

Not a Scary Story

2011-06-10T13:23:00.002-04:00

When Kimberly Ford's son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, she knew their lives would change. She didn't know there would be an up side.

One in 1.3 Billion

2011-06-10T13:19:00.002-04:00

Chris Huntington and his tri-racial family moved to China. There is explaining to do.

Single Mom Stigma, Alive and Kicking

2011-06-10T13:08:00.002-04:00

A recent study claims that families headed by single mothers have the lowest approval rating of all types of families. Tracy Mayor investigates why single moms can't catch a break--and what we mean when we say "single mother."

Backstep

2011-03-07T16:44:00.001-05:00

Parenting a teen often means learning to back away gracefully. Robin Schoenthaler does.

Before This

2011-03-07T16:37:00.003-05:00

Before she divorced and remarried, Sarah Ivy had three children. When her fourth child comes along, she contemplates all the ways old and new come together in a family.

Other People's Parenting

2011-03-07T16:33:00.002-05:00

Our social networks influence us in ways we don't even realize consciously. How those networks affect our parenting is just beginning to be understood. Editor Jennifer Niesslein investigates.

Taken for a Spin

2010-12-17T14:14:00.002-05:00

Oh, look: another study that proves that if you do X, your kids will thrive, but if you do Y, you've ruined them. Or did the study actually prove that? Katy Read looks at causation, correlation, and mom blame.

Karl Marx Never Bought Spanx

2010-12-17T14:11:00.001-05:00

We teach our kids to share and share alike. And then we send them off to be capitalists. Catherine Newman on what we expect of kids, now and later.

Hunting for a Middle Ground

2010-12-17T14:09:00.001-05:00

Can kids and guns coexist peacefully? Liza Greville puts her sights on a solution.

Armageddon Mama

2010-10-05T13:50:00.003-04:00

Global warming, technological meltdown, the ever-present prospect of devastating wars: the future is uncertain. Are we raising our kids to cope? Tracy Mayor investigates.

Our Social Experiment

2010-10-05T13:34:00.003-04:00

Not everybody wants a train and not everyone gets the girl they thought they would. Writer Paige Schilt on the intersection of gender and empathy.

Working It

2010-10-05T13:28:00.004-04:00

Mothers and work: It's the problem with too many names. Writer Heather Hewett reviews two of the latest takes on this evergreen topic, Neil Gilbert's "A Mother's Work" and Sharon Lerner's "The War on Moms."

A Little Stranger

2010-06-29T18:05:00.004-04:00

What the heck is that thing? A tale of the weird, by Kate Haas.

Fighting Words

2010-06-29T18:03:00.002-04:00

A stutter is a gift? Really? Elissa Wald begs to differ.

When Adoption Falls Apart

2010-06-29T17:51:00.004-04:00

Not all families formed through adoption are able to go the distance. Writer Dawn Friedman takes a look at the myth of the "forever family."

Guilt Trip into the Woods

2010-03-16T10:46:00.002-04:00

Everywhere you turn, parents are being told that our youth are suffering from a lack of contact with Nature. Martha Nichols investigates how much of that message is overblown.

Natural (and Unnatural) Selection

2010-03-16T10:38:00.002-04:00

Talking 'bout some evolution. Catherine Newman and her kids do it so well.

The Fur Berry Dilemma

2010-03-16T10:35:00.003-04:00

That one trendy toy: All the kids have it--except yours. Oh, the pressure ...

Mama Wants a Brand-New Job

2009-12-03T17:25:00.003-05:00

Katy Read takes a look at the pressure the recession is putting on stay-at-home mothers.

Don't Speak

2009-12-03T17:19:00.002-05:00

Liam Callanan's youngest daughter is taking her time learning to speak. In a family of talkers, when do you worry?

Hansel and Regrettal

2009-12-03T17:11:00.004-05:00

Sara Levine's fractured fairy tale...

My Heart Goes Out

2009-09-04T12:49:00.001-04:00

Valerie Cagle had four children when she decided to go to med school. Crazy? Guess again.

Two Hearts Beat As One

2009-09-04T12:36:00.003-04:00

Sparked by her children's fascination with conjoined twins, Catherine Newman turns her eye to family bonds -- the emotional as well as the physical.

Family Affairs

2009-09-04T12:33:00.002-04:00

There's lots and lots of talk about infidelity these days -- but oddly enough, not much discussion of where kids come in to the picture. If a parent cheats, should the children know about it? If so, when and how much?

Meagan Francis investigates.

Guilty As Charged

2009-07-01T10:37:00.002-04:00

Bridget Kevane thought nothing of letting her children go to the mall alone. The cops thought it was a crime.

Bad parenting or an over-protective society?

Love on the Rocks

2009-07-01T10:32:00.003-04:00

Modern science brought her three lovely girls ... and seven frozen embryos. What's the right thing to do with all that potential?

Beth Kohl, author of Embryo Culture: Making Babies in the Twenty-First Century, peers into her heart to find an answer.

What's My Heritage?

2009-07-01T10:28:00.003-04:00

When you adopt a child from another country, how much of the child's birth culture should you aim to preserve? Martha Nichols examines the latest thinking on international adoption and culture-keeping.

Endgame

2009-03-26T15:57:00.003-04:00

Really, whatever happened to happy mediocrity? Hilary Meyerson wishes for a dollop of good old-fashioned averageness for her children in this era of hyper-competitiveness and goal-driven recreation.

Talking Smack

2009-03-26T15:54:00.003-04:00

Earlier in her life, Johanna Bailey had a serious drug problem. Today, she's the clean-living mother of a young son. In this thought-provoking essay, she struggles with what to tell her child about her lost years.

Mothering From Afar

2009-03-26T15:51:00.004-04:00

There are many reasons a mother might not live with her children. But there seems to be only one reaction to those mothers: harsh judgment. Katy Read looks into the lives and emotions of non-custodial mothers.

The Mom Job

2008-12-23T16:28:00.002-05:00

More often than not, pregnancy and childbirth take a toll on a woman's figure.

Melissa Stanton explores the emotions, the justifications, and the business behind cosmetic surgery for mothers.

At the Pump

2008-12-23T16:26:00.001-05:00

Don't get between Alexandria Peary and her breast pump.

Just don't.

Between Depression and a Hard Place

2008-12-23T16:20:00.002-05:00

Pregnant with her second child, Anna Blackmon Moore had to make a hard decision: stay on her meds or go off?

Talk about a shit sandwich.

Black on the Inside

2008-10-16T10:15:00.000-04:00

Dionne Ford delves into the tricky issues surrounding race & family.

Ebony. Ivory. Perplexity.

2008-10-16T10:14:00.002-04:00

Race matters these days -- but how much? Margaret Gunther gives us a peek into her own family's challenges.

New cartoon caption contest

2008-10-07T14:36:00.003-04:00

Help a sister out?

Give us a funny caption to this cartoon and we'll publish it in our next issue.

Leave your suggestions in the comments, along with a way for us to get in touch with you. For example, Jennifer Dot Niesslein AT brainchildmag Dot Com.

Deadline is November 3.

Bad Medicine and Good

2008-09-19T14:05:00.005-04:00

Ever felt sort of screwed by one of those big chain pharmacies? Karen Dempsey can so relate.

Baby Weight

2008-09-19T14:05:00.003-04:00

Cheryl Strayed never saw herself as a "baby person." She was happy enough creating fiction.

Surprise!

The Mermaid of Mull

2008-09-19T14:05:00.002-04:00

Sometimes a change of scenery puts your parenting life in a new light. Heather Dundas tells the tale.

Rock Steady

2008-09-19T14:05:00.000-04:00

Lindsay Reed Maines looks at three books by rock-n-roll mamas.

Seller Beware

2008-06-17T12:44:00.002-04:00

Stacey Schultz takes a peek inside the insidious world of some multi-level marketing organizations that make big promises to stay-at-home moms.

Like they say, if it sounds too good to be true...

Moment of Recognition

2008-06-17T12:42:00.002-04:00

Suzi Schweikert, a practicing OB/GYN, is blindsided on an airplane by a man who claims she delivered his child. Did she or didn't she? How's a busy doc to remember them all?

Along for the Ride

2008-06-17T12:40:00.002-04:00

Camilla Medders wonders about the stereotype that sticks to some disabled kids. Could it be true that they really are happier than the average child?

Should You Raise Your Child With Your Political Values?

2008-06-17T12:37:00.003-04:00

A timely debate for an election year, no?

Liz Gumbinner says yes, of course you should.
Lora Shinn argues that kids need to think for themselves.

What do you say?

Caption Me, Baby!

2008-04-17T13:19:00.004-04:00

As announced in our April 2008 newsletter, it's our very first cartoon caption contest! Please leave your suggestions in the comments, along with a way for us to get in touch with you. (For example, Jennifer Dot Niesslein AT brainchildmag Dot Com.)

Without further ado, the art by Beth Hannon Fuller:

We’ll choose a winner whose caption will be printed in the Summer 2008 issue of the magazine. The winner also gets props with her name next to the caption and—perhaps more importantly—her choice of The Greatest Hits or a one-year subscription for herself or a friend.

The deadline is April 30. Caption away!

The Needle and the Studies Done

2008-03-10T10:49:00.001-04:00

Debates over vaccine safety are murky enough to confuse the medical experts. How’s a parent supposed to sort it all out? Sari Weston, a scientist and a mother, digs in to what the studies actually say.

Isn't Forty Kind of Old for That?

2008-03-10T10:29:00.001-04:00

Ann Whitfield Powers looks at the age-old question.

Outbound

2008-03-10T10:27:00.002-04:00

Tracy Mayor and her son take a bus ride in the waning days of his boyhood.

Is Rewarding Kids a Good Parenting Practice?

2008-03-10T10:24:00.001-04:00

In this debate, Renée Hill argues that yes, it is. Kathy Gillen says nope—it sends the wrong message.

Backtalk: Fact or Fiction?

2007-12-07T12:29:00.000-05:00

In the last issue, we asked you what was the most tenacious "fact" you had to wrestle from your child? Got a good story of your own? Add it here!

Disorder or Identity?

2007-12-07T12:24:00.000-05:00

Do "neurodiverse" kids need curing--or a culture of their own? Juliette Guilbert explores new developments in living with autism, ADHD, and other conditions.

Online, Off Kilter

2007-12-07T12:23:00.001-05:00

Donna Eis ventured online to talk parenting--and drove herself a bit crazy.

Relieving Myself

2007-12-07T12:21:00.000-05:00

Heather Caliri lays bare her experiences in a diaper-free world.

Close Encounters with Kindermusik

2007-09-12T13:35:00.000-04:00

Green meets unclean at the local strip mall. By Elisabeth De Vos.
See the original story here.

Alma Mater

2007-09-10T08:48:00.000-04:00

When it comes to reproductive choice, women's colleges can be so cruel. By Kory Stamper.
See the original story here.

Soccer Mom Loses Her Kick

2007-09-07T10:57:00.002-04:00

Starved after decades on the sound-bite diet, can mothers get some meat from politicians in '08? By Tracy Mayor.
See the original story here.

Textured

2007-09-07T10:57:00.001-04:00

Hair becomes the proving ground in a mixed-race adoption. By Dawn Friedman.
See the original story here.