Mothering is a magazine focused on natural mothering practices, which began publishing in 1976.[1]
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Mothering was founded in 1976, and in the 80's, Peggy O'Mara became editor and publisher.[1] The November–December 2010 issue was the last printed issue of the Mothering magazine.[1] 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.[1]
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 2011.
The magazine covers alternative childbirth options, and advocates breastfeeding, alternative education, homeschooling, co-sleeping and opposition to vaccination. It takes a stance against circumcision[2] and endorses HIV/AIDS denialism and promotes anti-vaccination.[3] It has received both favorable and critical reviews by other mothering and parenting resource centers,[4][5][6] and has been criticised for its editorial policy by health advocates such as John Robbins.[7]
Mothering has published books through a division of Simon & Schuster:
The magazine's web forum, MotheringDotCommunity or "MDC", has 160,000 registered members as of February 2011.[1]