I got a year of Parents magazine for $2 as part of a credit card offer, so I figured why not give it a try.

Two observations. First, it's written for women. No surpise. In that regard, it reminds me of mediocre network prime time TV. Written for women, it usually puts me to sleep.

But something that really shocked me is that all the photos of the kids--and especially the cover--are airbrushed. Dramatically airbrushed.

How unhealthy can you get?!

So it's not bad enough that yuppie parents have high anxiety about whether their kids can compete with their peers. If they read Parents magazine, they might wonder why their kids' skin and everything else is not up to par with the kids in the magazine.

I applaud parents for wanting to read about parenthood, but I'm not sure Parents magazine is the answer.

Take a close look at the cover of Parents the next time you're at the supermarket. Tell me if you're not disgusted by how they airbrush the picture of the kid on the cover.
- posted by Michael @ 8:46 PM

 
Me: Hey, buddy, do you need a fresh diaper?

Him: No, that's just a skunk.

- posted by Michael @ 1:48 PM

 
Besides being too busy to breathe, and besides the fact that RebelDad does the media monitoring better than I ever could hope to, I think there is another reason I have let this web site and blog atrophy: I am so comfortable being Mr. Mom now I no longer feel a powerful need to evangelize on the issue.

At least from the angle of a dad.

Now I am more focused on helping all parents fight the culture that tries to make kids grow up too fast. Super Bowl protest, anyone? (Stay tuned on that.)

But every time I get ready to toss in the towel, I get an email from some guy considering staying home with his kid, and I realize some actual fathers are finding this helpful. Honest to goodness readers other than my Mom!! Ain't Moms great? (Thanks, Mom!!)

So I will keep trying to figure out how to make this more interesting. And in the meantime, to you dads (and moms) out there: there is no better way to spend your time than raising your kids.

But my kid's asleep now, so I'm going to go do some "real" work (ha!).

- posted by Michael @ 5:06 PM

 
Eyeballs. Nostrils. Mud pies.

Some of his favorite puchlines right now.
- posted by Michael @ 9:26 PM