On the title page of "hipMama" magazine, there are definitions of the words hip and mama. I liked that hip could mean "aware" and that's what I think being a hipmama means. A hipmama knows what's going on. Her kids know what's going on. In my case, my daughter knew who the president of the US was and could identify him by the time she was two. Unfortunately, I seemed to only come across people who thought this was weird.

Then I found hipMama. A magazine for women like me -- aware, progressive, opinionated, non-traditional, cool. Moms who take their kids to political rallies and concerts, who teach them about Wicca and Christianity, who put ads in the paper asking for a Republican (this was during the convention in San Diego) to really get behind the "family values" platform and take care of this woman and her kids.

Besides the cutting edge humour, the magazine cares. I like learning about what's happening to women in other parts of the world, how other mothers are handling themselves in different situations. What they're out there doing and thinking. Each issue has a specific theme.. for instance "road trip" or "the personal issue," or "the body issue."

The mothers in hipMama are not the typical moms you'll find in a more popular parenting magazine. You won't find reviews of the newest baby monitor or the latest Peg Perego stroller.

You'll find articles about the million mom march, being a rock musician or artist and a mother at the same time, being a teen-aged single mother, reviews of books, poetry, short prose pieces, opinions, and excellent personal experience stories. If you ask me, all the good stuff that's missing from the mainstream parenting magazines.

To get a taste of what this magazine is like, poke around the website http://www.hipmama.com and see what's there. If you've ever felt out of place reading something like "Parenting" or "Child," you'll find something you like here.

If you like hipMama, there's also Mothering and the alternamoms website... and you really must start reading the East Village Inky zine. (Information on how to order is at www.hipmama.com)



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