Hi there! I’m Jenny and I am the creator of Mamatoga. I live in Saratoga Springs, NY with my family and I am absolutely mad about it here. I like to write about cooking, playing, creating, parenting, babies, kids stuff and anything and everything family. We love making meals together, going out to eat, tramping through the woods, being outside, animals, traveling, books, art, volunteering in our community and more.
Mamatoga is written by just me, and I happily endorse products and businesses that I love and occasionally will do a sponsored giveaway of a product I have tried and trust myself. Mamatoga Magazine is a quarterly publication that I produce independently and is the print version of the site and everything that I love.
To learn more about Mamatoga, find me on facebook and twitter, and click here to check out Mamatoga Magazine online. I’m also on tumblr and Pinterest! To get more information on how to be a Mamatoga sponsor email me at jenny@mamatoga.com. Thanks for reading! xoxo
JeHi. I was your mentor through the Jr Lg of Schenectady and Saratoga. Sorry you left the Lg, but congrats on an awesome website and career. Would love to catch up one day. Nancy
To: Publisher, “Mamatoga” Magazine,
As a father (and former “stay-at-home” father at that), I am offended by your magazine’s title. By proclaiming “MAMATOGA: Saratoga’s First Parenting Magazine” on the cover you imply that only “Mamas” are parents, and disregard the contributions of fathers. When in public with my two children, I have been asked numerous times by women, “Are you babysitting?” … the implication being that mothers “parent” and fathers “babysit” until mothers return. By choosing this title, you demonstrate insensitivity, and further this condescending and dismissive view of fathers. I did not read any of the issue’s content, as apparently I am not in your target demographic — although I am proudly, a father and parent.
Ralph Hays
Wilton
Hi Ralph, first, let me thank you for your feedback, it is always appreciated. Secondly, allow me to explain the name “Mamatoga”. Two years ago, when I started this website, I came up with the name Mamatoga for this site, which was originally planned as a site for me to share my experiences as a mother, because that is what I am. I thought it was a funny and cute name, and it turned into my brand name and became the way I was identified. You see, I am the only one who writes the content for the site, I produce the magazine myself independently, I run all of it myself, so I AM Mamatoga, the brand name is my name. It was never meant to encompass all parents everywhere, it is simply a brand name like Huggies or Pampers. I disagree with you that my name demonstrates insensitivity, may I suggest you take the time to read some of the pieces I have written? In particular this one about “Stay at Home Moms” that I wrote last week included this about fathers:
“Personally, if I was a dad, I’d be a little annoyed at the fact that it’s just moms that get to include their parent status in their job description. If someone asks a father what they do, have you ever heard a man say “I’m a working father”? Or “I’m a banker dad”. No. It’s just for moms. But dads do work at home as well. Parenting is a job, it is work, it can be hard, and it has tremendous value. No matter if it is your “full time” job or your “part time” job, you are a full time parent. You are a parent from the minute you wake up till the minute you go to sleep (till the minute they wake you up in the middle of the night because they puked on their bed). You don’t switch off the parent clock.”
I also invite you to read the magazine before judging, the saying does go “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover” does it not? Inside you will find a special two page spread called Papatoga where readers (dad readers) sent in photos of themselves proudly wearing their children in baby carriers as a way to honor the important role fathers play in the lives of their children. I make a concerted effort to include all parents and caregivers in both the sites and the magazine, and I am sure if you took some time to find out what I’m all about you would know that.
My own husband was a “stay at home father” for a year himself, and I greatly appreciated the contribution, the time he got to spend with our children, and the perspective it gave me on being a parent, as it was the first time I myself was not the full time “stay at home” parent. Insensitive to fathers I am not. That is simply not the case.
All of that being said, if you have any positive suggestions or recommendations for ways to make fathers feel more comfortable with Mamatoga (short of changing my name), I would be more than open to hearing any and all of them.
Respectfully,
Jenny
As a father I agree with Ron and have experienced many of the same reactions. I’m not sure that jenny can accept a viewpoint that runs counter to hers, though this is her site and she has every right to run it as she sees fit.
I have two “positive” suggestions. First, consider featuring a guest article by a father that shares the male viewpoint every now and then. Second, register and mirror something like papatoga.com. same content, different name or even make it the sibling website where the guest articles by fathers are hosted.
I’m actually quite open and accepting to viewpoints that run counter to my own. As a matter of fact, that is sort of the unofficial theme of Mamatoga, that we all, collectively, should be MORE open and accepting of each other and other viewpoints, especially when it comes to other people’s parenting choices. Assuming someone is closed minded without meeting them, speaking with them or taking an in depth look at their content is actually pretty closed minded in and of itself.
However, I very much appreciate your positive suggestions, and I have already hosted many guest posts and articles by fathers, one a single, divorced father, one a father of triplets, and more. I invite you to read the December Issue of Mamatoga, which has a story in the Papatoga section written by a father on the last page. Stories in the previous issues also were written by fathers and I had a fun feature in the last issue with a photo spread of just dads wearing their babies. As I said to Ralph (that is who I am assuming you said you agree with), the reason I chose the name Mamatoga is because I am a mom, and it is written from my viewpoint, but the majority of posts and articles are for a mom or a dad, or a grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, caregiver, whomever is in charge of taking care of children and is not in any way meant to exclude fathers or anyone besides mothers. Is an article on autism directed only at mothers? No, it is not. Is a story on family spots for brunch directed at only mothers? No again. If you both would take a chance to explore both the magazine and the site you would see that your offense is unfounded. I can imagine that you, and perhaps Ron as well, might have an issue if I started writing about what it was like to be a dad? That being said, if you like to write and would like to contribute, by all means drop me a line at jenny@mamatoga.com. Thanks for the input.
Hi Hi Jenny, We met at the Kids Expo a few weeks again I was actually setting next to you at the expo. I was wondering if are looling for people to interview for your magazine? If you are I would like to speak with you. Thank you Susan Kiley from Saratoga Learning Center
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