November 2017
Dear readers,
English poet and playwright, Robert Browing, had once famously written in his work The Inn Album, ‘Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.’ No truer words have been spoken and I understood this when I became an aunt last month. There’s no doubt about it, I’m in love and have been doting on my nephew from the time the nurses placed him in my arms. After holding him for the first time, there’s just one thing that came to my mind—this beautiful and innocent little baby was now completely dependent on his parents and family. That’s when I realised that no amounts of books can fully prepare you for what’s in store.
The experience is absolutely blissful, and I believe that it’s definitely a blessing to be able to care for a baby. This is precisely why, we at M&B make it our mission to bring you everything that can possibly help you on your journey to parenthood. From lactation queries to parenting concerns, our experts are here to answer all your questions. We even have articles busting myths, arming you with the right information you need to make informed choices when it comes to a healthy pregnancy and baby.
I’d like to leave you with words from Kate Winslet: “Having children just puts the whole world into perspective. Everything else just disappears.” In our November issue, we’ve tried our best to put things into perspective for you, and in our own little way, help ease your worries and doubts.
I do hope you enjoy this issue.
Till next time…
Cheers!
Charlene Flanagan
Executive Editor
c.flanagan@nextgenpublishing.net
September 2017
Dear readers,
Welcome to our September issue. It was exactly a year ago that I took over from Swati as Executive Editor. And what a journey it has been. We’ve completed nine whole years of being India’s No.1 pregnancy, baby and toddler magazine, and I’d like to believe that you, our dear readers, would agree with that statement.
We at M&B do our best to make sure we bring you the latest in pregnancy care and child care, and in our own small way, try to ease some of those nagging doubts. Last September, we had a single mother grace our cover. This year, we bring you a mompreneur that’s definitely going to leave her children with a legacy to care for. Our September issue honours working mothers, and reiterates the fact that women most definitely can rule the world; they just have to put their minds to it.
Our Cover Plus is no different. We bring you seven young mothers, as they share their journey, but more importantly, their vision for establishing themselves in the male-dominated world of business. These women sure are a force to be reckoned with, and we do hope they help inspire you to pursue your own dreams.
And as always, we do have the latest products that can make your shopping lists, and activities and what to look forward to in and around the city. And on that note, I do hope you enjoy this edition of M&B.
Till next month!
Cheers!
Charlene Flanagan
Executive Editor
c.flanagan@nextgenpublishing.net
July 2017
Dear readers,
The monsoons have finally arrived in Mumbai; these are showers of blessings, indeed! And while we’re sure your little ones are thoroughly enjoying splashing about in the puddles, there’s a lot you need to be vary of. The monsoons bring with it a certain freshness, but there’s a whole lot of germs and diseases that run rampant during this season. This is why, we’re making you aware of dangers lurking in those murky waters, and how you can ensure you and your child stay healthy this season.
If that’s not all, the monsoons also play havoc on one’s hair and skin. Add to that pregnancy hormones and you are definitely dealing with a few more issues. Our article on ways to enhance your pregnancy glow is a must-read for all expectant mums. Speaking of expectant mums, we’re sure you’re being constantly showered with love and attention, and what better way to celebrate the arrival of your bundle of joy than a baby shower? Our Cover Plus on the trending themes for your shindig, is just what you need.
In other news, we have something special in store with our Johsons & Johnsons ‘Messy Baby’ contest. Turn to page 11 to see just what you stand to win. And as always, we do hope you enjoy this downpour of information our July issue has to offer! Till next time…
Cheers!
Charlene Flanagan
Executive Editor
c.flanagan@nextgenpublishing.net
June 2017
Dear readers,
Just the other day, I had a long-overdue conversation with a friend. It seems she’s been busy running after her toddler, getting all her chores done, and of course, has little time left to herself. I remember offering what I thought would be some reprieve, that her daughter would be starting school soon, to which she replied, “It’s barely three hours a day. Sometimes, I wish it were a little longer. She has way too much energy and it’s getting hard to keep up with her!”
Of course, it didn’t end there. She went on about how difficult she found it when it came to getting her daughter to open up at the school interview, or when it came to shopping for everything she needed for her school year. It was a nightmare. This discussion got me thinking. Often, simple things that aren’t really issues, do end up being the biggest reasons for stress. This is why, our June issue is the ‘Back to School’ edition. From must-have school bags, identifying your child’s learning styles to give her the right start, to helping her crack that school interview, we have something that we think you need. Perhaps, this is our own little way of trying to ease your worries.
Apart from this, we have an article that will help lull your child into a restful sleep, some mother and baby yoga poses to make exercise fun, and an article answering that muchasked question: ‘What is it really like to give birth?’
We do hope our June issue makes for an interesting read. Till next time!
Cheers!
Charlene Flanagan
Executive Editor
c.flanagan@nextgenpublishing.net
APRIL 2017
Dear readers,
As I sit down to write this, my iPhone keeps buzzing with reminders to drink water and take my vitamins—it’s really quite the assistant when it comes to helping me keep track of the little things that are easy to forget. This got me wondering, has technology really become an indespensible part of our lives? While technology can sometimes render us lazy, it’s not without its positives.
Let’s take those reminders, for example. In an age where we perhaps need more hours in a day, simple reminders from a smartphone can definitely be a blessing. You feed in the information, set an alarm and voila! But what about the more pressing matters? Well, there’s indeed an app for that. From apps that provide medical assistance, to those that allow you to make fund transfers or even book a simple movie ticket, technology has certainly made life a whole lot simpler.
And the avenue of pregnancy, parenting and childcare hasn’t been left out either. This ‘Tech Special’, we bring you our picks of the must-haves apt for the technologically-savvy generation. Whether it’s apps to track your fertility (Pg68), gadgets that every parent must consider investing in (Pg32), to apps that engage and educate your children (Pg80), we’ve got it all!
Apart from the tech talk, we do have a wealth of information that you, as parents, must know about. So, why not gear up and get with the programme? And if you’re still unsure, you could always google it… Just kidding!
Till next time! Cheers!
Charlene Flanagan
Executive Editor
c.flanagan@nextgenpublishing.net