Domestic Oblivion

Where To Draw The Line

I think I have a fairly well read 12 year old.  In the arenas where he won’t go wide, he goes fairly deep.   He loves to read, and reads a lot.  In fact, since school got out last week he’s had exactly one social interaction and spent the rest of his free time reading.

One of the things he loves to read is magazines.  Every month he reads National Geographic, Discover for Kids, Popular Mechanics, Cooks Illustrated, and Scientific American.  He also reads every single copy of the Solutions catalogue that comes to the house; he lights up like a light bulb when that one arrives.

The subscriptions to Popular Mechanics and Scientific American were Christmas gifts.  These are great presents because 1)you get something in the mail every month, which is cool when you’re 12 and 2)they get passed around the whole family and are educational for everyone, including the adults.  But, I have to say, I’m drawing the line.

I have put my foot down.

This happened yesterday when Mason, who is 12 years old, received an offer for The Economist.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  The Economist is a great magazine.  However, I am skeptical about sending a pre-teen an offer for a magazine that cost $174 for a year’s subscription.

I’m all about education, but he’ll have to go to the library for that one.

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