http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/30/AR2007083002198.html?referrer%3Demailarticle&sub=new
'nuff said
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My Books
About Me
- Karin
- Weber County, United States
- I am the mommy to five beautiful babies. I attempt to teach them while I am learning and growing and discovering new things, but really, I am just trying to facilitate their growth while they teach me.
3 comments:
I have to say that, speaking as a woman with legitimate (at least to me) breast feeding issues, I don't want to be guilted into anything and I certainly am grateful to live in a time when there are choices in the matter. Like those PETA people who run twisted ad campaigns to make you feel naseous or guilty about eating meet when humans have always been omnivorous. Anyway, I don't know that political money should play a role in the whole issue, and I hate all of the baby formula marked with "Breast is Best, but if not . . ." I also think young mothers and poor mothers especially need encouragement and training with breastfeeding, but I think there are two sides to everything. I've lately been thinking that I might only have a fourth child if I'm in a financial position to formula feed. I don't know if I can handle the emotional strain again, especially with a houseful of kids. Hah! With what you've been through you should be thinking, "What does STM possibly know about emotional strain?" But I know you are way to generous in spirit for such thinking. In fact, you are probably one of the most generous in spirit people I've ever met. You are the first person to comfort others when you stand in need of comfort yourself and I think it is very Christlike. I've often thought of you and your cheerful move-ahead optimisim in the face of whatever and resolved to do better. So, while I wasn't that crazy about your article, I think YOU are really great. :)
Thank you, STM. That was very kind.
I don't think it's a matter of guilting someone into making a decision but making sure women are informed about their choices. The thing that was most interesting to me was the info that formula cos don't want this ad campaing to get out because they might be slapped with class action lawsuits (a la "you made my baby get asthma" or leukemia, or whatever). Every woman still makes the best decision for her family with what she has available. There are many women who truly believe (because of formula co advertising) that formula is the same as breastfeeding. They may notice and be helped by a campaign like that.
That being said, I still think every woman makes the best decision she can with what knowledge and resources she has available. It's normal to feel regretful and sad when things don't go the way we thought they would. I know so many women who have told me "I wish I knew about this with my other kids..." about a lot of things. I say it. Maybe if they had more information (and support!) there wouldn't be so much regret.
I don't think many people realize how demoralizing emotional strain is on a new mother. (Even if it's her third or fourth, or twelfth.) I know I couldn't have done what you did. Being without my husband for any length of time is just asking for a meltdown. :-) From what I saw of your circumstances (which I am sure was just a birds-eye view) you handled it with aplomb.
The truth is you COULD have done what I did. My latest trial has taught me something very important. It is that we can survive whatever is thrown our way. At the outset we may say, "I'll never make it." But the spirit is so remarkably resilient. We can survive and we do. Every one of us is stronger than we give ourselves credit for.
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