Connecting
People and Ideals
By Nori Comello
Fort Collins CO USA
From NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 17 No. 4, July-August 2000, pg. 126
In her story, "Breastfeeding:
A Symbol of Community" (NEW BEGINNINGS, January-February 1999),
Amy Beth Thompson described a bridge in Frederick, Maryland that is
painted in a mural of images celebrating the "spirit of community."
Thompson's idea for an image (which was incorporated into the mural)
was breastfeeding, since it is through this act of nurturing that we
bond with our children and teach them to bond with others in turn.
Her point resonated with
me and I began to think of other ways in which breastfeeding creates
community, how it connects people, ideals, and eras. In the course of
my daydreaming (as I was nursing my baby), I realized that some significant
community-building aspects of breastfeeding are enhanced by LLL.
For example, I have always
felt that breastfeeding bonds not just mother and child, but also we
women who have nursed our children. Like childbirth and becoming a parent,
breastfeeding is a transforming experience, and it helps to have close
companions in the process. However, it can be hard to find peers since
breastfeeding in our society today is no longer a common denominator
among all women.
Fortunately, LLL serves as
a catalyst for this bonding - at meetings and Group functions, even
through the pages of NEW BEGINNINGS. Equally important, informal playgroups
that evolve out of the Group create lasting friendships. I have been
part of one for over four years, and it has provided countless opportunities
for learning and play. Could I have found a group of like-minded women
outside of LLL? Of course, but since LLL had initially drawn us all,
we found an almost instant camaraderie.
The nursing experience also
connects women who have moved on to different stages of life and motherhood.
Whereas peers can share their daily ups and downs, "veteran"
mothers can share with new mothers their accumulated knowledge and their
long-term perspective. I feel that this passing on of information creates
bonds between generations of women and helps us honor all of life's
changes. While some women may be able to turn to their mothers or other
female family members for breastfeeding information and support, others
may not be able to because of geographical distance or differing attitudes.
LLL can bridge the gap by providing a supportive place to connect with
women at different stages of parenting. For me, this set the stage for
informal "mentoring." At my first Series Meeting over four
years ago, I met some experienced mothers who have since given me lots
of reassurance and tips; now that I have two children, my turn to encourage
has probably come.
Finally, I think that breastfeeding
creates a dynamic community because it includes people with diverse
beliefs. For example, the reasons people choose to nurse can range from
intuitive to scientific, and the act of nursing itself can seem at once
ancient and progressive. Is it any wonder that although women have nursed
their children since antiquity, we who breastfeed in our society today
seem to be (at least in the minds of some) pioneers of social change?
While the range of ideals
can make breastfeeding a rich experience for some mothers, it can also
cause confusion! I find it admirable that LLL provides support in ways
that address both ends of the spectrum. At one end, it passes down the
ancient art of breastfeeding in a mother-to-mother, grassroots fashion.
At the other end, LLL stays current with the latest research and works
at the institutional level to help make society a friendlier place for
breastfeeding.
So, what can be concluded
from the naptime musings of a nursing mother? I think people draw strength
from feeling connected, so by examining all the ways breastfeeding and
LLL link with each other - through generations, across communities,
and despite differing values - we can feel part of a wider, nurturing
community that allows us to mother with zest. And if we raise our children
in such a community, perhaps in the future they too will be able to
find meaningful connections in their lives.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:07 UTC 2007.
