More Than Just Support
Tracey B.
BC, Canada
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 18 No. 2, March-April 2001, p. 51
Almost seven years ago I
bundled my three-month-old daughter, Kate, in the car and braved the
icy roads to attend our first La Leche League Series Meeting. It was
held in a Group member's home and the atmosphere was cozy and intimate.
The camaraderie and friendship among many of these women was clear.
I was surprised by how quickly
I felt welcomed and at ease. I listened and watched in wonder as some
interesting topics were discussed, such as extended breastfeeding. One
woman discussed the ups and downs of nursing a preschooler. I was sure
that I would never end up doing that. I'm laughing as I contemplate
my son's recent fourth birthday and his continued night nursing. I found
that the other topics discussed, such as finding ways to bring baby
to social engagements and handling holiday stress, were very practical
and helpful.
I left inspired. I was not
the only person in the world to feel compelled to be with my baby every
minute, to breastfeed freely after the newborn period, and to sleep
with my baby. I was also not alone in facing a society that does not
always support this style of mothering.
Our first month or two of
breastfeeding had been rocky, but having read THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING
while pregnant, I felt somewhat prepared and certainly welcome to contact
my LLL Leaders via telephone. Once my sore and cracked nipples healed,
nursing was blissful. This was a golden time in my life and I treasure
my memories of laughter-filled meetings, sharing in the euphoria with
other mothers equally in love with mothering.
From parenting and communication
skills to natural cooking, LLL has provided so much more to me than
expert breastfeeding advice. It has supported natural parenting overall
and greatly affected my parenting choices. Over the years my LLL friends
cheered my parenting successes and offered support, encouragement, and
ideas when the going was tough. I wonder what kind of parent I'd be
today without that We of information and support.
LLL has been like a large
supportive family to me during my early parenting years. Now that I
have moved a province away, I realize how much I miss the women in my
Group. My passion and thankfulness for LLL inspire me yet.
Last updated November 13, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:29:48 UTC 2007.
