Kaleidoscope
by Mary Hurt
2001 Conference Team and PR Associate
from LEAVEN, Volume 36,
No 1, February-March 2000, p. 13
Have you ever been mesmerized
by the variegated and changing pattern of a kaleidoscope? Peering through
this delightful instrument, many of us have been fascinated by the seemingly
endless and beautiful designs that spiral in a colorful display. No
matter what the configuration, the little mosaic takes shape into something
beautiful to behold. No matter how different, or perhaps because of
the differences, the colors meld into interesting arrangements - all
different, each beautiful in its uniqueness.
Perhaps the mothers in your
Group remind you of the kaleidoscope - each unique, each beautiful in
her relationship with her nursing baby. There is the gregarious, albeit
somewhat tired mother of twins; the mother who has just returned to
outside employment and is continuing to breastfeed; the single mother
and her family of two; and the mother staying home with her first breastfed
baby. You may have a mother who had a cesarean section sitting next
to a mother whose birth was attended by a midwife at home. You may have
a mother who home schools and a mother who sits on the local school
board. Each with her own very different pattern and each beautiful,
they are at your meeting to receive support and information to breastfeed
their babies.
An LLLI Conference gives
us a global view of the unique patterns of breastfeeding around the
world. You might meet a health professional from a country where women
are not allowed to congregate in groups. You might see a heavily veiled
woman nursing her baby in a session. You are sure to enjoy the children
from many different lands!
You will see entire families,
mothers and fathers, teenagers, and grandparents, and of course, the
babies and children. Chances are, you will renew friendships and make
new ones.
No matter what differences
exist, you will see the effect of mother-to-mother support for breastfeeding
the world over.
At an LLLI Conference, you
will have a huge variety of sessions to choose from. Many are directly
related to breastfeeding. Others fit into the scheme of cultures, friends,
and family in a different way. Perhaps there will be a session on aging
parents that offers support to adult children during that stage of their
lives. Perhaps there will be sessions on older children that will renew
parent's energy and help them continue to enjoy parenting. All help
mothers to breastfeed their babies whether directly through specific
information on breastfeeding or through supporting those who support
breastfeeding mothers - Leaders, parents, and health professionals.
The speakers' energy and information, the atmosphere, and the attendees
all make the LLLI Conference a happy and unforgettable experience. It's
an experience that nurtures the nurturers!
Come join us in this joyful
and meaningful experience at LLLI's 17th International Breastfeeding
Conference: A Kaleidoscope of Families, Friends, and Cultures, July
7-10, 2001, Chicago Hilton and Towers, Chicago, IL, USA.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:32:12 UTC 2007.
