I made the Tennessean on breastfeeding!

Whoopee! I sorta got quoted in the Tennessean. A reporter called wanting my comments on the hoopla in the New York Times about breastfeeding and using guilt to motivate moms to breastfeed. You know, this is a guilt-aversive culture. We just don't want to be guilted unless it's a law! I really, really believe in the importance of breastfeeding. ANd I think a little guilt might be helpful for some folks. But those who are truly lazy are lazy for a reason and those who make different choices have usually worked out the rationalization aspect pretty well. Education is so important, but also experience. If we hide the truth, that not breastfeeding is very important to the American economy, we could avoid a lot of nasty confrontation. The sales people for pharmaceuticals make tons of money from their jobs. Think of the loss of revenue and jobs if babies had fewer ear aches. Think if moms decided to stay home more with their babies and sacrifice that extra car or two or shop at Aldi's instead of Publix to save money, or buy clothes at GoodWill or garage sales instead of Dillard's. All that money that flows from the need for more and better. I'm really NOT a communist, I promise, but motherhood is the most important thing a woman can do, she shapes the future with her choices. Breastfeeding doesn't fix all of life's problems: for statistics to exist, there must be a comparison. But it's a start on the pathway. I work with moms everyday and see what they go through. MOst don't need guiltling = they need help, advice, support, facts, sometimes technology, to help them get there. And most of all they need patience. Sometimes it takes 3 months for a baby to get over some of his problems. Patience and persistence make it happen. Well, that's all I'm saying today. Later.

Just thinkin'

This is my first attempt at blogging. What do you think? Hope I remember the address!