Quote:
|
Originally Posted by quantum
I felt more attacked for my parenting views when posting on the La Leche League forums! And beleive me, my comments were NOT disrespectful or weird. (For example I posted that my 5 year old gave up naps before she was 3 and got completely jumped on by someone...weird).
|
I know what you mean. I was a La Leche Leader for nine years (mid eighties to mid nineties). I love the group and I think they do great things. I am 100% about breastfeeding (don't flame me, this is my opinion...it doesn't have to be yours) and my doctor husband and I were really dedicated to helping women who wanted to breastfeed and who were having difficulties to be successful. We made home visits, even those in horrible neighborhoods. Yet, my final leadership approval was held up because I confessed that we didn't eat ALL whole foods (all that bran gave my kids very sore butts!!!) and that I paddled my kids every so often. I also met those who were very judgmental about mother's going back to work; people who didn't do the family bed thing; mother's who didn't do everything according to the group's philosophy. Most people I met were normal, but others were fanatical. This subgroup was a reason we could not get support from our local pediatricians. Too bad....and confusing. When I was having babies, in the seventies and eighties, the average age for weaning in the world was three, but the average age for weaning in the US was birth to three months. Even though all of the medical research supported us, those of us who chose to nurse into toddlerhood were looked down upon by society and clung together in the La Leche League. It's ironic to me that this group of people who were disgusting to so many would judge others for such small variations on the parenting theme. Go figure.