thoughts

R & I talked a long time about LLL yesterday. I then spent 15 hours doing Relay for Life so I'm not sure I can even distill all that we said his take on it has to do with a radical group of feminists wanting to destroy LLL (most likely because of their encouragement to mothers to stay home and raise their children). If this is the ultimate goal of those getting into the positions of power there may not be anything those of us that love what LLL stands for can do about it beyond creating a new organization based upon the original concepts for the USA. I don't think what is happening on the board is effecting the international divisions in the same way.

think about it

accrediting more mothers with major separation issues

the US medical campaign to have babies sleep on their backs

the active discouragement of co-sleeping in general

becoming more of a do as i say not as i do place 

this is not only the right way to do things, but the only way to do them

all ideas are welcome, as long as they fit our language and agree with our thoughts

Not having the time to read all the posts I'm not sure what other issues have come up in terms of the concepts and LAD...

LLL was never meant to be a radical group, if you read the writings of the founding mothers, they always seemed to shy away from politics and wanted to quietly change the world one baby at a time. Remember how during the LA process all of us talked about not mixing causes and how important it is to meet each mother where she is and gently offer information to help her make the best decision for her family. Being accepting to all mothers.

LLL Leaders while being held to a different standard (needed to live the concepts) still have to back a little from their passionate belief that ALL babies need their MOTHERS and their mother's milk so that they don't frighten new mothers who aren't sure their bodies are going to work so much that they don't even try.

it's a fine line.  a difficult one to walk.  not all mothers will make those choices and while it makes me sad for those babies and mothers (for missing out on something incredible), we all do the best we can with what we have to work with and we should be allowed to choose without others judging our choices.

This is to me what LLL is about. This is what i loved about LLL. It felt like coming home. It was a place where being a mother was not just enough, it was the best thing, the right thing, and something to be proud of. Not every mother feels this way and since I've been back a work  I have been reminded of that. Being a mother is a very hard job and does not get the respect it should.