Kate asked:  "How long does it take to get back to "normal" (after the
terrorist attack?)

Believe me, I know how you feel, living in Israel.  For as long as I
remember, there have been attacks.  They have just intensified and
gotten worse (with the suicide bombers) over the past year.  As
incredible as it sounds, you adapt.  Every Israeli kid knows to stay
away from suspicious objects just like American kids learn not to get
into cars with strangers.  You open your car trunk and handbags for
inspection before entering any parking garage, government building or
shopping mall.  It becomes part of the daily routine.  Life DOES go on.
After the initial shock when people are glued to their t.v.'s and
radios; after the funerals and "shiva" (period of mourning), you go on.
You have to.  The most helpful suggestion I can give is to send lots of
time with your friends and talk, talk, talk.  Limit the amount of time
you spend with CNN.  Get some exercise.  Get rid of the junk in the
house which will make you feel worse.  Replace it with some nutritious
comfort food like soup or mashed potatoes.

As an LC, I have learned to deal with unusual situations.  None of the
textbooks teach you what to do when moms are stressed out after losing a
family member or friend.  During the Gulf War, we had to deal with the
issue of breastfeeding infants in air-raid shelters with gas masks on.
Last week I got a call from a mom who wants to wet-nurse her injured
sister's baby.  You learn from experience what works.  I remember
reading how mothers in Crotia expressed their milk into coke bottles
when nothing else was available.  Give mothers lots of support.  Tell
them its fine to leave a light on or sleep with the kids right next to
them.

Warm regards,

Susan Nachman-Srebrnik, IBCLC
Ranana, Israel

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