>Many mothers of young children complain that they become 'touched out' by
>the end of the day and they feel like they have lost their 'life'. This is

I am there myself these days... having tandem nursed and now 'still' nursing
the second... as he gets nearer two and I near PMS each month I feel myself
wanting to scream and shove him as far away as I can... my dear hubby (dh)
said, jokingly, that he'd have a talk with the little one and tell him
'Daddy wants them back' -- EXCUSE ME? I said, just a bit peevishly, THEY
belong to ME! and if anyone is going to "get them back" it'll be ME, and NO
ONE else is gonna touch 'em for a LONG LONG time!!;-)

Then as I rock my older one to sleep tonight, automatically getting into
breastfeed mode and he looks at me as if I'm nuts, "I'm actually a big boy
now, Momma, I don't have na-na's anymore!!!" I get teary eyed thinking this
will all be over far too soon...

I think part of the answer in these situations is to let mother's know that
the range of feelings about nursing is normal. There are times when you love
it, times when you hate it and times when you forget there is any other way
of life... The important thing is to figure out what your limits are and
when (time of the month issues for instance, or time of day...) and have at
your ready a plan of what to do to alleviate those feelings.
         I make sure, and my dh is great here, that I get *alone* time --
this means more than a closed door, this means the kids, and the dh go
someplace else (thank goodness for fast food restaurant indoor playgrounds!!
and the public library)and leave me to putter, nap, take a bath, read a
book, or just run the damn vacuum, even! As much as I HATE it, I also find
that exercise is good for this, and I imagine a massage would be real heaven.
        There is a big difference between feeling touched out bc you GIVE
touch all day and being on the one way street receiving end of touch...this
is what many moms lack -- receiving...

sigh,
anne