Kristin, it is understandable that you feel 'rejected' and upset about your 
experience with LLL.  We all would feel it in similar circumstances.  As a LLL 
Leader with nearly 10 years experience under my belt, I can sympathize with 
both sides.  

From LLL's standpoint, it is an organization that has a written code that all it's 
potential reprensentatives must follow.  None of us here would expect 
anything less from any other organization.  An organization must follow it's 
own guidelines or it would be ineffective.  I am sure you are familiar with LLL's 
10 Philosophies.  It is these that govern who meets the criteria for Leadership 
and who does not...not who is a good mother and who is a bad mother.

One of these philosophies is that babies have an intense need for their 
mother, which is as important to that baby as it's need for food.  LLL rightfully 
expects the Leaders who represent it's philosophies to model those things in 
their lives.  Naturally, when there is separation between mother and baby, this 
particular philosophy is not being met.

No one has declared you a bad mother or has said that your choices are 
incorrect.  LLL has simply said that what you are modeling in your life does not 
fit *their* criteria.

But, there is more to it than that.  LLL believes very strongly that families 
must come first.  Before work.  Before volunteer responsibilities.  Before 
studies, and other things.  Because of this, it would be wrong for LLL to put 
through an application for a mother who has separation from her infant 
because LLL knows that if that mother is doing Leader work, she would be 
faced with further separations or less of a focus on family.  And LLL can't do 
that...that would go against their own philosophies!  So, as an organization, 
they feel that they cannot allow working mothers to be Leaders because it is 
unfair to that mother's family.

Does this make sense?

Now, on the other hand, I think to some degree LLL has limited it's ability to 
help mothers like you, because we *have* no mothers like you 'working' for 
us.  I personally think LLL's focus is too narrow at this time.  When it began, 
the majority of mothers in North America were able to stay home with their 
babies, but things have changed and now the majority of mothers must return 
to work.

It used to be that any mother needing to return to work would just wean, but 
nowadays, many mothers are chosing to "work and pump", as you well know.  
Times have changed, and I think LLL would be well-served to change along 
with it.  It is no secret that LLL is losing more and more Leaders and members 
every year.  In my mind, LLL needs to broaden it's scope, and perhaps ADD 
another philosophy or two so that it can be progressive and can continue to 
meet the needs of breastfeeding mothers in westernized nations.

Kristin, you have obviously demonstrated that you are thinker and a doer
(you've written a book, you have a website, you lead a group, etc., you work 
outside the home AND you have young children)...Perhaps you can make a 
case and present it to LLLI Executive Director and Board Members.  Someone 
has to take on the challenge...why not you?

Do let me know if I can help in any way.

Blessings!

Karyn-grace Clarke, IBCLC, LLLL
Gulf Islands, BC, Canada
www.breastfeedingwithkg.com

(P.S.  Would you mind contacting me off list - I'd like to ask you a few 
questions about your experiences with Hale Publishing)

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
Mail all commands to [log in to unmask]
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask])
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]