Susan writes:

<< While most breastfeeding relationships are beneficial and
 healthy, we shouldn't dismiss the fact that there might be a occassional
 one that isn't. >>

I gotta agree here.   Bf is no different in this way than any other forum for
interaction between humans.   Any parent child relationship involves an
imbalance of power.  Most mothers, thank god, react to that imbalance by
nurturing their child (with or without bf).   And certainly there is nothing
intrinsic to bf a six year old that must be coercive, not at all!  But there
are always going to be the sad occasional families in which a dysfunctional
mother does, in fact, use her kids for some kinds of validation that it would
be better -- for the kids! - if she got elsewhere.  If mom says she won't
love you when you wean, is that coercion?   Looks like it to me.  I don't see
why bf could never be part of an otherwise unhealthy pattern -- every other
normal activity can be, right?

Sad but trying to be realistic here (and in no way intending to judge the
actual facts of this particular 6 year old's case, of which I am almost
wholly ignorant, as are nearly all of us),

 Elisheva

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