In a message dated 98-01-29 00:29:06 EST, you write:

<<  The most radical thing that I have done is to
 wear a pin on my uniform that says Breastfeeding: A Special Gift.  But
 NUMEROUS people have felt impelled to tell me that they support breastfeeding
 but don't believe in making mothers feel guilty if they choose not to.
 (neither do I.)  I also got a lot of "well my baby was bottle fed and she's
 just fine." I had to sit through a pointed presentation on an article in JOGN
 about breastfeeding  from a fellow staff member that summarized said,
 "breastfeeding is not a moral issue and we should remember that it is the
 mother's choice."  My impression is that because I actively support mothers
 who breastfeed some people think I am going to run up to a Mom who has
decided
 to bottle feed and say "YOU ARE A BAD MOTHER" >>

I'm amazed at the power we all have -- to make someone else feel something.
Just think, because I believe in breastfeeding, because I believe it is best
for babies and for moms, because I believe in teaching so that people have
full knowledge, I wield enough power to make others feel guilty.

Hey, this isn't the first time.  When I taught Lamaze classes back in the
70's, I was told by the staff that if mothers had a spinal for their delivery,
and they felt (a) disappointed or (b) guilty that they hadn't had natural
childbirth, that it was MY FAULT, that I set the mothers up for that
disappointment/failure because I taught classes.

Such power.

Amazing.

Jan - who wishes her power would extend to her 13 year old who would feel
guilty if he whined about clearing out the dishwasher.