In a message dated 8/16/00 11:50:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< don't wait until baby cries to feed him"

 ........imagine going to your favorite restaurant, being seated ready for
 your meal and the waitress doesn't come to take your order. At first you're
 just irritated, more time passes and you're pretty darn angry and when your
 food  does finally come you're too upset to enjoy it..........
  >>

I really like this one Gail. But, you always had some great metaphors. I'll
always remember the little green men from Mars. I copied it from the archives
so that those who have not read it will benefit from it.

As always, thank you Gail for your words of wisdom.
Laura Hart

Here is Gail's lgmfm:

I suggest "the little green men from mars" approach.  I also use this with
my five year old when she's insistent about some thing but way off base.

"The Little Green Men from Mars Approach"

You are the greeter/informant from the earth.  The person with the
irrational comments about breastfeeding practices  is a little green man
from mars.  The little green man from mars [hereafter known as lgmfm] just
sounds irrational because of course mars is very different from earth and
martian laws don't apply.  Now if you need to explain something to a lgmfm
that just arrived you would break it down into simple parts, explain
without being rude or patronizing, and be very matter of fact and very
positive about the whole deal. Maybe it's not understood the first time....
but like the earthly law of gravity, just because the lgmfm doesn't
understand it or agree with it, doesn't mean it's going to change to suit
his needs or perceptions.  Just be open and pleasant.  If the lgmfm begins
to get on your nerves,  picture the bald green head and pointy ears that
lgmfm have and keep smiling.

Remember, you don't argue with a lgmfm - you educate. [If the lgmfm is
looking for a fight - he'll have to try a different planet, thank you.]

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html