Cathy writes:
 2) never assume that your values or assumptions are
> shared

3) to have any impact at all, you have to meet the families where
> they are and start with that - respectfully! People genuinely do want to
do
> what is "best" for their kids, and they can be guided much more readily
by
> taking the time & energy to find out what's in their minds and going from
> there than by just telling them "do this, don't do that".

Beautifully said.

Gail --(who has gone from thinking "Why is this child up at 11pm?" ---to
saying to a mom in the Emergency Department last week whose 6 month child
was chewing on SOMETHING(?) - upon  learning that Mom had just given the
baby candy said "Good, she's not eating paper". [baby had been playing with
the medical instruction sheet])  -and yes, later we discussed better food
choices...

Gail S. Hertz, MD, IBCLC
Resident,  Dept. of Pediatrics
PSGHS Children's Hospital
Hershey  PA
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