First, my apologies. Since I really intended to start a new thread, I
shouldn't have started out by pasting a quote from Tony.
As I said, I think his question about how to support somebody after
telling her that formula is a poison is a real question. I wanted to
start a new thread, about how to support a mother without telling her
that it is all right that she can't breastfeed or that she has chosen to
formula feed or whatever the situation is. The reason that I think it is
important to find a way to do this has less to do with the heated
discussion and much more to do with a discussion that we have been
having in another setting, and about the balance between advocacy and
helping that some of us have trouble with (feeling we are called upon to
do more or less advocacy than we are comfortable with).
It might have sounded overly simplistic when I said what I told mothers.
But (as those to whom I have recently sent long posts about presenting
information in an empathetic, respectful way will tell you) I am really
interested in how people do this. Lactnet has, in the past, led good
discussions on what to tell people who criticize you for bf toddlers,
etc. and I would like to get back into that kind of discussion. So,
round robin fashion, what do you say to a mother who comes to you and
says, "I have decided to start giving him a bottle." How do you ask why,
empathetically, and what does she usually answer? Then what do you say
next?
Jo-Anne, who is planning an enrichment on communication, and wondering
if she is in the wrong business again.

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