Two posts recently gave me pause to reflect.  These were Barbara Whitehead's
"Growing up" and Ann Calandro's contribution to the strand (pun unintended)
on "Riding the wave".
    Like Barbara, with her "I ... would like to know what I'm going to be
when I grow up", I think we need to have this freshness, this looking
optimistically ahead, and this acceptance that things change.  This suggests
that, like a child, we can aspire to new opportunities or career/life
developments.  In both these posts, I see an undertow (sorry, another pun)
of ability to continue learning, whether it is new skills and strategies (as
in Ann's image of coping with a very scary riptide) or future role changes
(Barbara).
   One thing I regularly remind myself of, is that I'm still learning (one
of the reasons I come onto Lactnet, attend conferences, read the journals,
and do research).  If I even find I've stopped learning and think I know it
all, that will be the day I realise I've lost the plot and should quit! - or
go back and catch another wave and begin again.  I still consider myself an
*aspirant* lactation consultant, someone with experience and a body of
knowledge, but who needs constantly to tap into the collective wisdom, to
continue growth, so that I can better serve Mums and babies, and those
colleagues who ask my advice.  I hope I shall continue to be an *aspirant*
in all worthwhile phases of my professional life, including research.  The
journey is important; if I ever believe I have arrived and achieved guru
status, that would be a worry.
    So, what am I going to be when I grow up?  Mmm, the possibilities!
    Virginia
    in Brisbnae, where the forecast
    is for 29 degrees C. (or was it 30?)
> Date:    Mon, 8 Jan 2001 10:32:14 EST
> From:
> Subject: Growing up
>
> I too would like to know what I'm going to be when I grow up! My newest
title
> is going to be Mother in law! I haven't posted in awhile on here because
we
> have big news at our house. My daughter is getting married. This is the
child
> who didn't want to grow up to be like me! She told me (as a teen)
repeatedly
> that while she respected me as a woman, she wanted something more then
being
> a wife and mother! Now she has told her fiancee that when they have
babies,
> she is going to stay home and breastfeed for at least the first two years!
> She is only 20 (almost 21) and has fell totally in love with her best
friend
> and fishing buddy. They are truly soul mates and are planning a May
wedding
> on the beach. We are happy but I have flashbacks to all the wonderful
> memories of her as a toddler and wonder where the time has gone. She asked
me
> to be her Matron of honor because I am now her best friend. Who would have
> thought that, when she was 14 and I was the biggest thorn in her side.
> I am totally swamped in wedding details and only occasionally disolve into
> tears. Words of advise are appreciated!
> At least when being a LC, I can still cuddle babies and enjoy all those
> beautiful baby smells!
>
> Barbara Whitehead, IBCLC
> Eastern NC
>

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