Jeanne Schrank wrote: "I would say that one of the reasons that there are
not as many LCs with nursing children, is that many of the women who would
consider becoming certified, also feel that it is best to be home with
their children as much as possible when they are young."

I just stopped by for a quick visit to the Lactnet archives and noticed
some of the thread on older LCs. I can certainly attest to the challenge of
combining mothering my young child in the manner I believe she needs with
paid work or at least with trying to keep "professional" doors open. Even
though I am an IBCLC, mental health professional, researcher, writer, etc.,
I do almost all of my work as a volunteer because of that challenge. In my
experience, paid mother-friendly, child-friendly, family-friendly work is
very hard to find. If US society were profoundly different (e.g., children
were valued as important members of our society, their presence was
accepted, expected, and accommodated in the work place, the hard work of
parenting was recognized as a critical contribution to our society, and
artificial separations between public (paid, productive) and private
(childrearing) life were not pervasively required of women [and men]),
there would likely be more paid-work options than I am able to find now.

How refreshing it was to be at the LLLI Physicians Seminar and Conference,
where "professional" work and parenting intertwined in such a *normal* way
that it was difficult to come home. (I put "professional" in quotes,
because parenting *is* a profession, and a very proud one at that.) In my
opinion, any breastfeeding conference that fails to permit this
intertwining (e.g., placing artificial age limits on which children can be
present [e.g., only babes in arms]) is ultimately undermining its purpose,
discriminating against parents (women in particular) as well as children,
and preventing much needed diversity in our field. I have mentioned before
on Lactnet that I have had speaking invitations withdrawn the moment that
conference organizers learned that my child comes with me.

To all those Lactnetters whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the LLLI
Physicians Seminar or Conference: it was so good to see you--even if it was
for thirty seconds in a hallway on the way to the next session! Thank you
for the positive feedback on my work. It meant a great deal to me.

I am still no-mail and will remain so for the foreseeable future
(publication deadlines [e.g., another vitamin D article], getting my
website updated, ...). So if you reply to Lactnet, please also send me a
private reply. Please note my new email and website address (see below).

Missing Lactnet,

Cynthia

Cynthia Good Mojab, MS clinical psychology, IBCLC, RLC
Ammawell
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://home.comcast.net/~ammawell

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