I want to thank Diane Weissinger and Kathy Dettwyler  for being positive
role models, and for always sounding excited about ideas.  They use
reasonable tone of voice in their posts, put forth interesting analogies,
challenge our thinking, and invite us to consider another point of view
without insisting that we agree.  To me, that is the hallmark of scientific
dialog.

At base, I think we all share the view that breastfeeding is the biological
norm and that we want to be effective both in helping each individual woman
whom we serve, and in educating the community at large about how to better
assist bfg women.   We are consequently obligated to examine our manner of
communication in order to improve our effectiveness.  Much as I wish it were
otherwise, people make a lot of decisions based on emotion rather than
reason.  If our style of communication is off-putting to the new mother (who
is a wide-open sensor and very skittish) we will lose the opportunity to
help her.  If our style of communication toward one another fails in
courtesy, then we are no longer engaging in conversation but diatribe.

That whacky Baby Whisperer is case in point.  She ain't whispering to the
baby, I'll guarantee you.  She's calming down those shell-shocked mothers.
What she's selling isn't much more than common sense, but she's had the wit
to see that if she makes people feel a little better they'll take her
advice.  Years ago I heard B. F. Skinner tell a lecture crowd:  You can't
help someone you can't make friends with.

Barbara Wilson-Clay BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
http://www.lactnews.com

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