<I doubt any
psychologist or other expert would disagree with the concept that parents
need to be emotionally and physically responsive to their child's needs -
yet most of the parenting that has been passed down is so unresponsive it
is shocking - especially if you consider that we would never advocate
treating an elderly person the cold and unfeeling way we advocate
treating
a newborn baby or young child. Would we tell an elderly parent that it
was
too bad if they were hungry, that it was not time to eat? Would we leave
an
incapacitated parent alone in a room to cry? Refuse to hold them because
they had been held enough?>

Just read an article in today's paper about the high incidence of elder
abuse in the U.S.-most often done to females. It makes one wonder how
much connection there might be with the style in which the abusers were
parented.

I am so glad my grandma made a point of repeating often "Be careful how
you treat your babies, because that is how they will treat you when you
are old!"

Jean
*************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA

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