As our long new year weekend comes to a close I must share a dilemma with Lactnetters.
Although my husband is retired, we still receive on special festivals gift boxes from his former company.  They usually contain wine, nuts and all sorts of goodies including several bars and boxes of chocolates and candies.  In the past these boxes were usually distributed for the company by one of the local chocolate companies which produce excellent quality regular and boutique sweets.
Although my husband is a chocaholic, we usually distribute most of these goodies to the grandchildren, my cleaning lady and the neighbours.
This year too we received our gift box and opened it eagerly to see what was included this time.  And this year all the chocolates  were produced by Nestles!!
Now what do I do?  No, I cannot throw them in the dumpster, for that is an insult to the givers, nor can I give them to the food bank because that gives as much of a mixed message as if I donated formula.
So yes I did distribute them to the children and grandchildren (amid much mirth as they know very well my feelings about Nestle).  They promised not to enjoy eating them too much and that in no way would this influence their future breastfeeding attitudes.

But I finish on a positive note.  The young man who blew the Shofar (the ram`s horn sounded in the synagogue on the New Year) with enormous energy, a sweet beautiful sound that he sustained while we all held our breath - he was one of "my babies."
Not only did his parents come to my prenatal course about 25 years ago but I happened to be in the hospital when his mum was in labour and I went in and helped them - and he was breastfed for a year! His parents who were "kvelling" (an untranslateable Yiddish term which more or less means being proud of one`s kids) turned to include me in the congratulations they were getting from all our friends.
A happy sweet peaceful and healthy new year to all Lactnetters.  You don`t have to be Jewish to share this greeting.

Wendy Blumfield
Israel 

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