HI all,

Age and parenting smarts are not necessarily related. A few years ago I
worked with a 53-year-old PhD in Philosophy, first time dad who had to care
for his 5 week old daughter while his wife had an abcess drained in the
hosptial. He fed the baby undiluted concentrated formula for 3 days till his
sister-in-law pointed out the error. I managed to stay seated and stifle a
gasp when he told me the story. Fortunately, the baby was OK.

Any care provided to postpartum women of any age is great, IMHO. If we can
repair computers at virtually any worksite, then moms who are building the
most precious resource of all should be able to be "repaired" at their
worksite too.  All it takes is the corporate, societal and legislative will
to make postpartum homecare a reality for all women. The repairpeople should
get paid commesurate with the value of what they repair. I think it's high
time to start valueing women and babies a bit more. IMHO, that is.

Linda Smith, wearing my "Lact-Ed 1995 US Tour" shirt today in hot, muggy,
air-polluted and pollenated Dayton OH.  I hate August.  Running low on
different shirts to pick!