I was really interested in Kathy D."s experiences taking Alex with
her to the halls of academe.  Since I am due in September with baby #2 I
will be faced with the NEED to have my baby with me in the classroom for
at least the fall term (late August-early December 1996).  I
had been worrying about this quite a bit--not about my own comfort doing
so but about the reception of my prospective profs.  I had been thinking I
would have to approach them all well in advance and humbly ask leave to bring
baby along.  But now I"m wondering if I shouldn"t just hold my
chin up and walk right in that classroom like it"s as normal as can be.
Or maybe the right approach is to speak to them in advance but to
*inform* them of what I will be doing rather than ask permission to do
it (after all I"m not going to ask *permission* before giving birth during a
school week <g>).  Words of wisdom from any and all would be appreciated.
(And apologies to those who might consider this off-topic).

To return to the babies at conferences thread: I can"t resist reminding
the people who brought up the issue of the expense of conference
attending that the women with babies in tow have paid just as much to
attend the conference.  Obviously they need to be sensitive to the needs
of the other attendees (just as would an attendee with a chronic cough)
but they deserve to get their money"s worth too.


Penny Piercy  LLLL  MOM (Patrick 4/6/93 & baby 9/96)
     from Bloomington  IN
     <[log in to unmask]>


P.S. Judy K.-- I was excited to hear that the crutch/wheelchair analogy I
posted to Lactnet will be of use to you in your lecture half-way round
the world.  Ain"t Lactnet grand?!!!