Hi all,

My nearly-adult kids have birthdays this time of year and I wanted to observe
what BF did for (to?) them.

Edwin is 26, a brilliant computer engineer, and just won a national
championship in motorcycle racing at Daytona Beach. (The jock in me was
cheering madly; the mom in me was cringing at his taking curves at 80 mph
with his knee dragging on the track.)  I'd like to think the brains and
coordination partly came from nearly 2 years of BF way back in 1970 when it
was uphill all the way and everyone had saddle blocks for birth. (I didn't.)

Hannah is 24, a wife and mother, and happily nurturing her family as her
full-time job at the moment. She was a "difficult" child, very allergic, very
high-need. But she learned how to nurture by being nurtured. She takes for
granted issues that I struggled with in 1972: home birth, long breastfeeding,
avoiding allergens in foods, etc.

Carl is 21, writes about BF in his college courses, and is fabulous with the
handicapped kids who come to the pool where he works. He had some hypoxia
during birth, very delayed speech and poor coordination. Breastfeeding for 4
1/2 years probably minimized the consequences of the birth insults, and we
now have  essentially normal kid/guy.

All the time we put in as mothers, especially as we breastfeed our babies
round the clock, kiss their hurts, meet their teachers, coach their teams,
etc.... pays off wonderfully in what REALLY matters.

Linda Smith, private practice LC in Dayton OH, being philosophical tonight.
Website: http://www.bflrc.com/bflrc.htm