I lived in Japan for a year a decade or so ago and was interested to find out
that mama did not refer to the mother but to the baby's first food - usually
human milk.

I guess I prefer the concept of 'mama' being the mother, milk and all.  When
my younger son was two or so I showed him a breast model I had just made
using material from pantyhose and polyester fill.  I guess I'd made it too
realistic-looking since when I showed it to him, his chin dropped to his
chest with a look of total dismay and he said, "Why did you take it off??"  I
reassured him and later asked why it had upset him so much. His reply: "Then
I'd have to lie on the floor and nurse without you."

Mardrey Swenson in NH
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