Storytime Heather has been encouraging me to come with her and Beth to a Le Leche League meeting for like a year now, and today I finally went. I'm glad I went-- it was nice to get out of the house (even if it was a ginormous effort) and Jake likes playing with Heather and Beth's kids. I have to note, though, that it was an interesting group of people. I figured I was in the right place when I saw a bunch of women with small flocks of children, some of them strapped to their bodies or worn in slings (and of course I myself fit into that category). Most of the kids were wearing cloth diapers, and somebody had organic crackers that all the kids were munching on. When the introductions started, I found that of the group of maybe a dozen moms, there were at least three that had six (or more) kids.
I guess part of what I found interesting about these women was their enthusiam for breastfeeding. I mean, I've nursed all my kids, I like it, I'd encourage everyone to do it... but as we were going around the room introducing ourselves and stating our favorite thing about nursing, I felt like maybe I just didn't have the same passion as the woman who was nursing two-year-old twins and a 5 week old baby. I don't think I want that kind of passion. There was also a mom who couldn't stop talking about all the weight she had lost due to nursing and how she couldn't ovulate and get pregnant again so she had to stop nursing, but then got pregnant (it took her three whole months to ovulate again, whoa) and then she tried to get her milk back but couldn't and she was so sad and next time she's not going to stop nursing no matter what anyone else says... a)too enthusiastic. b)annoying c)I'd like to inititate a limit on use of the word "ovulate" in a personal introduction. Probably the most enthusiastic was the first time mom of a baby about the same age as Norah. I'm going to cut her a little slack because she's still in the initial excitement of being a mom. Still, there is no reason under the sun to go on and on about how great your 39 hour labor was. 39 hours? Are you kidding me? Not only would I not be enthusiastic, I'm pretty sure that isn't healthy for anyone involved. She was also a little overly gung-ho about the beauty of nursing. I do agree that it is very sweet when the baby is looking up at you and holding your hand, and snuggling against you and blah blah bliggity blah. I say "overly" because it appeared she thought she had to nurse every time someone else nursed, or if the baby peeped, or moved, or blinked. She did mention that she doesn't feel like she has time to do much else anymore, because not only does she nurse every eight minutes, she is also supplementing with formula for some reason I cannot fathom. I could see how not having time for anything might be the case. Her baby threw up on the carpet.
I know I'm ripping on some of these overly earthy Earthmoms. I truly did have a nice time and look forward to going back. I think probably the best thing about the attitude of the meeting, after all of the conversations about nursing and midwives and formula and co-sleeping was the way the group leader summed it up: "If you don't like something you've heard here today, then don't do it. If you think we're crazy, then don't take our advice. Thanks for coming." I think that's great advice for life in general. Overall, I would say that I'm more on par with these other crazy ladies than not. They were all super friendly, and I was invited to a meeting of the El Paso BabyWearing Club. However, if you ever catch me nursing a two year old... I'm just saying, don't let my enthusiasm get that out of control, ok?
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