In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month, I’ve decided to bring back our 100 Words Project. About a year ago, I was struck with the very limited stories I heard of breastfeeding. On one hand, I heard how terrible and awful breastfeeding was, that it wasn’t realistic and it wasn’t enjoyable. On […]
The 100 Words Series
I believe so strongly in our collective story, I want you to join me. Don’t you find strength in the stories of others? Our culture has demanded that breastfeeding be hidden, closed behind doors and covered up but I can be instantly encouraged when I know that I don’t walk this road alone. So, will you walk with me? I want to hear your story, your breastfeeding story in 100 words or less.
I want to hear them if they are wonderful. I want to hear them if they are heartbreaking. I want to hear them if they don’t make any sense. I want to hear them if they make you angry or empowered. I want to hear them.
100 Words: Chapter 12
A new year. Usually a time for reflection on the past and hope for a new year. HOPE…it is what I need to offer to so many of the moms I encounter. And there is hope! So many breastfeeding relationships start off in a place that is frustrating and difficult and challenging and could use […]
100 Words: Chapter 11
We’ve been busily preparing for the Christmas season in our home. There are still presents to wrap, cookies to bake, holiday movies to be watched, and family to welcome. I’m always drawn towards Mary during this time. I can’t imagine what it would have been like for a young girl, pregnant in circumstances that weren’t […]
100 Words: Chapter 10
We’ve made it to Chapter 10 in our journey and we have enough stories for at least 10 more. I’m still accepting your stories. I’ve heard over and over again, as I’ve posted these, that moms have found camaraderie, found hope, and found encouragement. If you would like to submit a story about your […]
100 Words: Chapter 9
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about expectation. I awake every day with certain expectations: how my time will be used, how I will meet the needs of those around me, how I will find a way to feed myself in the midst of all of this. Very often, my expectations don’t match up with […]
100 Words: Chapter 8
A few stories about “what the books don’t tell you”. I’m a firm believer (and honestly, that belief is the whole motivation for this project) that we don’t typically tell the whole story about breastfeeding. In the media and our culture, we’ve gotten wrapped up in either the breastfeeding story that tells you it is […]
100 Words: Chapter 7
It’s time for some more stories. Important stories. Hard stories. From Heather, also know as the blogger “Baby Slime”: First child: Bad latch. Blisters. Blood. Tears. Nipple shield. Healing herbs. Infection. Mastitis – 12 times. Hospital. Antibiotics. Thrush. Abscess; massive. Surgery. Low supply, no supply. Weight loss. “Periareolar surgery should not have been done on a […]
100 Words: Chapter 6
I’ve long been a fan of memoirs…my favorite genre by far. Mostly because the little glimpses of someone’s life help me to understand the whole. Sometimes when I look at the “glimpses” without their contexts as a whole, I don’t understand, because the experience is so unlike mine. But taken together, as I hope you […]
100 Words: Chapter 5
Last night, I stole away from home for a bit to see a movie. We’ve been away on vacation for quite some time and I was due for a little “reconnect” time with my beloved friends. We saw “The Help”. We had all read the book and frankly, I was quite concerned about how the […]
100 Words: Chapter 4
Oh my! The past weeks have been absolutely bursting at the gills with summertime fun. They’ve also been full of computers that fall out of the backs of vans, screen replacements, faulty batteries, hacked websites and brand spankin’ new laptops. I’ve been in a technological funk but I think I’m now on the upswing thanks […]