Letters to the Editor
T&J
Published Letters: 14 Editor's Choice: 2
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I'm pregnant with our second child .. .
[Read the article: Breast bullies]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]And may or may not breastfeed. It depends.
Two years ago when my first baby was born, my milk did not come in for twelve days. When it did, it was insufficient for my daughter's needs. We had no latch issues; the problem was with my body. I bought drugs from Europe that were supposed to increase supply and I stayed attached to the pump when my daughter was not nursing. I wore a supplemental feeder. I cried. I dealt with comments from the breastfeeding secret police who always seemed around to remind me that breast was best. I felt the most tremendous guilt of my life. Mother guilt. Who knew?
At four months my daughter refused to nurse and who could blame her? The bottle was so much better and much more reliable. I continued to pump and my supply decreased even more. At six months, I gave it up. I was sad to have "failed" but tremendously relieved as well. I vowed then to never let guilt and grief propel me in such a way again.
When I give birth later this summer, I hope that my milk comes in and that I am able to nourish my child. However, I'll have a can of formula nearby and won't hesitate to use it.
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Enjoy every moment
[Read the article: Mommie fearest]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Well, most moments anyway. . . it is hard to enjoy anything at 4 a.m. when you haven't slept in days. Or weeks. My little lamprey is almost six weeks old. It helps me get through the rough spots (poop explosions! bleeding nipples! round the clock feedings!) by remembering that she will never again be this small or fragile. It goes by so fast. Enjoy.
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As a breastfeeding mom . . .
[Read the article: Flying the boob-hating skies]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am horrified that they would be asked to leave. Honestly, you have to be looking pretty hard to see anything. I doubt this mother was baring her breasts, standing up and chanting, "Look at these. Look at these."
It is one thing to cover up in a busy mall lest the local middle school boys make idiot comments. However, I'm fairly certain that the plane was not full of adolescent. The attitudes exhibited speak otherwise.
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Hoorah, Salon! So happy to read this
[Read the article: Oprah's ugly secret]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]See, I was thinking awful thoughts about "The Secret" and lo and behold this piece appears. Law of attraction, indeed. . .
Oprah's endorsement and hawking of this schlock is disgusting.
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A great step
[Read the article: Maternity leave litigation]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm a tenured professor at a medium sized university. At my institution, the tenure clock stops while one takes maternity/paternity break. I'm not certain I would have made tenure if not for this (yes, I was cutting it close). It would be wonderful if this benefit were extended to both women and men in other industries.
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Wonderful!
[Read the article: This little piggy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What a joy to read this (especially coming a day after dragging my 2.5-year-old out of Target)! I already enjoy HH's television commentary, but I would love to see more parenting essays. This rocks.
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Today marks one year of breastfeeding
[Read the article: Breasts at work]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My daughter is a year old today, and I am so grateful to have breastfed her this long. I was lucky to have had:
1) a door I can close,
2) supportive colleagues, and
3) semi-flexible schedule.
Even so, I have sometimes found it hard to keep up with the pumping, especially when meetings stretch on forever. I can't imagine how much more difficult this would have been without the advantages I have enjoyed.
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Wow
[Read the article: Diaper-free nation]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It seems to me that the parent is the one who is trained with this method. That is fine if you have time, but I don't.
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Nice commentary
[Read the article: TV's triumphant overclass]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Two great HH columns in one day. What a treat.
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The Wire
[Read the article: The best TV show of all time]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm a sociologist, and I'm just blown away by The Wire. I like the Sopranos, but there is no comparison in terms of capturing the complexities of social structure, social class, race, and power. (In fact, the next time I pitch a of Sociology of X course to my academic overlords, it will be the Sociology of The Wire.)
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South Carolina voter here
[Read the article: Get ready for the (Bill) Clinton bashing]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This isn't based on empirical evidence, but I find it hard to believe that Bill Clinton was a huge factor in Obama's win today. I think the media have once again seized upon a story-line and stuck to it evidence-be-damned.
Most of my acquaintances voted for Obama (I voted for Clinton) and not one--white, black, male, female, working class, middle class, or upper class-- voiced any concern about what Bill Clinton was saying. Instead, they were concerned about change, about an end to politics as usual, and about the future of the country. Incidentally, these were my concerns as well; I see Clinton as the candidate best able to lead us out of the mess that Bush and company have created.
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Great Episode
[Read the article: Hot off "The Wire"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I felt like the first few episodes were a bit off balance, but they nailed it tonight. I almost wish I had waited to watch this season on DVD because I want to see the next episode now.
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I would love to see this happen
[Read the article: Report: Bill Clinton pushing for wife to get veep nod]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Obama's OK--I see him as just as much a political pragmatist as Clinton and I have never understood the mania he seems to inspire (despite having been at one of his rallies), but I'll certainly vote for him, and I hope that I can get excited about it. It will be much easier for me to do so with Clinton on the ticket.
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The speech I needed to hear
[Read the article: Clinton endorses Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm a Clinton supporter, and while extremely disappointed in the outcome of the primaries, I knew before today that I would, of course, support Obama in the general election. In articulating all that we stand to gain (or lose) in November, Clinton's marvelous speech made that more palatable. And in directly addressing the glass ceiling and the sexism evident throughout this long campaign, the speech also made me realize that many of my negative feelings toward the Obama campaign have been reactionary--I've been directing my extreme distaste for the antics of Matthews, Olbermann (who I once adored!), and others toward the Obama campaign. I plan to sit back now and listen, really listen, to what Obama has to say. I'm hopeful that, come November, I'll be as excited to vote Obama as I was to vote Clinton in January.