Watch Your Language

I love this article: "Watch Your Language" by Diane Wiessinger, IBCLC (originally published in the Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 12, No. 1, 1996). The first time I read it, I woke up to the charged language we use when talking to mothers, and each other, about breastfeeding (and everything else!). WORDS HAVE MEANING. Each time I read it I realize again the implications this has for every word that comes out of my mouth, and yours. I find myself choosing my words more carefully, and taking the time to compose my statements.

But it fades away. Time goes by, and I forget. I slip back to the old way of speaking, of little exaggerations to make a point, of omissions to save time, of cliched statements. Until someone reminds me, and I wake up again.

This time I want to stay awake. I intend to use this blog to do that. I will post a simple fact about breastfeeding, hopefully daily, and rewrite it in real language. I will do my best to take these facts from a variety of sources, and I'm taking submissions. Please contact me if you have an idea or a source. Let's see how far I can take this...