[email protected]

In a message dated 12/10/00 6:22:08 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:

<< My dd2's still nursing. She's 4 soon. It drives me
crazy! Apart from not being particularly comfortable
any more, I think it's affecting my fertility, even
though it's only once or twice a night. But she still
wants/needs it, so what can you do?
>>

tracy, okay, i take back my last post. But i know lots of 4 year olds, or
almost 4 year olds still nursing. Ever suggested a weaning party? My son
loves the idea of a party but doesn't want to do the weaning part. Smart huh?

About fertility, i know some anecdotal evidence that nursing does change
women's fertility, even when it is infrequent. However, the experts (dr jack
newman for example) says it is unlikely. All i know is that i had to take
progesterone to get pregnant again, because my luteal phase was insufficient
to support implantation. La Leche league's books talk about nursing causing
luteal problems in some women.

cath

Tracy Oldfield

Sorry, cath, I just put that again, teach me to delete
my own mail, won't it! LOL I don't know what's up,
but I get the feeling I'm probably not supposed to get
pg anytime soon. When I'm ready, it'll happen.
Probably when I least expect it!

Tracy
PS, yes I've thought of the weaning party, but it seems
a bit 'back-door-coercive' to me. I'd rather just tell
her straight 'I don't want this any more' and deal with
it as it comes.




tracy, okay, i take back my last post. But i know lots
of 4 year olds, or 
almost 4 year olds still nursing. Ever suggested a
weaning party? My son 
loves the idea of a party but doesn't want to do the
weaning part. Smart huh?

About fertility, i know some anecdotal evidence that
nursing does change 
women's fertility, even when it is infrequent.
However, the experts (dr jack 
newman for example) says it is unlikely. All i know is
that i had to take 
progesterone to get pregnant again, because my luteal
phase was insufficient 
to support implantation. La Leche league's books talk
about nursing causing 
luteal problems in some women.

cath

dawn

> Sorry, cath, I just put that again, teach me to delete
> my own mail, won't it! LOL I don't know what's up,
> but I get the feeling I'm probably not supposed to get
> pg anytime soon. When I'm ready, it'll happen.
> Probably when I least expect it!
>
> Tracy
> PS, yes I've thought of the weaning party, but it seems
> a bit 'back-door-coercive' to me. I'd rather just tell
> her straight 'I don't want this any more' and deal with
> it as it comes.
>
I can say from experience and the experience of others that *typically* in
the 5ht year of nursing (after they turn 4), they tend to slow way down.
Of course, every nursling is different. If you make it through the hard
parts the reward is having a child who will remember nursing, speak fondly
of it, and spread that love of nursing to others. I'm so happy my 8 yo
remembres nursing. It is nice to discuss. And I know that he will make a
wonderful advocate for breastfeeding when he is grown. I really enjoyed
our last year of nursing, even though I was pregnant and very
uncomfortable. Had I weaned him at 4 when I really was sick of it, i
never would have known the joy of nursing him until he really was ready to
quite w/o sadness.
dawn h-s

[email protected]

When Ariana stopped at age 4 1/2 it was because she confessed that the
milk was all gone. I had been feeling uncomfortable for a couple of months
but wasn't sure why. I communicated clearly that I needed to stop and then we
did some sort of little ritual that we made up.
I weaned my son (child # 2 of 3) when he was a couple of months past 2yo.
I could never figure out setting limits on nursing with him so I was burned
out by then. I just decided one morning that I had reached my limit and when
he woke up I said, "Sorry, it's all gone." He accepted that readily, he's a
very all or nothing type person, and took up the bottle. He proceeded to
drink from bottles till he was 5 or 6 but I didn't care as long as it wasn't
my body:>) -Amalia-

Bob & Tiffany

I am new here. Please don't take offense, but isn't this an unschooling
list??? I have not seen a post yet that had to do with unschooling. Since the
current topic seems to be breastfeeding/weaning, I thought I would add my 2
cents: Why would you nurse any longer than you would bottle feed? I think you
folks would agree that a 4 or 5 year old with a bottle would be a bit
ridiculous! What is the difference with the breast?
Please inform me now if this list goes off-topic habitually. If so, I must
unsubscribe. I find it a bit ridiculous to have to keep deleting breastfeeding
posts on an unschooling list!
Tiffany

Valerie

I am new here. Please don't take offense, but isn't this an
unschooling
list??? I have not seen a post yet that had to do with unschooling. Since
the
current topic seems to be breastfeeding/weaning, I thought I would add my 2
cents: Why would you nurse any longer than you would bottle feed? I think
you
folks would agree that a 4 or 5 year old with a bottle would be a bit
ridiculous! What is the difference with the breast?
Please inform me now if this list goes off-topic habitually. If so, I
must
unsubscribe. I find it a bit ridiculous to have to keep deleting
breastfeeding
posts on an unschooling list!
Tiffany

Hi Tiffany,

Yes it's an unschooling list. Unschoolers tend to do a lot of unschoolish
things, like extended breastfeeding. That's some, not all. My 4.5 year old
does indeed drink out of a bottle, or a cup. I prefer a bottle since there's
less spillage. I don't find it ridiculous.

And yes we go off-topic a lot. Except we don't think of it as off-topic
because it's Life and we find it interesting. If there's something in
particular you want to talk about, bring it up.

Valerie in Tacoma

[email protected]

In a message dated 12/18/00 1:12:22 PM Pacific Standard Time,
valeries@... writes:

> Why would you nurse any longer than you would bottle feed? I think
> you
> folks would agree that a 4 or 5 year old with a bottle would be a bit
> ridiculous!

My 5yo still has a bottle. It's a sports bottle, but that's so he can take
it in public without people commenting. He still has all the nippled ones
whenever he's in the mood to use them. I don't think it's ridiculous, in
fact I think it's perfectly natural. I think people's reaction to it is
ridiculous.

Cheryl
Nicholas Academy Homeschooling Resources
http://nicholasacademy.homestead.com

Tami Labig-Duquette

My daughter and son had a water bottle until they were almost 6you.
Even now at 11yo she will get one while watching tv. I see nothing wrong
with it at all either!!
Tami


>From: NicholasAcademy@...
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] nursing
>Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 16:23:02 EST
>
>In a message dated 12/18/00 1:12:22 PM Pacific Standard Time,
>valeries@... writes:
>
> > Why would you nurse any longer than you would bottle feed? I think
> > you
> > folks would agree that a 4 or 5 year old with a bottle would be a bit
> > ridiculous!
>
>My 5yo still has a bottle. It's a sports bottle, but that's so he can take
>it in public without people commenting. He still has all the nippled ones
>whenever he's in the mood to use them. I don't think it's ridiculous, in
>fact I think it's perfectly natural. I think people's reaction to it is
>ridiculous.
>
>Cheryl
>Nicholas Academy Homeschooling Resources
>http://nicholasacademy.homestead.com
>
>
>Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
>Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
>Addresses:
>Post message: [email protected]
>Unsubscribe: [email protected]
>List owner: [email protected]
>List settings page: http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

Tami Labig-Duquette

Unschooling is a natural way to learn, and we are learning from each other
here as well. Every one here has some amazing ideas and thoughts,if you
stick around awhile youll see that!
Tami


>From: Bob & Tiffany <bobntiff@...>
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] nursing
>Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2000 15:57:22 -0500
>
> I am new here. Please don't take offense, but isn't this an
>unschooling
>list??? I have not seen a post yet that had to do with unschooling. Since
>the
>current topic seems to be breastfeeding/weaning, I thought I would add my 2
>cents: Why would you nurse any longer than you would bottle feed? I think
>you
>folks would agree that a 4 or 5 year old with a bottle would be a bit
>ridiculous! What is the difference with the breast?
> Please inform me now if this list goes off-topic habitually. If so,
>I must
>unsubscribe. I find it a bit ridiculous to have to keep deleting
>breastfeeding
>posts on an unschooling list!
>Tiffany
>
>
>
>Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
>Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
>Addresses:
>Post message: [email protected]
>Unsubscribe: [email protected]
>List owner: [email protected]
>List settings page: http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

Bob & Tiffany

Tami Labig-Duquette wrote:

> My daughter and son had a water bottle until they were almost 6you.
> Even now at 11yo she will get one while watching tv. I see nothing wrong
> with it at all either!!

Water bottles & such are quite different than a baby bottle. I could check with
a few manufacturers, however, I don't think they were invented for 11 yo's to
replace a baby bottle. In addition to nursing, I give the baby (11 mos) a sippy
cup. My older 2 (3.5 & 5) do have water bottles once in a while (mostly to save
my furniture LOL). They normally drink from a regular glass. To each his
own. I did not mean for anyone to get offended. I just wanted to know how much
info I was going to get here that did pertain to unschooling. I am quite busy &
sub to lists only to find that I cannot keep up because of the off-topic posts.
I wasn't yelling or trying to tell people what to do. I was merely asking.
Thanks.
Tiffany

Cory and Amy Nelson

I'm rather new to this list, but so far every list I've been on has never
stayed on topic. Even though I may not have the time for all of this off
topic chat, I still love it because I've been able to form so many wonderful
relationships and learn so much that I never expected I would learn.

As far as extended breastfeeding and bottles at age 4 or 5 being ridiculous,
I have a hard time comparing something as natural as nursing to something as
unnatural as bottle feeding. But whatever way a child is meeting his sucking
needs, I see no reason to wean at a certain age just to make the rest of
society more comfortable.

Amy
Mama to Accalia (6/14/99)
"The hardest to learn was the least complicated" -Indigo Girls

>> Why would you nurse any longer than you would bottle feed? I think
>> you
>> folks would agree that a 4 or 5 year old with a bottle would be a bit
>> ridiculous!

[email protected]

Dear Tiffany,
Although at the moment we are discussing nursing, there have been a lot
of valuable posts about unschooling and I'm sure there will be many more. You
might like to read the archive. You can access it by going to the groups
website. -Amalia-

[email protected]

>>>>>>But whatever way a child is meeting his sucking needs, I see no
reason to wean at a certain age just to make the rest of society more
comfortable.>>>>>>>>>

Amy, you said that so well! Isn't that the point of unschooling too? To
meet our child's needs rather than try to fit the child into someone
else's mold?

I apologize if my earlier post seemed rude - this is a topic near to my
heart.

Mary Ellen
We just pretended to be ourselves
riding on the train.
"How Children Learn"

DiamondAir

> From: Bob & Tiffany <bobntiff@...>
>
> I am new here. Please don't take offense, but isn't this an
unschooling
> list??? I have not seen a post yet that had to do with unschooling.

I don't know. Unschooling to me means learning from life, that there is no
clear delineating between "schooling" and "learning", that learning can
happen anywhere and everywhere. Every post on this list is about life and
learning, and although some of the topics will not appeal to each of us,
I've found that overall there is much to be learned from the wisdom on this
list.

> Since the
> current topic seems to be breastfeeding/weaning, I thought I would add my
2
> cents: Why would you nurse any longer than you would bottle feed?

Because nursing is what a baby/child biologically expects, needs, and wants.
Bottle-feeding is a culturally-accepted substitute and thus people feel
pressured to stop bottle-feeding at an age where their child is no longer
considered "a baby". Because I feel it is important for my kids to learn
things or change at the point in their lives when they are ready to do so.
This applies as much to child-led weaning as it does to child-led learning.

> I think you
> folks would agree that a 4 or 5 year old with a bottle would be a bit
> ridiculous!

Why?? Only because society does not accept that the needs of these children
are valid? Every society, every culture has different norms and values. I
certainly do *not* accept that our culture's norm of forcing independence on
children before they are ready (forcing them to wean early, sleep through
the night without comfort, etc.) are valid. In the same vein, I do not
accept that our culture's norm of forcing children to all learn the same
thing at the same time is valid. Allowing my children to take their own
steps toward independence from me is part and parcel of unschooling, whether
that independence be weaning from the breast or going off to their first
job.


>What is the difference with the breast?

Hmmm, now *that* could take up an entire digest in itself :-)


> Please inform me now if this list goes off-topic habitually. If so,
I must
> unsubscribe. I find it a bit ridiculous to have to keep deleting
breastfeeding
> posts on an unschooling list!


This list seems to embrace many topics that are related to life, learning,
and change. Whether or not those are "off topic" probably depends heavily on
the eye of the beholder. To me, unschooling is as much about "unschooling"
my own brain as it is about helping my kids to discover their passions and
learn. So all of these things seem fairly on-topic.

Blue Skies!
-Robin-
Mom to Mackenzie (8/28/96) "What if there was no gravity, but we all held on
to something really tight??"
and Asa (10/5/99) who says "Odwalla!" (her favorite treat at the store)
http://www.geocities.com/the_clevengers Flying Clevenger Family

Helen Hegener

At 9:07 AM -0800 12/19/00, DiamondAir wrote:
> > From: Bob & Tiffany <bobntiff@...>
> >
> > I am new here. Please don't take offense, but isn't this an
>unschooling
> > list??? I have not seen a post yet that had to do with unschooling.
>
>I don't know. Unschooling to me means learning from life, that there is no
>clear delineating between "schooling" and "learning", that learning can
>happen anywhere and everywhere. Every post on this list is about life and
>learning, and although some of the topics will not appeal to each of us,
>I've found that overall there is much to be learned from the wisdom on this
>list.

Thanks for an excellent reply, Robin. Better than I could have written myself!

It's been many, many years since breastfeeding was a concern to me,
but I've been enjoying this discussion anyway. It's always helpful to
keep the subject lines relevant, so those who aren't interested in a
thread can block or delete, but to unceremoniously delete these
wonderfully sharing posts unread would be unthinkable for me - this
is the very heart of homeschooling!

Helen Hegener, Listowner
Home Education Magazine
HEM-Editor@...
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com

Cory and Amy Nelson

Mary Ellen-

Don't feel bad about any earlier posts. I tend to get rather "emotional"
about subjects dear to my heart,too. And I think part of it is that many of
us struggle with so much criticism for our way of parenting or schooling or
whatever it may be, that when we seek out safe havens like this list and are
questioned for our unconventional methods, it really hits home. Of course
this doesn't mean we shouldn't have open discussion of any topic. Just my
take on it.

Amy
Mama to Accalia (6/14/99)
"The hardest to learn was the least complicated" -Indigo Girls

> Amy, you said that so well! Isn't that the point of unschooling too? To
> meet our child's needs rather than try to fit the child into someone
> else's mold?
>
> I apologize if my earlier post seemed rude - this is a topic near to my
> heart.