The latest kerfuffles in kerfuffledom

[flea]

1. A fairly senior person at my work was fired this week. We found out about it last night/early this morning - from the person, before the administration had sent out a notice. I have no opinion on the subject, never having dealt with the person professionally, but there is much rejoicing in some quarters. And sadness in others. It is a kerfuffle of major proportions.

2. I have girded my loins to speak to my colleague about the New!nanny pay issues, following much more conversation with various people and a fight with mr. flea (because he wanted me to take an abstract "economies of scale" approach to the problem, instead of my "it's not fair" approach). So girded, and having planned to propose lunch today for the dreaded coversation, I discover that my colleague is likely to be unavailable, due to her position on a search committee with a visiting candidate.

Also, I am very sad that many new mothers of my acquaintance have given up breastfeeding, both at b.org and in flesh life. It means a lot to me, and I am sorry that others have found it either difficult or unsatisfying. Actually, I am so touchy on the subject of motherhood at the moment that I should really just avoid conversation on the subject. Everything anyone says or does seems to cause me pain. (Except when they say my baby is cute. Cute baby, yo!)

Our nanny's last day is today. Casper won't even remember her, and she has been such a big part of her life - of all of our lives. I wish she weren't going.

Current mood: weary and small.

Comments

[burrell.livejournal.com]

Without wanting to minimize your touch issues, I do not think you have even mild sensory integration problems. From all that I've read and studied of the subject, it's not something that afflicts fully functioning adults like yourself. I know a lot of women who could not tolerate being touched while pregnant, A LOT of women. I totally agree, however, that one needs to address one's own issues while parenting, and I think therapy's great. Motherhood is simply overwhelming, especially at first. The first months are HARD, very hard. Hell, it's still hard on me, but nowhere near as intensely demanding or anxiety-producing as those first months.

FWIW, establishing nursing wasn't rosy perfect for me, I just didn't bring it up at Buffistas. But my milk supply was low at first, and Frances sometimes had difficulty latching so I used a nipple shield. Actually, I came to really appreciate the thing because IT WORKED. So many new baby doo-dads don't work, but that one did. I used it for the first two or three months. I just flipped a big raspberry to the lactation lady who said I should rely on it and figured that Frances would eventually sort things out on her own. She did.

I'm not implying that you should try nursing again. I think if you've got a feeding plan that works, then go with it.