Re: Study links breastfeeding to increased intelligence

Is it possible more intelligent women breastfeed their babies and
therefore breastfed babies have the genetic intelligence advantage?
They certainly have the bonding advantage.

My daughter nursed until she was about 4. This weirded out some
friends and family, but is normal in tribal culture. Also there is a
notion about breastfeeding as an aid in birth control, and it does aid
in breast beauty. The reasons are many that tribal women are more apt
to let babies wean themselves.

My daughter came to think of my breasts as her own property. Normally
a good natured child, she could be adamant if I was busy and delaying
nursing for a minute. She would get a very serious look on her face,
fold her arms over her chest and say "NOIS!" in a very firm and
businesslike manner. This still cracks me up. My mother would say
"Dear, when a child can verbalize the word nurse, it is probably time
to stop nursing." "Mommy dearest, when the child no longer needs to
nurse, she will stop nursing." Which she did. Besides, she hadn't
verbalized nurse, but said the word nois, which isn't verbalizing
quite.

The wisdom of children. Too damn often under-rated.

A couple of years ago I stumbled on the blog of another woman named
Willow, an alter personality, a fabulous find. She's an American who
loves an elegant Frenchman, ambles about the French countryside
finding and selling antiques. She takes stunning photographs, almost
always close-ups, and has an unerring eye for detail. Blue paint
chipping around a silver door lock that's been used for a 100 years.
Flowers growing through a broken window. Her auntie's sunspotted and
folded hands, a dandelion, (and then like a child she asks everyone to
make a wish; dare to dream!) Antique netted gloves unravelling at the
ends.

The thing is, she also writes like an angel. An old fresco inspires

"The spirit moves. Stillness is a lovely dance. It helps to have
flowers up one's sleeve"

Her wisdom is that kind that comes from much inner work, and she is
absoloutely in love with life. Within minutes you are charmed into her
intimate world. Many feel the way I do about her, she's magnetic, and
it is not uncommon to see 75 replies on a short journal entry.

Recently she lost her father. It is often so that beautiful people
were beautifully nurtured in childhood. Her family is close, and in
grieving she is giving some of her best work. "Grief has it own map,
and it takes time to walk along the unknown path it puts before you.
Sing softly. I will listen." She takes a picture of a child jumping a
mud puddle and muses on the healing properties of children "They
simply live, rejoice and beg us to do the same. Jump! Jump. My heart
is not stagnant, and my tears make everything muddy."

In another entry, without explaining, (there are many secrets to find
here) she shows an antique photograph of a family of women and in a
close up, her eye has found just behind the curtain and obviously a
studio accident, the unmistakable arm of man, the always present
father.

It is not all charm. Swearing like a mad elf over a Christmas tree
that refuses to stay upright she says: "I left the fucking Christmas
tree on the floor. French husband and children came home and looked at
it. "Mom, why is the Christmas tree on the floor?"
Modern Art, I said."

Treasures of kids and healing people who serendipitously cross our
path. Life is rich, my friends, a heartbreaking beauty. I believe it
is these fragile crystalline beings & experiences that keep hope in
us, keep us returning again and again. To nurse, perchance to dream.
Is there anything more lovely than a mother nursing child?

my friend willow (Corey Amaro) 's blog:

http://willows95988.typepad.com/tongue_cheek/2008/06/index.html



whistler wrote:
Study links breastfeeding to increased intelligence
.

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