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This year, La Leche League International celebrates its 50th anniversary. With them, we celebrate how much breastfeeding in our society has increased since LLL's inception. But there is still work to be done, as many nursing women who have been challenged by security guards will tell you. In "Lactation and the Law" (page 48), attorney Jake Marcus tells us why public breastfeeding still does not enjoy full legal protection.
While some may be scandalized by the sight of a woman nursing her child, we think a male midwife is much more interesting. True, Barbara Thomas's choice for a birth coach was somewhat unconventional. But, as she describes in "The French Male Midwife" (page 58), her maieutician turned out to be the perfect guide for the unexpected adventure of giving birth at home.
While Thomas offers a novel view of midwifery, Cathe Olson puts a new spin on another old tradition: the school lunch. In "Fresh Food Nation" (page 72), she shows how farm-to-school programs are making locally grown produce popular in student cafeterias. With Burger King and the Golden Arches setting up shop on some high school campuses, it's not a moment too soon.
Kids and crayons-now there's a concept that doesn't need updating. Want to encourage your toddler's creative expression? Think about forming an art group. Jean Van't Hul's "Small Hands, Big Art" (page 42) can help you get started.
To create, kids need one basic ingredient: time. Sadly, in today's manic culture, time has become a precious commodity even for young children. In "Soccer Can Wait" (page 38), C.A. Schmidt tells of how a day spent playing dress-up motivated her to keep her son's young life gloriously unscheduled. Parents, too, need time. But with endless "to-do" lists, making room for self-renewal and friends can seem a luxury. In "Mothers Kitchen" (page 66), Marianne Rothschild tells how a cooking group helped new mamas make short work of a daily task even as they gave each other the gift of companionship. We hope you can find a few moments to nurture yourself by reading the great articles in this latest issue of Mothering.