Originally published in LLLI’s LEAVEN, November-December 1991
All of you have seen photographs and snapshot montages in LEAVEN of the speakers, Board of Directors, celebrities, and cute babies from past LLLI Conferences. But the trouble with photographs is that they stop the action. At the Miami Beach LLLI Conference, it was a joy to see La Leche League in motion!
• Martha Sears whizzing around wearing baby Stephen in a sling;
• Mary White stooping down to talk eye to eye with a toddler;
• Marian Tompson draping a beautiful hand-woven shawl over her shoulder’
• A dad and his three children singing on the way to the elevator;
• Michael Brandwein flapping his arms and popping his eyes to illustrate his talk;
• Mary Ann Cahill sparkling all over as she described the birth of her newest grandchild;
• A mother carrying her newborn in a baby sling made from the same bright print fabric as her dress;
• Edwina Froehlich touring the Playroom and praising the Hostesses in her gorgeous Greta Garbo voice;
• An endless stream of babies being gently diapered in the Rock and Rest Room;
• Mary Ann Kerwin bending down to autograph yet another copy of the 35th anniversary edition of THE WOMANLY ART;
• Dr. Gregory White reassuring a mother desperate for a home birth with her words and with his eyes;
• Betty Wagner’s fork poised in midair over her salad listening to something I had to say;
• Viola Lennon’s kind face as she listened to the other Founders talk, as she has so many times before;
• A banquet hall full of babies nursing, nursing, nursing;
La Leche League is not an organization of people who easily sit still for photographs. Maybe we’re too used to rocking, dancing, and running with our children for that! I found it was truly energizing to walk, swim, eat, laugh, listen, and diaper with a hotel full of active and involved parents. La Leche League was moving in Miami Beach!
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