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would you become a LLL leader  

post #1 of 26
2/12/08 at 5:45pm
Thread Starter 
(if you were interested in doing so) if you were on your last baby who was almost a year old? By the time I complete the process my baby will probably be like 1.5. Not that I am going to wean him at that point, but my nursing days will be coming to an end - in the grand scheme of things, having had 3 kids. I guess I am wondering if I should have done it when after I had my first baby...but I didnt know it would be this big a deal to me ....
post #2 of 26
2/12/08 at 5:59pm
Absolutely! Lots of LLL Leaders have kids that are grown (and certainly not nursing any more!).
post #3 of 26
2/12/08 at 6:00pm
If that is something you are passionate about, I would definitely do it. You are at the perfect time in your life to really be able to help other moms who don't know what is going on, or who need some additional support. Not only have you btdt, but you are currently there doing that! Go for it!!
post #4 of 26
2/12/08 at 6:25pm
Go for it! The LLL leaders in my town have grown kids. One has a 9 year old. One has 3 older kids and one 2yr old (nursing).
post #5 of 26
2/12/08 at 7:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MKury View Post
If that is something you are passionate about, I would definitely do it. You are at the perfect time in your life to really be able to help other moms who don't know what is going on, or who need some additional support. Not only have you btdt, but you are currently there doing that! Go for it!!
ITA! go for it!
post #6 of 26
2/12/08 at 8:34pm
Absolutely, if that is where your heart is, then go for it!

We have 2 grandmothers here in town who are LLL Leaders...one who became a Leader after her kids were grown. Another LLL Leader whose kids are still young but past breastfeeding.

If helping mothers to breastfeed is your passion, then having kids beyond the breastfeeding years should not stand in your way.

Laurel
post #7 of 26
2/12/08 at 9:14pm
Can you see yourself leading a meeting every month, answering questions over the phone, helping a mom get a newborn latched on after a very tramatic birth and telling a mom that you are right and her ped. is wrong in saying that breastmilk is not good after one year (or that she needs to supplement etc.) and that she should have never given her baby formula?

Could you run a lending library effectively?

Could you organize a breastfeeding awarness event?

Could your family be without you for meetings and trainings?

In 50 years, will you look back and wish you had or wish you had not.

I say try it for one year and then quit if it is not for you.
post #8 of 26
2/12/08 at 10:43pm
Thread Starter 
LOL ... the problem is not that I cant see myself telling someone their ped is wrong - the problem is they arent allowed to really say that!!! One of the things holding me back is that you really have to speak the LLL line, you know ... but I tihnk I will do it. I already run the lending library for the chapter meetings I go to and I actually run a small informal BFing support group ... so I think I will go for it.

Thanks ladies!
post #9 of 26
2/12/08 at 11:18pm
Personally, if I were a nervous new mom anxious about breastfeeding and looking for help, I would RATHER turn to a leader who was near the end of her nursing days -- who had nursed several children all the way through to weaning, and presumably along the way encountered many of the obstacles along the way and overcame them -- than to another new mom with no more experience than me!

So some moms are going to be very lucky now that you're going for it! I'm even considering it for myself for next year.
post #10 of 26
2/13/08 at 10:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tankgirl73 View Post
Personally, if I were a nervous new mom anxious about breastfeeding and looking for help, I would RATHER turn to a leader who was near the end of her nursing days -- who had nursed several children all the way through to weaning, and presumably along the way encountered many of the obstacles along the way and overcame them -- than to another new mom with no more experience than me!
I understand what you're saying here, but I wanted to jump in and clarify that in order to be a Leader Applicant, you must have at least 9m of nursing experience - just to apply. And the wording on the recommendation makes it sound like 1yr is preferable (I think it used to be a 1yr minimum, but LLLI relaxed the pre-recs).

By the time a mom is a Leader, she will on average have AT LEAST 15 months of BFing experience. If I was a first time mom of a tiny baby, that would seem like an eternity.

To the OP - have you talked to your group's Leader(s) about your potential interest? Once you've voiced an interest, the next step is usually a meeting between the potential applicant and the Leader(s) to discuss the requirements of the application process and Leadership itself, as well as LLLI philosophy. It is a chance for both parties to explore the idea of you becoming an Applicant without obligation. I say, at the very least, set up the meeting and chat. If you're already your group Librarian, I think that's a good sign.
post #11 of 26
2/13/08 at 10:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by calipigeon View Post
Can you see yourself leading a meeting every month, answering questions over the phone, helping a mom get a newborn latched on after a very tramatic birth and telling a mom that you are right and her ped. is wrong in saying that breastmilk is not good after one year (or that she needs to supplement etc.) and that she should have never given her baby formula?

Could you run a lending library effectively?

Could you organize a breastfeeding awareness event?
FTR - the only things here that are actually a part of a Leader's duties are leading meetings and answering helping calls.

Quote:
Could your family be without you for meetings and trainings?
This one in particular is false: LLLI understands that family comes first, and strives to make all jobs "mom-sized." Children, especially young ones, are welcome at LLL functions.

I'm not picking on you; there is just so much misinformation and so many misperceptions about LLL that I wanted to clarify things.
post #12 of 26
2/13/08 at 11:21am
I have been a part of two separate LLL meetings (due to a move) and both had at least one leader that had grown children and had not nursed in years. Of course, both my groups usually had 3-4 leaders involved. This worked out great because as you know, we are all very busy and they would take turns leading meetings.
I always thought the leaders that had grown nurslings provided so much valuable expertise. It was also nice because they can help out holding a baby for a mom that needs to run to the bathroom, and then their teenaged kids may actually come and help keep the kids entertained so moms can have a break.
If you feel that this is your calling, go for it. I am still contemplating it myself (my first born is almost 2.5 and still nursing).
post #13 of 26
2/13/08 at 11:34am
Thread Starter 
I have spoken to my LLL leader and we have a meeting coming up ... I have met most of the requirements for leadership - I have some reading to do, I know.

But yes I think I really do want to do this. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!
post #14 of 26
2/13/08 at 11:59pm
definitely - you don't need to have a babe to be able to help other moms with nursing!
post #15 of 26
2/15/08 at 7:31pm
Well, if anything, I think it will be easier to manage the leader duties and helping calls with a slightly older child than with a tiny baby.
post #16 of 26
2/19/08 at 8:53pm
I'm working on my LLL leader application, and my daughter is 4, still sporadically nursing, but there's no issue with needing to still be nursing in order to be a leader.
post #17 of 26
2/19/08 at 10:40pm
Most LLL leaders dont begin the train process until there chldren are older and often after they have stopped nursing so I am sure you will be in great company.

Oh yeah and I am in the beginning steps of the process myself.
post #18 of 26
2/21/08 at 1:28am
Definitely - go for it! I considered it when my DD was 18 months, but decided that I wasn't done with babies in my family and they deserved as much attention as I could give. That said, being a LLL leader deserves a lot of attention as well. I felt that in order to be the LLL leader I wanted to be, I would have to wait until my youngins were a bit older. Have fun with it, the world needs more LLL leaders!
post #19 of 26
2/21/08 at 1:28am
Definitely - go for it! I considered it when my DD was 18 months, but decided that I wasn't done with babies in my family and they deserved as much attention as I could give. That said, being a LLL leader deserves a lot of attention as well. I felt that in order to be the LLL leader I wanted to be, I would have to wait until my youngins were a bit older. Have fun with it, the world needs more LLL leaders!
post #20 of 26
2/22/08 at 6:10pm
sure! Leaders only need to HAVE breastfed their babies. it'll be easier for you to help mothers if your child isn't a baby (more time on the phone, etc...). My LLL leader has 35 years old children
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