It looks as though I’ve contracted malaria along with a couple of other things. Another of our Ethiopia team members also developed malaria and a host of other maladies. Please pray for his recovery and medical treatment.
Dr. Jay Gordon at the Awassa Children’s Center. Photo by Lori Dorman
It was pretty cool coming back to the kids having a blast while I was away. It is so funny – the misconception that babywearing and breastfeeding your infants will turn them in to needy, clinging children couldn’t be any farther from from the truth. During the two weeks I was gone, they would talk about me, but it was in a way where they knew I was coming back and they were excited to see pictures and hear stories upon my return.
Awassa Children’s Project. Photo by Lori Dorman
I received a call when I landed in DC to do the Dr. Phil show, which I initially declined, but then I heard that I could plug the Awassa Children’s Project if I went on. There is something really uneasy to me about daytime talk shows. Even though the producers were lovely, I had a feeling they were a little disappointed in the pre-interview about how my current parenting style is not much different than an average American (my kids are growing up and naturally becoming independent). Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, but I got really, really sick two days before I was scheduled to go on and was able to cancel almost as quickly (and reluctantly) as I had agreed. I had made a decision to only do any type of media if I would be allowed to speak about the work happening in Ethiopia, because that is really where the attention and support should be. I am a proponent of a back to basics style of parenting, but I am more of a proponent for each parent to make educated and healthy choices that work for the entire family. This is what works for us, plain and simple. I think most talk shows are working for ratings and trying to exploit non-issues and make them issues.
Photo by Lori Dorman
Another reason it was a blessing in disguise was because Good Morning America called a couple days later. We let them know I had malaria and I was not feeling well, and they said I could do the interview on my couch with my pajamas and the interview would heavily stress the Awassa Children’s Project. Perfect. It was a lovely experience and we’ll see how they edit the final cut. The great majority of the interview focused on the work in Ethiopia and how we really need to take the energy we’re using to bash other mothers in the West and focus it towards becoming advocates for children who do not have access to food, shelter, or any relatives to love and care for them.
Awassa Children’s Center. Photo by Lori Dorman
I will always be an advocate for mothers breastfeeding their children beyond infancy (if they feel it is right for their child and family), but I think our issue with it here in the US is so much deeper than a “breastfeeding issue.” Our loss of community and reliance on each other as human beings has become even more apparent in my latest trip into a more human-centered culture. I feel like with this deconstructed cover on Pathways and article inside I was able to explain what had happened with TIME to the community of mothers I admire so much. I am a little surprised that it is picking up in mainstream media, but I think it is also positive. In this magazine there are multiple articles about an ancient style of parenting that coincides with our biology (all explained in the articles). In a sense, this cover is the end of one chapter of our lives and the beginning of a new one. We now see the focus changing and feel the confidence to decline media requests wanting to speak specifically about something misrepresented as extreme. I’m able to point them to the right direction of people who are better qualified and can articulate the topics better.
Awassa Children’s Center. Photo by Lori Dorman
There has been a shift in the direction we wanted it to go, and that is to gain coverage for the Awassa Children’s Project, which I was fortunate enough to spend time last week seeing first-hand. Trying to gain much needed funding (It’s a 100% volunteer operation and every dollar goes directly into the center) and bring awareness to this cause is well worth working media circuits for. I think the attention from the TIME article definitely gave our family odd exposure, and thus, the ACP….this is another reason it is hard for me to rag on TIME completely. They definitely misrepresented toddler breastfeeding and the polarizing headline was not okay, but I’ll give them credit where credit is due, they put a breastfeeding mother on the cover and started a global discussion on the topic.
Awassa Children’s Center. Photo by Lori Dorman
I need to hurry up and get better for our next round of adventures. We’ll be spending almost a month with the entire family in South Africa and then I’ll be heading straight from there to Uganda and Ethiopia.
Also, we are planning a fundraiser in Los Angeles for ACP on World AIDS Day December 2. Anyone looking to fundraise or wants to volunteer please contact me.
Holy crap, get better soon! How do they treat malaria… Just antibiotics? Or is it viral…? Good thing the kids weren’t along on this trip, or is that risk just always present somewhat?
Malaria is a blood parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. Antibiotics doesn’t touch it and it’s not a virus. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001646/
Thanks Meagan! No…Malarone…I take a double dose of it. I’m better now! We need to catch up. How have you been?
Wow, you make so many great points here, I don’t know where to begin.
1 – Hope you feel better soon
2 – “I think most talk shows are working for ratings and trying to exploit non-issues and make them issues.” not just talk shows but most media outlets. Making a big deal out of non-issues gets the all important eyeballs (ratings, readership, etc.).
3 – “we really need to take the energy we’re using to bash other mothers in the West and focus it towards becoming advocates for children who do not have access to food, shelter, or any relatives to love and care for them.” Beautifully said. I think this is going to be my new mantra.
Yes! Actually, after the TIME cover came out my friend Kristen wrote this article: http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2012/05/where-is-mommy-war-for-motherless-child.html
I love the pics. Seriously, could Dr. Jay be any cuter?
beautiful pictures
. please get better soon!
Wow, I hope you and the other team member will recover fully soon! Thank you for sharing your experience and some beautiful pictures from your trip. I love hearing about the trip as well as your happy boys while you were away. You are such a strong advocate for mothers and family, period, when someone else in your position could totally turn the tide toward themselves. Great job, Jamie!
I hope you both feel better. You inspired me to rewrite a chapter of my book before it was published. I included a scene of the first time I saw a woman discretely nursing in public, about 40 years ago. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I was amazed that others were offended.
Hey Ron!! I am so excited your book was published! I can’t believe others were offended. Those were the days the formula companies came out in full force. At least we’re making progress now.
From the other side of the world I’d just like to say that I think both your covers were amazing. One was strong and almost defiant. It stood up for a cause and showed the world that life as an attachment parent isn’t something strange or even “dirty” but something to be proud of and to encourage. When I saw this image I thought – wow that is one that will be timeless.
Your second photo is sweet. Its stunning, Its homely and gives me (for lack of a better term) warm fuzzies. It makes me feel like mine and my daughters choice to continue our breastfeeding journey together is normal – where the Western World (and all my relatives) tell us it is NOT.
Thank you for being a breast feeding and attachment parenting warrior.
Your work is amazing. Your philosophy is commendable and I hope one day we can get back to the village and all live together helping and nurturing each other. I long for this and yearn to find a community that doesn’t have walls or judgments but just acceptance and encouragement.
Get well soon.
Kia Kaha (Stay Strong)
Sarah, I love you thoughts on the TIME cover. It is nice to hear people who saw something different in the photo. Meanings behind pictures are subjective and up for interpretation. I was more hurt by the headline that accompanied the photo. Together it was a recipe for judgement. Although, my mom thought the tagline and photo together originally meant something about be being strong and mom enough to not allow people to tell me it was wrong. She is a breastfeeding advocate and I think it was her interpretation from her own experiences being judged and not backing down.
Thank you thank you!
Praying that you both have a full recovery!
Thank you! I am feeling so much better!