I happen to believe that the key to saving the world is through the empowerment of women. All women, in every facet of life, in every corner of the earth. And so it stands to reason that I also believe that the ladies in this pic are nothing short of heroes. Real life, modern day superheroes. They are helping to empower women through breastfeeding. In turn those women become strong, confident mothers, passing this wisdom down to their daughters (and sons!), thereby continuing the cycle of growth. Slowly but surely, one family at a time, they are working to restore life’s natural balance, to reclaim our rites of passage, and to renew our faith in ourselves. To think that something that I made by hand, here in my humble glass studio in Vermont, is somehow meaningful to people who I consider to be some of the heroes of our world, is simply astounding.
The above pic shows an amazing group of women, all of whom have dedicated themselves to mothers and babies. They are the founders and Board of Directors of La Leche League International, providing knowledge, support, and community to nursing mothers around the world. And look closely… they are all wearing my handblown glass Mother’s Milk droplet pendants!
Where would we be without LLLI? On a personal level, maybe if I hadn’t found community and comradery in LLLI as a new mom of twins, I may not have had the positive experience that led me to creating birth and breastfeeding art and jewelry, in an attempt to share that sense of empowerment with other mothers and families. I am so grateful to LLLI for all they have done over the years, and so very honored to be a part of LLLI’s 60th anniversary celebration!
“Here are pictures taken in Schaumburg, IL, at the April LLLI Board of Directors meeting. A beautiful Spring day with many Board members wearing their lovely milk drop necklaces. They all love their new jewelry celebrating our 60th Anniversary. Thank you for making such memorable, wearable remembrances.” ~June of LLLI
Our handblown glass Mother’s Milk pendant is a symbol of love and sacrifice. Breastmilk is a sacred river of purity and life, a physical manifestation of spirit, flowing into and nourishing your newborn child. Whether you nursed well into toddlerhood, or struggled to get through those first few weeks… maybe you had to depend on the generosity of other mothers to help nourish your baby, or perhaps you were a milk donor yourself. Some women choose to nurse openly in public, while others pump and bottle feed their breastmilk to their children. Each mother’s breastfeeding story is unique, and each one deserves to be celebrated.
Here’s to many more years of breastfeeding support… or even better… here’s to a world that is someday so harmoniously balanced, that we no longer need an organization like LLLI to help normalize what is simply a natural part of life. But until then, keep saving the world ladies, one latch at a time!
Thank you, La Leche League!
(Order your individually handcrafted blown glass 60th anniversary necklaces here!)
