Grandmother doesn't want adopted child in family photo
She continues to pump because it's good birth control, and to continue to lose the baby weight.
None of us would be allowed to leave our desk an hour a day to exercise, so why should she be allowed to pump to lose weight?
-- Fairness for All
Dear Fairness: I applaud your college's commitment to supporting the needs of mothers who want to work and/or further their educations, while continuing to feed their babies naturally. But let's clear up a few things: Your co-worker's baby might have stopped breast-feeding, but her child could still be consuming breast milk through a bottle, necessitating her pumping during the day.
Lactation does not provide consistent birth control. If your co-worker believes this commonly held misconception (excuse the pun), it could lead to an unexpected pregnancy -- not to mention your further resentment regarding her lactation breaks. Also, breast-feeding does not necessarily hasten weight loss after a baby's birth.
If your co-worker's pumping schedule is interfering with her work to the extent that it impinges on your (or her) ability to do your -- or disrupts the functioning of the office, then you should bring this up with your supervisor. Otherwise, stick to your own knitting. (May, 2009)
Dear Amy: My parents divorced when I was young. I lived most of the time with my mother.
My room at my father's house was sometimes used for guests when I was not visiting, and I had no objection to this.
Several years ago, I was visiting for Thanksgiving, and so was my stepmother's sister. The room choices were to stay in either my room, or a guest/craft room.
My room was larger, and my stepmother's sister arrived first and was put there!
When I arrived several days later, they told me that the first guest to arrive is usually given the larger room -- so I stayed in the craft room. Shouldn't they have saved my room for me?
-- Displaced in VA
Dear Displaced: Shouldn't you have offered to give up your room to your family's guest? Yes, you should have. You have held onto this petty gripe for several years. Let it go. (Sept., 2009)
Dear Readers: Are you curious about my background and life outside of the confines of this space? Read my two memoirs: "The Mighty Queens of Freeville" and "Strangers Tend to Tell Me Things," available wherever books are sold or borrowed.
========
(You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: ASKAMY@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or "like" her on Facebook.)
