By Kylie P.
I looked over at the alarm clock at 5:01 a.m. on Christmas morning. Somehow, I was wide awake before my kids. I washed my face, put my hair up, and went to the living room. As I sat down, I opened my phone and saw that I had a text from a new mother. She had just had her first baby two days earlier, was struggling with breastfeeding, and asked if I had time to chat with her. The text timestamp read 4:59 a.m. I texted her back at 5:06 a.m., and we were chatting on the phone shortly thereafter. Admittedly, I don’t always answer a helping call this quickly, but I was awake and knew I could at least help her feel less alone. My kids woke up at 6:15 a.m. or so, and we opened presents and enjoyed our holiday. I checked on that mom throughout the day and still think of her often.
A week or so later, I got my daughter off to school on the bus and walked back down the driveway with my then three-year-old son. After breakfast, I opened my computer at 9:25 a.m. in preparation for our 9:30 a.m. La Leche League Zoom meeting. My LLL Group meets every Friday, rotating between in-person and online. I opened my notes, logged into Zoom, and said good morning to my co-Leaders. We chatted about our children and our morning’s chaos while we waited for families to join. Maybe no one would log on. That happens sometimes. Those days can feel discouraging. But we’re always here to offer support and information.
I am grateful that there are three of us Leaders: we support each other and the Group at the same time in a special friendship. My son babbled and typed the first letter of his name into the Zoom chat box. I let him, because we are all parents first and everyone here will understand. I went on mute when he cried, because it was not time to eat Goldfish crackers yet – we had only just finished breakfast. My co-Leaders and I were excited when two regular attendees logged on, and we talked about the joys and challenges of toddler nursing, offering suggestions and moral suppor, as well as reading aloud from LLL sources like The Art of Breastfeeding. One attendee said she was glad this week’s meeting was virtual because her toddler had a cold. I closed my laptop about an hour later, and my son and I went about our day.
Another week later, I am packing my La Leche League bag. Today is our in-person meeting. I load up my water bottle, coloring pages, and crayons for any toddlers who may attend, a few soft baby toys for any little ones, my LLL books, a notepad, and some pens. I pack my son’s “volunteering backpack” too, since, of course, he is coming with me. His backpack consists of his favorite Spider-Man book, a Tigger plush toy, his water bottle, and most importantly, Goldfish crackers. After breakfast, we are out the door and on the way to the grocery store where our Group meets (it may sound strange, but it’s cozy for us!). We arrive at 9:21 a.m., grab a grocery cart, and go pick out some fresh fruit. My son says today is a good day for kiwi and strawberries, so that’s what we choose to share with the families who come to the meeting.
My co-Leader brings flowers for the Group attendees. We get set up, and then we wait. Her children and mine are playing together, and I wonder aloud if anyone will come to today’s meeting. Sometimes they don’t, but we’re always here. At 9:41 a.m., a mom with a stroller approaches, and I know she must be looking for our meeting. We welcome her, and as she is getting settled, a couple with another stroller joins us, along with someone expecting their first baby! We sit together and chat about all things breastfeeding and beyond. Another family arrives later, a parent with a newborn in a baby carrier and a toddler following behind. I walk my newly potty-trained son to the bathroom about six hundred times during the meeting, and my co-Leader and I bounce leading the meeting back and forth between us. We are moms first.
At the end of all our meetings, we remind the families they can reach out to us anytime. La Leche League is always open, even on holidays – if a Leader just so happens to be awake early, checking the phone. We are parents first, but I find that being a La Leche League Leader fits right in nicely alongside my parenting, work, and life. I love the LLL moments that sprinkle through my days. Balancing my occasional chaos of parenthood and the experience of supporting other families in breastfeeding and human milk feeding has been a joy.
Editor’s note: I hope you enjoyed this lighthearted version of what LLL volunteering looks like for me in these recorded snapshots in time. Sometimes there are challenges, but these stories are some of my cherished memories. I welcome other La Leche League USA Leaders to share their Leader stories with New Beginnings.
Send your blog submissions to Kylie at [email protected]
If this article has made you interested in becoming a La Leche League Leader, you can learn more about the process here.
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
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Posted: June 10, 2025 by Yael Breimer
A Day in the Life of a La Leche League Leader
By Kylie P.
I looked over at the alarm clock at 5:01 a.m. on Christmas morning. Somehow, I was wide awake before my kids. I washed my face, put my hair up, and went to the living room. As I sat down, I opened my phone and saw that I had a text from a new mother. She had just had her first baby two days earlier, was struggling with breastfeeding, and asked if I had time to chat with her. The text timestamp read 4:59 a.m. I texted her back at 5:06 a.m., and we were chatting on the phone shortly thereafter. Admittedly, I don’t always answer a helping call this quickly, but I was awake and knew I could at least help her feel less alone. My kids woke up at 6:15 a.m. or so, and we opened presents and enjoyed our holiday. I checked on that mom throughout the day and still think of her often.
I am grateful that there are three of us Leaders: we support each other and the Group at the same time in a special friendship. My son babbled and typed the first letter of his name into the Zoom chat box. I let him, because we are all parents first and everyone here will understand. I went on mute when he cried, because it was not time to eat Goldfish crackers yet – we had only just finished breakfast. My co-Leaders and I were excited when two regular attendees logged on, and we talked about the joys and challenges of toddler nursing, offering suggestions and moral suppor, as well as reading aloud from LLL sources like The Art of Breastfeeding. One attendee said she was glad this week’s meeting was virtual because her toddler had a cold. I closed my laptop about an hour later, and my son and I went about our day.
Another week later, I am packing my La Leche League bag. Today is our in-person meeting. I load up my water bottle, coloring pages, and crayons for any toddlers who may attend, a few soft baby toys for any little ones, my LLL books, a notepad, and some pens. I pack my son’s “volunteering backpack” too, since, of course, he is coming with me. His backpack consists of his favorite Spider-Man book, a Tigger plush toy, his water bottle, and most importantly, Goldfish crackers. After breakfast, we are out the door and on the way to the grocery store where our Group meets (it may sound strange, but it’s cozy for us!). We arrive at 9:21 a.m., grab a grocery cart, and go pick out some fresh fruit. My son says today is a good day for kiwi and strawberries, so that’s what we choose to share with the families who come to the meeting.
My co-Leader brings flowers for the Group attendees. We get set up, and then we wait. Her children and mine are playing together, and I wonder aloud if anyone will come to today’s meeting. Sometimes they don’t, but we’re always here. At 9:41 a.m., a mom with a stroller approaches, and I know she must be looking for our meeting. We welcome her, and as she is getting settled, a couple with another stroller joins us, along with someone expecting their first baby! We sit together and chat about all things breastfeeding and beyond. Another family arrives later, a parent with a newborn in a baby carrier and a toddler following behind. I walk my newly potty-trained son to the bathroom about six hundred times during the meeting, and my co-Leader and I bounce leading the meeting back and forth between us. We are moms first.
At the end of all our meetings, we remind the families they can reach out to us anytime. La Leche League is always open, even on holidays – if a Leader just so happens to be awake early, checking the phone. We are parents first, but I find that being a La Leche League Leader fits right in nicely alongside my parenting, work, and life. I love the LLL moments that sprinkle through my days. Balancing my occasional chaos of parenthood and the experience of supporting other families in breastfeeding and human milk feeding has been a joy.
Editor’s note: I hope you enjoyed this lighthearted version of what LLL volunteering looks like for me in these recorded snapshots in time. Sometimes there are challenges, but these stories are some of my cherished memories. I welcome other La Leche League USA Leaders to share their Leader stories with New Beginnings.
Send your blog submissions to Kylie at [email protected]
If this article has made you interested in becoming a La Leche League Leader, you can learn more about the process here.
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
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Category: Breastfeeding and Lifestyle, Grateful For LLL USA, LLL Support
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