The maternal duty of suckling her own children, prescribed to mothers by hygienists, is based on a physiological principle: the mother's milk nourishes an infant more perfectly than any other.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of breastfeeding, highlighting that a mother's milk provides the best nourishment for her child.
Maria Montessori discusses the essential role of mothers in nourishing their infants through breastfeeding. She points out that this practice is supported by physiological principles, underlining the belief that a motherβs milk is the most suitable and perfect food for her newborn, as it promotes the health and well-being of the child more effectively than any other option available.
In practice
In a parenting seminar discussing infant nutrition.
... the first thing his education demands is the provision of an environment in which he can develop the powers given him by nature. This does not mean just to amuse him and let him do what he likes. But it does mean that we have to adjust our minds to doing a work of collaboration with nature, to being obedient to one of her laws, the law which decrees that development comes from environmental experience.
When we want to infuse new ideas, _x000D_ to modify or better the habits and customs of a people, _x000D_ to breathe new vigor into its national traits, _x000D_ we must use the children as our vehicle; for little can be accomplished with adults.
Noble ideas, great sentiments have always existed and have always been transmitted, but wars have never ceased.
What we need is a world full of miracles, like the miracle of seeing the young child seeking work and independence, and manifesting a wealth of enthusiasm and love.
To aid life, leaving it free, however, that is the basic task of the educator.
It is fortunate, I think, that nature is not bounded by human reason and by laboratory work and experimentation, for by the laws of pure reason and by microscopic investigation, it might easily have been proved, long before this, that children could not be born.
By helping a woman, you help a family.
I am so proud to be my mother's son.
I always had the dream that, once I became No 1 in the world, that if I had a child I hoped I would have it early enough so the child can see me playing.
God bless my mother - she's long gone now, but she'd work all day and go to school at night. She started out in life as a housekeeper at 15 years old, totally on her own, and she retired as a college professor. But there were some hard times. It's not easy for a woman who's only trying to do the best for her kid but who could never be home.
I love my kids as individuals, not as a herd, and I do have a herd of children: I have seven kids.
There isn't a dude outside my dad who had greater influence on my life.
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