Noncompliance

I have a pet peeve when it comes to nursing. Noncompliance. It makes me a hypocrite. I know that. I know very well that when I'm on a specific diet, I will cheat sometimes. I know that I will let my exercise regimen slip.

So, why do I judge people so harshly who are noncompliant?

People who don't take their medications regularly drive me nuts, even though I know that when I have even tried to take my vitamins regularly, I forget. People who could solve their health issues with a little exercise and a little change to their diets make me crazy, but you don't see me giving up my bucket of licorice. In fact, right now, I am trying to figure out a food intolerance in my baby, but I am finding it incredibly hard to cut certain things out of my diet. If I were the nurse and not the patient, though, I would be driving myself crazy. I would want to shake me and yell, "sheesh, just do it! It's not that hard!"

I think one of the things that makes me the most upset are the justifications that people come up with for their behaviour. If I can't stick to my diet, I usually chalk it up to "I'm a loser." But, I go insane when people tell me things like they are on this great diet that is really working for them and they don't eat any bread or potatoes, but they eat a bag of cookies while telling me this.

I think when people deal with their health, they are too mellow and when people deal with their infants, they are not mellow enough. The same person who can't have a piece of bread, but can eat a bag of cookies will militantly insist that their infant never, ever have a pacifier. So, you can cheat on your strict fried meat diet, but your kid can't ever cheat on their strict breast diet?