Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

As many other women are saying on the message boards today, I also breastfed both of my children and used modesty while in public. There were many times that people didn't even realize that I was breast feeding. I do find it offensive when some women can't be bothered to apply a bit of modesty to breastfeeding.  Sometimes it is difficult, yes, but it CAN be done.  

As for the woman who has only two hands and three children:  It is NOT ok to subject the rest of the world to your unruly children!! It's rude of you and teaches your children that not having the slightest social graces is alright. It is really hard on the rest of us to be so annoyed. When my husband and I go out to eat and are seated near a loud kid situation, we ask to be re-seated and we make sure the parents of the loud kids hear our request. When I am out and I am impressed with the good behavior of a young child or children, I do approach the parents and compliment  them on how delightful it is to share public space with their children. I remember people appoaching me at times and saying nice things about my children and it was a wonderful reinforcement for me and it made my children feel proud of themselves.  

I have 3 young children.  I chose not to breastfeed the older two but I did breastfeed the youngest for her whole first year.  I did breastfeed in public and when I have more children I will breastfeed them in public.  I did not and would never cover with a blanket or one of those specially designed covers because I felt that it made my girls too hot and I know I wouldn't want to be covered while I was eating so why would I do that to my child.  I do feel that I was very discrete though.  The only way somebody saw my breast is if they were trying to.  I know for a fact that many people could never tell I was nursing.  I do not feel breastfeeding woman should have to leave and go their car or the bathroom.  I certainly would never eat in a bathroom and neither will my children.  I think people need to realize that babies need to eat and the healthiest thing for them to eat is breastmilk.  We as a society should be making it easier for new moms to feel comfortable with breastfeeding instead of making them feel uncomfortable.   

amanda 

Today's debates evoked some strong feelings / emotions from me today.  As far as breastfeeding in public, I think it is fine.  It's not about trying to be attractive or sexy.  It's about feeding a baby that happens to be hungry while out in public!  I have not breast fed my children because that is my personal choice but do know some mothers who have.  There is no need to pull off your top (as was suggested in the show) and I have not seen that happen anywhere.  You don't compare breastfeeding in a restaurant to a waitress showing her back end while serving you.  How can that POSSIBLY be comparable to one another????????  I think that if someone keeps saying it's not attractive or it's offensive that they have a personal issue that needs to be resolved.  Nobody is making you watch their child breastfeed so why are you continuing to sit their and watch and complain? 

Condomns in schools is the lazy parents ticket to sex education.  Let's depend on the teachers and school staff to teach my child about sex since they are there more than they are at home?!?!?  NO WAY!!!!!  When the children are home from school, it is the parents duty and responsibilty to teach FAMILY VALUES.  Maybe the parents have low morale for their kids so they (the parents) figure "why bother?  Let someone handle it".  Again, it's laziness on the parents part for not taking the time to educate them and inform them.  If you want the school to give your child permission to have sex, then we as parents should not be upset when our daughter (or son) comes home from school saying they're pregnant because they forgot about the condomn that the school handed out. 

Finally, I DARE someone to come up to my children trying to discipline them.  That is arrogant and rude on the stranger's part.  Luckily my children aren't bad in public but I can just feel the outrage if someone were to come up to my children telling them what they should and shouldn't be doing.  I feel the parent does need to enforce discipline and teach them right from wrong and proper behavior while out in public but it is NOT a stranger's right to impede on the parent's privacy by interjecting in a family affair.   

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!! 

We are not breastfeeding thinking that "wow this is really going to attract someone."  Shelly kept saying that it was not attractive.  That is not our goal.  Our goal is to feed our baby.  A restaurant is meant for eating in - baby or adult.  If someone else was slurping their soup would she ask them to remove themselves to the bathroom if they must eat that way?  Has she ever went to the zoo?  Breastfeeding is the oldest, most natural method of feeding our young and only humans have resorted to other methods.  Did you ask the mother monkey to please hide behind the tree while she fed her baby?  Get over your own insecurities and allow us to feed our children.