Tis' the season for unsolicited commentation from the peanut gallery. I typically don't go shopping all that often, other than to the grocery store and kids consignments. Now that the holidays are here, I've been visiting the local retail stores with my little one bundled in her sling along for the ride. I'm the type of mom that really doesn't care if it makes the general public "uncomfortable" if I were to nurse my daughter. So why would shopping be any different? As I walk through Wal-mart, my daughter is becoming antsy and getting tired. I "whip" out a breast, latch her, and go about my shopping. I have a nursing top on, but showing no more than I would in a low cut shirt. Hardly anyone notices, until I get to the check out lane. This wonderful Irish woman giggles and turns to her bo and said "That's amazing. She's breastfeeding, shopping and checkin' out all at once!" It was really sweet - a welcomed comment! As I'm walking out to my car, this ignorant woman yells, rather loudly at that, "OH MY GOD ONLY AT WAL-MART!" Like she just saw the trashiest thing ever, given that is what wal-mart is labeled as attracting to begin with. I was appalled and completely taken aback. Not only did this woman wake my gently sleeping daughter, but attract attention to me from the other people in the parking lot. She proceeds to look back and snicker to her bo and I couldn't help it. I lost my class and stooped to her level and shot some nasty words to her. I thought that I was tough as nails when it came to NIP, but this event definately showed that I had a soft spot, and that woman poked her little finger right through it.
Why do people, especially other women, feel they can say whatever comes to their mind? It seems like moms/grandmoms/nannys/etc tend to offer their advice, especially on things they have little to no knowledge on. Like breastfeeding. My mother and grandmother didn't have great luck in that department. So when I tell me grandmother that were coming by plane for Thanksgiving, she reminds me to take a pacifier. "Grandma, we don't use pacifiers" "Well, what are you going to do for take off and landing?" "I'm going to nurse her." "OH Missy NO! That's disgusting! No one wants to see that! That's an intimate thing to be done privately!" Seriously, Grandma? Everytime a rude, ignorant comment gets thrown at someone that's doing the best they can for their kids, it's like a slap in the face. It's not like I go around saying "Hey, isn't your kid too old to be using a pacifier? I mean, they're potty trained for heaven's sake!" or "Umm... do you mind covering up your bottle? That's making me uncomfortable." There are some people that are so nasty in themselves that I would love to say, "Hey, do you mind taking yourself to the bathroom to breathe?" That's harsh, I know, but I don't say these things because it's not my place and who the hell cares! They aren't physically harming me and get this, if I don't want to see them, I can simply turn my head in the other direction! Check that out!
Recently a mom was harrassed by Target associates for nursing in the store. They then proceeded to gawk and make her feel terrible. A nurse-in is now being developed. It shouldn't have to come to this. Only in America do we perceive natural ways to be disgusting, inappropriate, dangerous, uneducated (wtf ever), and outdated. It's a shame. Thanks to these modern ways of thinking, we are harming the futures of our children by taking away their birth rights to a normal, natural birth, remaining intact, and nursing freely for as long as they desire and anywhere they wish to nurse.
Now, not all people make rude comments. It's nice to get the supportive comments and typically through conversation you find that these people either nursed, their wives/sisters/mothers nursed or they are just genuinely kind and know that this is a tough feat and offer supportive words to try and offset they crappy ones. All in all, keep on nursing in public ladies. Ignore the comments and know that you may also be inspiring another mama to gather the courage to do it as well! Show our younger generations that this is NORMAL! If more people nursed in public, maybe less people would feel the need to make a mockery of themselves from talking out of their asses :)
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