Nursing

Now, before I get started I need to make it perfectly clear that I am NOT attacking those who choose to nurse their children. I am a mother who has nursed and I very much understand the benefits of nursing. I think it is a great thing for those who do it and I'm sure in the future I would attempt it with another baby. No, this is NOT an announcement, I'm just saying.

Yesterday at school I was taking my kids upstairs to the music room for our music lesson. There were a few mother's lingering in the hallways waiting for children in various classes. One of these mother's happened to be nursing. Great. Now, I wouldn't even bother writing about this had everything been chill. In fact, I probably wouldn't have even noticed. However, this mother wasn't covered up. Not even attempting to cover up. So as I had to take my nine 3 year old children past her, she was fully exposed as a breast feeding mom. Here is where my problem lies... If you are in a public place, where children other than your own can be exposed to you, I think you need to cover it up!

As a mother of a curious 5 year old boy, I would've been VERY upset if he would've seen this situation. I think it is up to me as a parent when to explain these things to my son and I don't appreciate someone who doesn't take that into consideration. Do I think what she was doing is wrong? Absolutely not. I think breast feeding is great and I think those who are willing to stick it out have a lot more patience than I do. I just think that a little discretion is necessary in certain environments. Namely, the preschool. There are just certain things that I feel parents should have the right to explain to their children. Body parts are a HUGE one for me. I know that I wouldn't want to pre-expose anyone's child to something that they aren't ready to learn. I mean seriously... this rates right up there with the Santa thing. Don't tell my child something that isn't your job to tell!

Whew... what a rant! Although I didn't say any of this to that mother (Hello. I probably would've been fired!) I do think it's important for nursing mothers to take into consideration. I know that there are plenty of mom's who would be furious at reading what I have to say, but instead of getting all crazy, I think looking at it from the view of another parent, namely one with a 5 year old boy, is the important thing to do. Just like you wouldn't want me telling your child that the tooth fairy is daddy stumbling in to shove a dollar under their pillow, I don't want you showing off your ladies to my son. :)