Comments on: Blast from the past: A letter in defense of public breastfeeding http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2010/06/blast-from-the-past-a-letter-in-defense-of-public-breastfeeding/ Parenting, privilege, and rethinking the norm Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:59:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nursing and nuance: breastfeeding isn’t creepy, except when it is « Raising My Boychick http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2010/06/blast-from-the-past-a-letter-in-defense-of-public-breastfeeding/#comment-57232 Nursing and nuance: breastfeeding isn’t creepy, except when it is « Raising My Boychick Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:37:37 +0000 http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/?p=2392#comment-57232 [...] Blast from the past: A letter in defense of public breastfeeding [...] [...] Blast from the past: A letter in defense of public breastfeeding [...]

]]> By: How to lose my business in one easy step (today’s lesson thanks to Vistaprint); also, breastfeeding on business cards? You betcha! « Raising My Boychick http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2010/06/blast-from-the-past-a-letter-in-defense-of-public-breastfeeding/#comment-57212 How to lose my business in one easy step (today’s lesson thanks to Vistaprint); also, breastfeeding on business cards? You betcha! « Raising My Boychick Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:24:21 +0000 http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/?p=2392#comment-57212 [...] Blast from the past: A letter in defense of public breastfeeding [...] [...] Blast from the past: A letter in defense of public breastfeeding [...]

]]> By: Lisa C http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2010/06/blast-from-the-past-a-letter-in-defense-of-public-breastfeeding/#comment-11402 Lisa C Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:45:16 +0000 http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/?p=2392#comment-11402 You are so spot on about the visual importance of breastfeeding. For me, nursing in public isn't just a right, but my duty to other women and my love for all babies. You are so spot on about the visual importance of breastfeeding. For me, nursing in public isn’t just a right, but my duty to other women and my love for all babies.

]]> By: Arwyn http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2010/06/blast-from-the-past-a-letter-in-defense-of-public-breastfeeding/#comment-9951 Arwyn Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:50:40 +0000 http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/?p=2392#comment-9951 Eilat: No, it wasn't to Bill Maher. The original letter was addressed to Ms Somethingorother (honestly, I didn't even go reread the original crapola -- my stress levels are plenty high enough already, thanks). I did not ever receive a reply, sadly. It was well publicized at the time among lactivist circles: she probably got a hundred such emails, of varying politeness, so I'm not surprised she never responded to mine. Eilat: No, it wasn’t to Bill Maher. The original letter was addressed to Ms Somethingorother (honestly, I didn’t even go reread the original crapola — my stress levels are plenty high enough already, thanks).

I did not ever receive a reply, sadly. It was well publicized at the time among lactivist circles: she probably got a hundred such emails, of varying politeness, so I’m not surprised she never responded to mine.

]]> By: Eilat http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2010/06/blast-from-the-past-a-letter-in-defense-of-public-breastfeeding/#comment-9862 Eilat Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:15:17 +0000 http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/?p=2392#comment-9862 Was this in response to Bill Maher? It sounds just like the rants I composed in my head but never took the time to write down. Good for you (and me and all of us who feel this way!) for sending this letter. I wonder, did you receive a reply? Was this in response to Bill Maher? It sounds just like the rants I composed in my head but never took the time to write down. Good for you (and me and all of us who feel this way!) for sending this letter.

I wonder, did you receive a reply?

]]> By: Carol @  LactivistLeanings http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2010/06/blast-from-the-past-a-letter-in-defense-of-public-breastfeeding/#comment-9783 Carol @  LactivistLeanings Sat, 05 Jun 2010 03:13:51 +0000 http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/?p=2392#comment-9783 I just have to say that I am so impressed with your journey Arwyn. Like others here babies and breastfeeding were simply not on my radar before the birth of my first child. The only thing I knew was that a good friend from high school breastfed her son for 2.5 years *GASP* before weaning and I thought that was 'a bit odd' but knew her so I decided not to go all "Squick!!1!" You are so articulate (even back then with the things you would change now) with your message and I bet there were a lot of fist pumps when people read your rebuttal. I love this quote by a friend of mine. It's exactly what you are saying when you point out how backwards the author is regarding the ‘human Playtex nurser’ comment. <em>"You are not a pacifier; you are a Mom. You are the sun, the moon, the earth, you are liquid love, you are warmth, you are security, you are comfort in the very deepest aspect of the meaning of comfort.... but you are not a pacifier!" -- Paula Yount</em> I just have to say that I am so impressed with your journey Arwyn. Like others here babies and breastfeeding were simply not on my radar before the birth of my first child. The only thing I knew was that a good friend from high school breastfed her son for 2.5 years *GASP* before weaning and I thought that was ‘a bit odd’ but knew her so I decided not to go all “Squick!!1!”

You are so articulate (even back then with the things you would change now) with your message and I bet there were a lot of fist pumps when people read your rebuttal.

I love this quote by a friend of mine. It’s exactly what you are saying when you point out how backwards the author is regarding the ‘human Playtex nurser’ comment.

“You are not a pacifier; you are a Mom. You are the sun, the moon, the earth, you are liquid love, you are warmth, you are security, you are comfort in the very deepest aspect of the meaning of comfort…. but you are not a pacifier!” — Paula Yount

]]> By: Kelly http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2010/06/blast-from-the-past-a-letter-in-defense-of-public-breastfeeding/#comment-9782 Kelly Sat, 05 Jun 2010 01:21:19 +0000 http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/?p=2392#comment-9782 To amend my first comment, I was supportive of breastfeeding (as it runs in my family) but I remember quipping, "Once they're old enough to ask for it they're <i>too</i> old." WTF?! Why did I say this? What the hell did I know about it? (hint: nothing). The journey of parenting and my pursual of social justice concepts have made me try harder and harder to A. be more careful with my speech and B. think of how my personal convictions on things can hurt others if I'm not careful. To amend my first comment, I was supportive of breastfeeding (as it runs in my family) but I remember quipping, “Once they’re old enough to ask for it they’re too old.” WTF?! Why did I say this? What the hell did I know about it? (hint: nothing).

The journey of parenting and my pursual of social justice concepts have made me try harder and harder to A. be more careful with my speech and B. think of how my personal convictions on things can hurt others if I’m not careful.

]]> By: ysadora http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2010/06/blast-from-the-past-a-letter-in-defense-of-public-breastfeeding/#comment-9776 ysadora Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:02:45 +0000 http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/?p=2392#comment-9776 A nice letter, indeed. Growing up I rarely saw breastfeeding. Mother didn't do it, and it was extremely rare in public...point-and-whisper rare. But one woman for whom I babysat breastfed openly at home. She was someone I admired, and I always thought I would probably breastfeed. When pregnant the first time, I read The Womanly Art and made up my mind to try to breastfeed for six full months. My firstborn nursed for 13 months, my second for 20 months (by which time I was pregnant again), and my twins, who were severely asthmatic, nursed for 27 months. I remember being at a party with my ex before we had kids, and seeing a mom nurse her toddler, and saying to each other, "When they can walk over to you and climb onto your lap for it, they are too old to breastfeed." My apologies to all nursing moms of toddlers! I was so wrong. Public breastfeeding is an act of courage, unfortunately, and one that benefits us all. A nice letter, indeed. Growing up I rarely saw breastfeeding. Mother didn’t do it, and it was extremely rare in public…point-and-whisper rare. But one woman for whom I babysat breastfed openly at home. She was someone I admired, and I always thought I would probably breastfeed. When pregnant the first time, I read The Womanly Art and made up my mind to try to breastfeed for six full months. My firstborn nursed for 13 months, my second for 20 months (by which time I was pregnant again), and my twins, who were severely asthmatic, nursed for 27 months. I remember being at a party with my ex before we had kids, and seeing a mom nurse her toddler, and saying to each other, “When they can walk over to you and climb onto your lap for it, they are too old to breastfeed.” My apologies to all nursing moms of toddlers! I was so wrong. Public breastfeeding is an act of courage, unfortunately, and one that benefits us all.

]]> By: Kareena http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2010/06/blast-from-the-past-a-letter-in-defense-of-public-breastfeeding/#comment-9775 Kareena Fri, 04 Jun 2010 23:58:26 +0000 http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/?p=2392#comment-9775 You rock my world, Arwyn. Thatisall You rock my world, Arwyn. Thatisall

]]> By: Layla http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/2010/06/blast-from-the-past-a-letter-in-defense-of-public-breastfeeding/#comment-9773 Layla Fri, 04 Jun 2010 23:32:32 +0000 http://www.raisingmyboychick.com/?p=2392#comment-9773 Before kids, when I was about 16 I remember asking my mom's friend a million and one questions about why she wasn't breastfeeding. She had done no research and it bothered the hell out of me. I also remember my head hurting, everyone getting mad at me and giving up because I couldn't make any sense of her reasons. Before kids, when I was about 16 I remember asking my mom’s friend a million and one questions about why she wasn’t breastfeeding. She had done no research and it bothered the hell out of me. I also remember my head hurting, everyone getting mad at me and giving up because I couldn’t make any sense of her reasons.

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