A neighbor invited my girls (nurslings) and I over to her house yesterday during the day for her daughters one year birthday get together. It was during the day and small with 2 other moms and their kids (who were 2-6 years old)
So I am sitting there with W (hostess) and her two friends from church when Avery (6 mos) starts figiting so I start nursing - I am very descreet - actually wearing a nursing top and W asks me to cover up with a blanket because her son (8) is right there (4 feet away). I was very caught off guard just because I thought it was ok since she is a nursing mom and it was a small group. I must have had quite the expression on my face - she went on to mumble something but I honestly couldn't hear - I wasn't looking at her and could just feel my ears turning red. I didn't even have a blanket but used my Maya.
Today she calls to see if my 9 y/o can play with her son - I tell her no.
Then she asks me if she offended me yesterday and I told her I wasn't really offended but caught off guard. I told her that I didn't think it would be a good idea for me to be in her house until Avery is weaned 2+ years from now if she isn't comfortable with me nursing.
She went on to say that she would never nurse in front of other people without a blanket. I asked her if she used a blanket in front of her 8 year old and she told me yes!
I told her that I wouldn't be comfortable eating under a blanket and didn't expect the girls to do it. I told her if I was feeding her a bottle it would be ok and that it's just a different container. She said no, it's not a different container, it's sexual.
I told her that the boys were there when the girls were born and have seen me naked (she gasped) I told her that I was proud that the boys saw breasts as baby food first and that they have probably seen at least a dozen different women breastfeed in front of them without a blanket.
She then mentioned something about her son coming to my house. I told her that I didn't think it was a good idea anymore because I'm not going to cover up the girls in their own home. She told me she always covers up when my boys are there - even if they are upstairs. She then told me that if her husband had been at home yesterday she would have asked me to leave the house!
Her husband never wants to see another woman breastfeed.
Now, this is certainly not the most enlightened woman. She and I have had a difference of opinion on several subjects regarding child raising (she beats - not spanks her adopted 8 year old son bare bottom)
I guess I'm surprised by this but I'm not. I knew she was conservative but I had no idea!!
FWIW If I am in the house of somebody that I don't know well or even a family member I have asked if it is ok if I nurse or should I leave the room - I have always been told "Of course it is ok" I didn't ask because she is a nursing mom and I assumed - silly me.
She then brought up that New Years Eve 1.5 YEARS ago I was BFing my now almost 2 y/o at her house and that it made people uncomfortable and they told her so
The more I think about this the more it bugs me
The silver lining is that I have an excuse to not spend any time around this woman for at least another 2 years
Keri
So I am sitting there with W (hostess) and her two friends from church when Avery (6 mos) starts figiting so I start nursing - I am very descreet - actually wearing a nursing top and W asks me to cover up with a blanket because her son (8) is right there (4 feet away). I was very caught off guard just because I thought it was ok since she is a nursing mom and it was a small group. I must have had quite the expression on my face - she went on to mumble something but I honestly couldn't hear - I wasn't looking at her and could just feel my ears turning red. I didn't even have a blanket but used my Maya.
Today she calls to see if my 9 y/o can play with her son - I tell her no.
Then she asks me if she offended me yesterday and I told her I wasn't really offended but caught off guard. I told her that I didn't think it would be a good idea for me to be in her house until Avery is weaned 2+ years from now if she isn't comfortable with me nursing.
She went on to say that she would never nurse in front of other people without a blanket. I asked her if she used a blanket in front of her 8 year old and she told me yes!
I told her that I wouldn't be comfortable eating under a blanket and didn't expect the girls to do it. I told her if I was feeding her a bottle it would be ok and that it's just a different container. She said no, it's not a different container, it's sexual.
I told her that the boys were there when the girls were born and have seen me naked (she gasped) I told her that I was proud that the boys saw breasts as baby food first and that they have probably seen at least a dozen different women breastfeed in front of them without a blanket.
She then mentioned something about her son coming to my house. I told her that I didn't think it was a good idea anymore because I'm not going to cover up the girls in their own home. She told me she always covers up when my boys are there - even if they are upstairs. She then told me that if her husband had been at home yesterday she would have asked me to leave the house!
Her husband never wants to see another woman breastfeed.
Now, this is certainly not the most enlightened woman. She and I have had a difference of opinion on several subjects regarding child raising (she beats - not spanks her adopted 8 year old son bare bottom)
I guess I'm surprised by this but I'm not. I knew she was conservative but I had no idea!!
FWIW If I am in the house of somebody that I don't know well or even a family member I have asked if it is ok if I nurse or should I leave the room - I have always been told "Of course it is ok" I didn't ask because she is a nursing mom and I assumed - silly me.
She then brought up that New Years Eve 1.5 YEARS ago I was BFing my now almost 2 y/o at her house and that it made people uncomfortable and they told her so
The more I think about this the more it bugs me
The silver lining is that I have an excuse to not spend any time around this woman for at least another 2 years
Keri
Poor kid, being beat by his mom. 
although I shouldn't really be surprised, I guess. 
: I think it's awesome that you stood up and set limits (i.e. no visiting, etc.). Maybe she will realize how ridiculous she is being -- and now you don't have that extra stress in your life! 
Oh my goodness. I can only imagine your feelings. FWIW, I think you handled it great. I could only hope to have that much grace and restraint under those circumstances.
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