Lactivism at a baby shower

[deleria]

I'm so used to being around people who, while they may not always be as into AP/NFL as we are, definitely are open minded and respect how we parent. Most of my friends breastfed and all of them are supportive of how long I've nursed my children, coslept, etc. Today I sat around with a couple of (really nice, I must say) first time moms who's opinions were anything but what I'm used to.

However, I'm happy to say that I didn't just sit idly by when someone made a comment about how one needs to take other people's comfort levels into consideration when NIP. I said that other people's comfort levels don't matter to me - what matters is that my baby is able to eat when he's hungry, wherever we are. She weaned her son to formula because he was getting 'too old to breastfeed' - he's four months old.

Also, I very politely mentioned to one of the moms who said 'A woman at a party who's, like, 3 1/2 year old was STILL nursing! Ew! When they can walk over and ask for it they're TOO OLD!!!' that I happily nursed my son until the age of three.

I was going to keep quiet, but then I figured... why? I'm not being rude. If they can give an opinion, so can I. Obviously they thought I was a fairly 'normal' person to include me in their conversation. Perhaps my experiences can help broaden what they consider 'normal'

[rmzbm]

A four MONTH old is too old to BF? :

[bri276]

good work! yeah I always hope I can at least get someone to reconsider bf'ing if they hear my opinion because if they get to know me it might seem less weird.

[kindred_spirit]

I am pretty much give my opinion when needed - some people do not like that no matter how nicely you say it

[lissabob]

Also, I very politely mentioned to one of the moms who said 'A woman at a party who's, like, 3 1/2 year old was STILL nursing! Ew! When they can walk over and ask for it they're TOO OLD!!!' that I happily nursed my son until the age of three.

I had to do this once when a mom started talking about how she was SO glad her ds had weaned so early (at like 12 mos exactly) because god forbid he be like other children she's heard about that are older and just WON'T WEAN and want to nurse and blah blah... I just smiled at her and said, "you do realize that I'm still nursing dd right?" : and she back pedaled so fast. Started saying how it's fine for OTHERS but for HER it absolutely wasn't... she also started complaining one time about how her then 10 mo old ds wanted to cosleep and she just hated it, and she was having such a hard time getting in his own bed, so tired...... he was too old... and I mentioned how great I slept because I was cosleeping. I haven't seen her since I met up with her one time and she flicked her child on the cheek. : (And then basically told him to suck it up- he was only a year old). I just needed some space after that.

[Sustainer]

Originally Posted by deleria

If they can give an opinion, so can I.

Exactly!

[Nitenites]

Originally Posted by deleria

I was going to keep quiet, but then I figured... why? I'm not being rude. If they can give an opinion, so can I.

Absolutely!