First of all, I don't want anyone to jump the gun and email any organizations; I just want to share and if anyone has guidelines or recommendations about how or to whom I should address my concerns I would appreciate it.
Last Saturday I was visiting the museum at the Gateway arch and my 1 year old baby needed to nurse, so since she is distractible, I found a somewhat quiet, secluded bench in a shaded area (the museum had a lot of lights that made shadows fall) indoors and she nursed. In about 5 minutes I was approached by (a very young looking) park ranger who asked if I had a blanket to put over the baby. I said that I did not, but that she would just pull it off anyway. Then she stated that the "family assist restroom" was available. I said I wasn't going to nurse in the bathroom. She made a comment that was something like "you do realise this is a family museum." I agreed. She mentioned I wouldn't want to offend anyone. I said if they were offended they didn't have to look. And I asked if this facility was federal property. She said that it was, and I said that she couldn't ask me to move or cover myself. She got flustered and went away. I finished nursing and she didn't come back (I was expecting a supervisor or something).
(I asked my friend when she came back to make sure I was being discreet. Not that that's important, but I just don't think I was even being "obvious." My baby is so distractible I have to keep it fairly boring. DH was monitoring our other 3 kids looking at the museum exhibits, and her DH and she were chasing their twins).
That's the experience. This is my 4th child, and we were on our way home from a there and back x country trip. I nursed in restaurants, parks, gas stations, rest areas, museums and all kinds of other places. I was 2 days from home after a month trip. I was pretty surprised. But I was calm and not angry--in fact I was kind of amused. But if it had been my first kid, I'd have been offended, embarrassed, and I wouldn't have had the "right" answers. I might not have known what to respond.
I would just like to send an email to the supervisor park ranger and remind him/her to inform his staff that they can't do that. I don't care about an apology. Maybe I should, but I just want the staff to be educated or re-educated.
Last Saturday I was visiting the museum at the Gateway arch and my 1 year old baby needed to nurse, so since she is distractible, I found a somewhat quiet, secluded bench in a shaded area (the museum had a lot of lights that made shadows fall) indoors and she nursed. In about 5 minutes I was approached by (a very young looking) park ranger who asked if I had a blanket to put over the baby. I said that I did not, but that she would just pull it off anyway. Then she stated that the "family assist restroom" was available. I said I wasn't going to nurse in the bathroom. She made a comment that was something like "you do realise this is a family museum." I agreed. She mentioned I wouldn't want to offend anyone. I said if they were offended they didn't have to look. And I asked if this facility was federal property. She said that it was, and I said that she couldn't ask me to move or cover myself. She got flustered and went away. I finished nursing and she didn't come back (I was expecting a supervisor or something).
(I asked my friend when she came back to make sure I was being discreet. Not that that's important, but I just don't think I was even being "obvious." My baby is so distractible I have to keep it fairly boring. DH was monitoring our other 3 kids looking at the museum exhibits, and her DH and she were chasing their twins).
That's the experience. This is my 4th child, and we were on our way home from a there and back x country trip. I nursed in restaurants, parks, gas stations, rest areas, museums and all kinds of other places. I was 2 days from home after a month trip. I was pretty surprised. But I was calm and not angry--in fact I was kind of amused. But if it had been my first kid, I'd have been offended, embarrassed, and I wouldn't have had the "right" answers. I might not have known what to respond.
I would just like to send an email to the supervisor park ranger and remind him/her to inform his staff that they can't do that. I don't care about an apology. Maybe I should, but I just want the staff to be educated or re-educated.
I'll be trying to put together a letter in the next week or so.
