I never ran into this problem with DS1 who had to be given formula after I lost my milk during pregnancy with his brother ( he was only 6 months old). He barely tolerated being held to be nursed sometimes and once he figured out how to hold his bottle he'd really make a fuss if someone tried to hold it for him. Either way, there are many other times when a mother might need to sit down somewhere OTHER THAN THE FLOOR to take care of a child's needs, and I think others here are correct when they say this is an overall problem of motherhood in general not being respected by our society. You have kids and need to take care of them? Don't do it here, you're not welcome, take it somewhere else. That can be breastfeeding, a baby who is fussy and crying, an upset toddler who pinched his finger and needs mama to calm him down, an older child who whines because its dinner time and they're hungry. America has little patience or sympathy for parents and families.
We went out to eat Saturday night and our 18 month old got bored and did not want to sit in his high chair anymore. He's been going through a "phase" and having tantrums at dinnertime, but things had been quiet at home so we thought we'd try to have a nice evening out for a change. Well, Henri screamed and cried, DH took him and walked him around the restaurant and got him a cookie, came back and he calmed down for a while. Meanwhile I was sitting at the table with our 2yo and noticed that a woman sitting caddy corner to us was literally staring me down every time my children made any sound at all. It was like being stared at by a freaking wolf. I'd never seen anyone act so rudely. She was with who appeared to be her husband and a preteen-age son, so I'm thinking "WTH is this woman's problem. She's a mother too and I'm sure her child has embarassed her a time or two in public. Where's the sympathy?" No sympathy-just cold stares. I was so upset I nearly had a nervous breakdown in the car on the way home. But that's our society, folks. Nice, real nice.
