[Flower of Bliss]

My MIL visited us this weekend. DD was playing in her arms, and had just started to ask for me. I was standing there talking to DD, about to take her. MIL said to DD, "Who is that? Is that your <i>bottle</i>?" <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">: <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/jaw2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="jaw2"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/splat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="splat"> I was dumbfounded. DH quickly (though not sternly) replied, "It's her <i>Mommy</i>"<br><br>
I just cannot believe she said that. A bottle, a pacifier, and formula are all immitations of breastfeeding. Even if I did all of that, I would still be her MOTHER. WTF?!? A bottle is a replacement boob, my boob is not a bottle <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/Cuss.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="cuss"><br><br>
MIL FF all of her kids. Her DD's FF their kids. She's told DD several times that they only need me to feed DD... that MIL can do everything else. I'm so glad that MIL lives 6 hours away. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> She has been a primary care giver to her other grandkids, so this is very new to her, but still...<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/soapbox.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="soapbox">

 

[momof421]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hug2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Hug2">

 

[Caittune]

Ack! What an ignorant comment. Hugs to you!

 

[treqi]

i woudn't waste the gas to go to her house ickuke

 

[chandasz]

ugh. sorry. good to have you show her the light. poor thing never experienced the joy of nursing their baby. feel sorry for her....

 

[little]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/jaw2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="jaw2"> !!! whoa! is she always that crass???? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">

 

[_betsy_]

Kind of reminds me of my FIL. By any chance, is English not her first language?

 

[mntnmom]

Whether she intended it as one or not, maybe if you think of it as a failed attempt at a joke it will make less likely to hate her.<br>
My MIL FF her kids too, but thank goodness she would never be so crass as to say something so demeaning. I'm sorry, best of luck, I'm afraid you might need it.

 

[mommymaemae]

Shortly after coming home from the hospital with the boys I was trying to pry them out of the hands of one grandparent or another (they were all being quite possessive) for a feeding and one of them said "Look, it's the food dispenser". It was one of the granddads. I think that people who can't (men) or have never (ffing moms) breastfed don't understand what it's really all about. I was quite offended by the insensitive nature of what was said. I think that grandparents *often* forget their boundaries and think of themselves in the parent role. We've had a lot of struggles with this and I would definately encourage you to firmly but sensitively say something if this ever happens again so that your boundaries are clearly drawn.<br><br>
It's really awful to be undermined like that, even if it was meant as a harmless joke. Good luck to you.