AHHHHHHH Motherhood...
It is beautiful and I do love watching mothers and their children bond.
The other day in my office, my colleagues and I stumbled upon an interesting debate about one bonding ritual in particular....BREASTFEEDING.
It seems to be a faux pas in American society to breastfeed in public which I don't agree with. I don't feel that a mother should be locked in the home with her infant until the poor child is waned off and decides that the bottle works just as well. Breastfeeding is natural and should be accepted in public, and of course, discretion is greatly appreciated. A mother pulling out her breast in the park is not my idea of a memorable moment but they should be allowed to feed their child anywhere accept in a RESTAURANT...
That is it...that is my only limit...Let me give you a scenario...
You are out to dinner with your loved one (i.e. boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife) enjoying a romantic dinner for two at a nice restaurant. The two of you are having a great conversation, can't keep your eyes off of each other, the food is amazing, the wine is divine (I like that...LOL!!!) and then at the moment when lips are expected to lock you hear the WAH, WAH, WAH of the infant child at the table next to you with the beautiful family.
Now instead of the mother and child exiting the dining room to a private corner for feeding time, mom discretely (hopefully discretely) begins feeding the baby at the table. The entire dining room stops...the impending kiss is haulted and the room is filled with the low murmur of "is she breastfeeding that baby right at the table".
Let's be honest, whether you think it is okay or not, the act of breastfeeding your child in a crowded dining room does draw attention for a variety of different reasons. During our discussion, one colleague felt that the mother had every right to feed her baby in the restaurant as it is a natural way of life and she is paying to be there as well; however another colleague and myself felt that as a diner we didn't pay to see such a display and argued that when the child dirties its diaper that is natural as well but if the mother started changing the diaper at the table (which by the way has happened at a few restaurants I have worked in) then that is natural as well...is it not?! Okay, maybe an extreme example...but you get my point.
Bottom line...this issue may never truly be resolved and in the end my colleagues and I agreed to disagree. I personally still stand by my "No Breastfeeding in Restaurants" motto but thought it was an interesting subject...
Just saying...
I know that in a lot countries public displays of breastfeeding are the norm, but for myself, I don't particularly want my husband having the priviledge of looking at another woman's exposed bossom. I mean it's just me. Whether in a restaurant or in the center of the mall, I just don't want to see it! That's just my opinion...that and $3.35 will buy you a cup of coffee.
ReplyDeleteyeah im not a big fan on it. but i think it is their right to do it. But they should be modest and not just have it hanging out. NOW with that said. I think it is absolutely WRONG to do it in a resturant!!! take it to the bathroom or something.
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