Regarding the breast-feeding post

[norsegirl]

I feel a need to thank the non-parents who spoke up. It's not just because they are in the group that is most likely to voice a complaint as Medb suggested (because I'm not entirely sure that is the case), but because I know that in this day and age, many parents are accused of being too permissive with their little bundles of joy, of expecting everyone else to be as excited as they are, and being completely self-centred. I want to make sure I'm not becoming one of those parents, and input from both the "don't yet have kids" and the "not ever planning to have kids" camps is very helpful in trying to avoid that fate.

Also, I appreciate all the supportive comments. I hope that this is either an indication that it *is* socially acceptable nowadays (aside form being a legally protected right) or that the kind of people I generally choose to associate with are accepting at least. I really hope it's a North-America wide acceptance and not something that ends at the border and will make me feel like a leper down here.

Comments

[jopickles.livejournal.com]

I want to make sure I'm not becoming one of those parents, and input from both the "don't yet have kids" and the "not ever planning to have kids" camps is very helpful in trying to avoid that fate

I've found that those two camps are very helpful when you've admitted you want to be the kind of parent they'll still want to be friendly with.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medb_/]

I wish more parents had your opinions on not being too permissive. It seems like every time I go out to a place that happens to have kids around, I'm constantly being shoved by children who aren't being reigned in by their parents or having to listen while a child screams their head off and the parent does nothing because the kid is 'expressing themselves'. I'm not saying children should be tied up and gagged, but I was never allowed to act like a wild animal in public, and so many parents today seem to think it's okay to say yes to their every whim, sigh.

[lace-belmort.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure just how socially accepted it is, I've heard horror stories about mall security guards asking you to go to the bathroom and all that kind of thing. Or if you want to give Jason a bottle of your milk, people will probably make it there personal crusade and yell at him about how that baby should be drinking from a breast. I totally relate to your pre-baby anxiety about breastfeeding, I get all worked up just thinking about it. But I hope that you will be able to put down those pushy people with a few well-chosen harsh words. People are assholes, they judge you on your parent choices and guilt you into boob-feeding, but they don't want to see your nipple in public.

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

People are assholes, they judge you on your parent choices and guilt you into boob-feeding, but they don't want to see your nipple in public.

Ain't that the truth!

I haven't told any other Ivey people that are going to homecoming by the way. I think it will be funny when I show up, jobless yet again and this time with a kid!