I don't like boobies on display!

READ THIS:::
http://eclecticeffervescence.blogspot.com/2010/03/offense.html?spref=fb

Before I go off on my rant, I agree with the sentiments written in the above blog post (re: Facebook's retarded view of "sexualised").

Now, hear what I have to say about all of this rubbish.

I do not see it as necessary to post NAKED women up in a public forum -- a naked breast is a naked breast, no matter if a baby is feeding from them or if they are airbrushed and put into a pornographic magazine.

I just perused a site (www.tera.ca) which prides itself on fighting for the underdog (GOOD FOR YOU!!) and they have un/fortuantely listed photos that have been deleted by Facebook and criticised by other various entities.  I felt that half of those pictures WERE offensive simply because of a failure to cover up - not because they were feeding their babies/toddlers.  Others were models posing with babies - which is clearly highly inappropriate.

Having said that, I can understand some mummies are so proud to be feeding their little ones that they feel a need to show off their happy snaps.  That's cool.. I get that.  If those happy snaps are of your bare naked chest, one boob out and the other occupied by a wee one - NOT OK.  You are showing more than I or anyone else should be seeing.  I'm not offended - I just find it distasteful to be nude in public no matter what your reasons.

I don't think breast feeding is obscene.  I think it's wonderful.  I do, however, find it obscene to flash my boobs out in public, considering all the great new products you can buy (for cheap!!) that make discreet breast feeding very easy.  Try this site......

www.kisskisshughug.com.au

As for April, whose blog I was inspired by, I understand why you've posted your photo.  I also don't find it offensive simply because it's not of you half naked.  It's of you feeding, and I can see that this is an amazing moment for you.  I think it's a personal moment for you and your family, but I am certainly not offended by you posting it.

For the record, I breastfed, and I will again.

I think it's best if I clarify one more time.... I don't DISAGREE with those who take issue with Facebook deleting breast feeding pictures - I just feel there are very important factors they fail to recognise here.

That is all.

A. xo

Milkies go bye bye!

Well.  That settles it.  The paperwork is in order, my retirement package settled.  I have done my work as a dairy cow, and am happy/sad to say that I am no longer needed in that department.  Eli is fully weaned - at 10 months.

I didn't do this intentionally - it kinda just happened.  All of a sudden he started eating tons of food, and stopped crying for feeds.  Then only in the last few weeks, I stopped going in to him at night when he cried - not only did he stop feeding over night, he also stopped crying for me.  He sleeps for 10-12 hours straight now....

While I'm super stoked about his new love of sleeping, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the cessation of feeding him.  I mean, I'm happy to be "free" of the ritual, in the sense that now, I get a full night's sleep (if you count 5 a.m wake ups as full) and if I had to leave him with someone, he's not going to need a bottle.  However, this really does draw the curtains on that section of my life (for now - til the next one comes along..) as well as his life.  I find myself with mixed feelings about that.  I don't nurse him to sleep anymore, so I don't get to sit and look at his beautiful face while he sleeps... that's something I'll miss a lot.

There's another aspect of this too that I find niggles at my mind.  Previously, whenever I couldn't settle him for whatever reason, or if he was in pain, I would show him that I loved him by giving him his most favourite thing in the world... and I felt like a good mum.  Now, if I can't settle him, or he's in pain, the best I can do is kisses and cuddles.  Sometimes, it just feels like that's not enough.  Like I'm not a "magical" mum, whose kisses and cuddles could cure the most horrible things, especially my baby's crying.

I didn't know how I was going to feel about it.  I suspected I'd just be happy about it - since I didn't really think it was my favourite thing in the world.  I didn't dislike it, I just couldn't gush about it like it's the most incredible thing I could ever experience as a mother.  There are plenty of other awesome things I experience every day that are easily in line with breast feeding.  I'm glad I did it, and I will do it again.  Who knows, maybe the next baby will feed longer.  Maybe not?

If you've not done it yet and are planning on it (comment is restricted to women for obvious reasons...) or if you're doing it currently and are not finding it as wonderful and amazing as you were told it would be, don't stress.  It's not like that for everyone...  It wasn't like that for me!

But I still really did enjoy it - in my own way... :o)

A. xo