You know, that one who is getting attention for nursing her 8-year-old at the mall? What’s the cut off when you stop being normal and move into freak?
And, now that you are resisting the urge to tell me that I am already in the freak zone 1 here’s a cartoon to amuse you.
1 And, yes, I’ve had at least one person who pretended to be super supportive of the twin breast-feeding call me a freak show behind my back. Oops on my finding that out.
Stumble it!
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St. Paul hit the nail on the head when he said, To the pure all things are pure, but to the impure nothing is pure (Ti 1:15). It is a tragically impure world that labels the purity of a baby at the breast as "gross." For those with the purity to see it, a nursing mother is one of the most precious, most beautiful, and most holy of all possible images of woman. (source)
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May 10th, 2008 12:58
No judgments here, as we’re right there with you.
May 10th, 2008 14:13
Why, oh why do people so harshly judge what isn’t even their business? I say your children, your choice. Not to mention they look healthy, well taken care of and bright and happy.
May 10th, 2008 15:15
You gotta fight … for your right … to PAARRRRRTTTAAY!
oh, sorry, that came outta nowhere.
Being a freak myself, I have no way of saying what’ll earn you freakdom any more than you already have earned.
But when people tell me what I freak I am, I always ask them to be certain to say that with the proper reverent tone of voice. And prefererably doing a little “we are not worthy” kind of kow tow.
Heh! Freaks unite!
May 10th, 2008 20:26
Hi Stacie!
Freak? No. A loving mother who wants her children to have the love and care they need? Yes. I admire your stength and dedication to your children. I wanted to stop by and wish you a happy mother’s day. I hope it’s filled with little kisses and hugs. My best to Brian as well!
May 11th, 2008 09:43
I’m jealous, actually. I’d love to be breastfeeding my twins at this age, wish it had worked out that way for me.
May 11th, 2008 13:30
lol That’s great! I guess I’m a freak as well, but I’ve been called worse so freak doesn’t bother me.
May 11th, 2008 15:45
I will have to remember that line….
May 11th, 2008 16:55
That wasn’t me calling you a freak.
Personally, ultimately, it’s the woman’s choice. I sort of squirm beyond a year and really squirm beyond two, but that’s my own prejudices, and more and more I understand that being a parent means understanding what your kids want and need, and no one else knows that but you (and Dad).
The only thing I question is I think breastfeeding after 2 it stops being about the kid’s attachment issues and more about the mother’s. And I have examples that fit this opinion perfectly. I hope that isn’t too judgmental. It’s not meant to be.
May 11th, 2008 23:37
I used to think beyond one was weird, beyond two way weird. Then i had one year olds. And then almost two year olds. They totally lost interest around 10 months. At 12 months I stopped offering and they never asked to nurse again. While I’m glad I have my body back, I miss it. And I could totally see nursing them now. I don’t know where the line is. I’ve been made to feel like a freak for nursing twins period much less for a year or more.
May 12th, 2008 02:16
Happy Mother’s Day! (Well, it was earlier today. I have been up studying.)
People are SO quick to judge parents, and it isn’t always for choosing not to breastfeed - sometimes it is for choosing to breastfeed, and for how long. I was shamed into a corner for breastfeeding my barely one year old son at a baby shower, of all places. I mentioned something about the WHO recommendations and went to a corner of the room. They were also joking sarcastically about water births, and this was when I was training at the birth center, and I had tried to have a water birth with Zach. I am not saying natural types are never judgmental, but no group has a monopoly on being rude.
But, to tell you the truth, I was judging the women there. The two pregnant women, sisters, both said that they would never breastfeed more than three months, and looked at me in disgust. I thought that was way to early to wean, and I disagreed with them. There were women there talking about cesarean section and how easy it was.
I didn’t think they were freaks, I just disagreed with them. I don’t mind being a freak, sometimes, depending on who the normal people are.
May 12th, 2008 09:29
OMG - no judgments here either , as I am with you too. Mine are two in 6 weeks -eeeks .I can’t see them stopping soon.
So freaks unite. I don’t judge who let their kids a have a bottle at 3 either.
I think it comes down to personal choice - even at nearly two they can’t understand why they can’t have it … at inappropriate times (being fitted for new glasses) and they scream …
I feel guilty anyway …last time I did nurse him there while we waited.
I don’t feel a freak and thankfully a few mothers at our normal playgroup still breastfeed beyond one.
My Little Drummer boys
May 12th, 2008 12:56
I ask myself this same question often. I want you to know that you, Eva, and Trish are my idols. We are still going strong at 15 months and have no intention of weaning anytime soon. I have just found myself recently feeling a bit defensive when people inquire about our nursing. No one has said anything negative to my face (yet) but I can feel we are on the precipice of questioners minding their own business and overt judgements.
May 12th, 2008 15:42
I’m That Woman, even though only one of my breasts is being used at a time. At 27 months, Sanna has no interest in weaning, and she would be distraught if I refused to let her nurse. It’s not about my “issues;” it’s about Sanna deciding what’s best for Sanna.
May 12th, 2008 20:58
Poker - I don’t know. I have to tell you that nursing kids this old isn’t really about the warm snugglies, at least not here. It’s more like being attacked by demanding, acrobatic wolverines. I can’t imagine wanting to push the issue and coax a child to keep breastfeeding to meet some need of my own. ,
One great benefit of “extended” breastfeeding showed up when the stomach bug went through our house and breastmilk was all J could keep down for several days.
And, of course, I am much too lazy to wean. If I do nothing it will happen eventually with no effort on my part.
May 14th, 2008 10:05
Let your freak flag fly!
I guess I will induce squirms when I tell people that I nursed my DS until he was 33 months old. He weaned when he was ready, and by waiting until he was ready, it was an easy and painless process (and by painless, I mean that there were no tears or tantrums).
By that age, he only nursed at naptime and bedtime. We went on vacation, and he was so busy all day long, that by bedtime he just collapsed. He was asleep before he could even ask to nurse. Once we were home, he never asked again.
May 14th, 2008 11:21
I think about this often because my two are going on 20 months soon and show no signs of wanting to stop. I thought-prekids- that I’d probably do it until they were 6 months old and then wean. But now I can see how much they benefit. Not the least of which is getting them to breastfeed is so much easier when they are sick then getting them to eat or drink water. They get over things faster and don’t get as sick as some of their friends do. I truly think that the breastfeeding helps with all that.
I totally agree with your “acrobatic wolverine” comment. It is definitely NOT for the benefit of the mom at this stage. They use nursing for comfort, for milk and when they can’t keep anything else down. The only benefit to me at this point is that I have that “weapon” in my arsenal still. They still ask for it and seem to need it so I’m not going to take it away. No matter how many “weird” looks I get. However, I have stopped feeding them in public. I’m just not that brave I guess. But! If I saw someone breastfeeding a toddler in public I would be very proud and more than a little in awe of them.
May 15th, 2008 00:48
haha acrobatic wolverine! I couldn’t have said it better myself! My goal was 2 yrs old and in 8 wks I highly doubt Sarah is going to wean herself. I guess I’ll move into freakdom with you but really maybe we are the normal ones! I will say bf’ing a crazy, on the go, almost two year old is not my idea of a walk in the park. Yes the bonding time is great but really what do you think being attacked by an acrobatic wolverine feels like? Stacie I am soo proud of you for giving James and Fiona such a great start. I don’t know if I could have nursed two at once. You are like my bf’ing hero!
May 16th, 2008 11:22
I love the acrobatic wolverines. that’s what I have too. From day one. How could such a tiny baby be so ferocious? and now, forget it! The girls are almost a year now. I have no indications that they are going to want to quit anytime soon. They still laugh at sippy cups. how on earth will they get any liquid into their bodies? besides, I think they secretly enjoy attacking me.