Anyone Offended By Nature?

It's no secret that I am breast feeding Sean. It's something I feel very strongly about (some might call me a lactivist). Study after study has shown that breast-fed children have stronger immune systems (leading to fewer colds, ear infections, etc.), lower rates of obesity, and higher IQs than formula fed babies, even when equalizing other factors such as ethnicity, socio-ecomonic class, parental education, etc.

I believe mothers should have the right to choose to nourish their children however they see fit, without being ridiculed, made to feel guilty, or in any other way denigrated because of their choice. This means that I will not criticize anyone for choosing to formula-feed their baby; but it also means that I should be able to feel comfortable feeding Sean when and where he needs to be fed without being stared at, or given dirty looks for doing it. To that end, I have nursed in restaurants, in my car, in department stores, at other people's house, or anywhere else I might be when it's time for Sean to eat. While I try to be discreet and not show any more than necessary, I also don't hide the fact that I'm nursing my son, or crawl into a back corner to do it.

Every Thursday night, Bryan and Sean and I take Thea to agility class. Bryan and Thea are doing really well learning the different obstacles and running the courses, and I really enjoy watching and trying to get some pictures of her during her jumps and runs. However, Sean's feeding time falls during this class. When 7:30 rolls around, I take Sean and go into the other room to feed him. And week after week, Bryan would tell me after class about how well Thea did something that I missed due to feeding Sean. I really love watching Thea and Bryan do agility, and hated having to leave the room every week. So last week, when 7:30 rolled around, I asked if any one would mind if I stayed in the room to while I fed Sean so I could continue to watch the class. Before anyone had a chance to object, the teacher boldly replied, "I don't have a problem with that. Does anyone have a problem with nature?" The other students in the class sheepishly shook their heads, and I went ahead and started feeding Sean while I watched Thea do her agility runs.

After hearing so many stories of mothers who have been shot dirty looks or rude comments, had blankets forced on them, or even been told to leave (despite laws protecting a mother's right to breast feed her baby in any public or private place), I have been pleasantly surprised to discover that most people don't have a problem with nature after all.