Wednesday
Feb222012
A Conversation About Weaning
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
In a discussion about breastfeeding in France the other day, I was reminded of a conversation that I had many years ago. I thought it was worth sharing.
When Julian was 21 months old, we were visiting the in-laws in France. On this trip, and others before it, I realized that attachment parenting in general and breastfeeding in particular were not as popular in France as in Canada.
Julian was still nursing, of course, but I had mostly avoided nursing him in public on this trip because he nursed primarily at bedtime and nap time, which we could do in the privacy of our bed.
One afternoon while Julian was napping at my in-laws house, a friend of theirs, a man old enough to be my father, dropped by. We were all sitting around the kitchen table chatting when Julian woke up from his nap. I went in to get him, asked if he wanted to nurse (he didn't) and then brought him out to the kitchen.
We continued our conversation while Julian played on my lap. After a while, he started tugging at my shirt. We were in the middle of a discussion and I didn't want to excuse myself but it was obvious Julian wasn't going to give up without a fight. Unsure of what the reaction would be, I nervously put Julian to my breast and let him nurse.
And then my in-laws' friend spoke.
It is amazing how a quick story like that can put someone at ease. Do you have a story of a time that someone made you feel comfortable in a parenting situation where you were nervous?
Image credit: Used with permission from Desiree Fawn (of So Fawned) on flickr.
When Julian was 21 months old, we were visiting the in-laws in France. On this trip, and others before it, I realized that attachment parenting in general and breastfeeding in particular were not as popular in France as in Canada.
Julian was still nursing, of course, but I had mostly avoided nursing him in public on this trip because he nursed primarily at bedtime and nap time, which we could do in the privacy of our bed.One afternoon while Julian was napping at my in-laws house, a friend of theirs, a man old enough to be my father, dropped by. We were all sitting around the kitchen table chatting when Julian woke up from his nap. I went in to get him, asked if he wanted to nurse (he didn't) and then brought him out to the kitchen.
We continued our conversation while Julian played on my lap. After a while, he started tugging at my shirt. We were in the middle of a discussion and I didn't want to excuse myself but it was obvious Julian wasn't going to give up without a fight. Unsure of what the reaction would be, I nervously put Julian to my breast and let him nurse.
And then my in-laws' friend spoke.
My mother breastfed me too and I didn't want to give it up. Nothing she could say or do would dissuade me. One day, when I was three years old, she put dijon mustard on her nipples.
I've loved mustard ever since.
It is amazing how a quick story like that can put someone at ease. Do you have a story of a time that someone made you feel comfortable in a parenting situation where you were nervous?
Image credit: Used with permission from Desiree Fawn (of So Fawned) on flickr.
Reader Comments (52)
When my kids were small, we lived in the married student residences of the University of Western Ontario. All of the women in the neighborhood, were very supportive of attachment parenting, extended breastfeeding, etc. We all had the same parenting philosophy and it was very easy to do what I felt was natural. I nursed all three of my children until they were three (or thereabouts) and I couldn't have imagined doing it any other way. We all gave each other support and not one of us had much trouble. I hear about stories of women (which I think would be MOST women) who do not live in this sort of communal environment (for where we lived was VERY communal - close living quarters and none of us students with much money) and I hear the horror stories about breastfeeding - not succeeding, people discouraging, making fun, etc. I think the key is support. Women need to help each other out in this regard, offer advice, support, all that good stuff, and women need to know they have places to reach out to get that support too.
I have been getting brave and nursing during Sunday School too and I haven't had any support or rejection either way, but your story helps me keep up my courage.