Wow this thread exploded. lol
Pretty much anywhere babies are allowed, expect them to need to eat. Babies aren't like adults who can understand concepts like eating later, or holding their pee. If they're present, and they're hungry, then they need to eat. End of story.
It doesn't bug me. Not every single feeding session is a mystical bonding experience. Sometimes you're so exhausted that you're half napping (like middle of the night feedings) and sometimes it's just a meal. There were a lot of new moms in the Relief Society when my son was born, and it wasn't unusual for there to be 4-6 women feeding their kids and laughing and having conversations with each other while working on service projects or whatever. The normalness of it all was just so incredibly relieving.
In public I cover up, mostly because I get nervous about people looking at me and then don't have a very good let down reflex. I don't think people should have to cover up. And while people can feel grossed out or whatever and that's their right, I do think that as a whole, society just needs to get over it. It's baby food.
It's not really comparable to sex or defecating. Those are things that people don't Need This Instant to survive. Babies need to eat when they're hungry. Otherwise you have blood curdling death screams and people complaining about bratty babies whose parents don't feed. A better comparison might be someone eating food that you find distasteful. Maybe they're eating indian food and the stench of it turns your stomach. Doesn't give them any less right to eat their lunch. Your feelings of revulsion are valid. But they still get to eat. You can choose to do something else away from them.
To the OP, I'd just say something to the mom like, "I wish we could chat, but I've got twenty toddlers to chase right now." Then dart off and get busy real fast. She should get the message. Or at the least, you won't look rude for ignoring her.
Pretty much anywhere babies are allowed, expect them to need to eat. Babies aren't like adults who can understand concepts like eating later, or holding their pee. If they're present, and they're hungry, then they need to eat. End of story.
It doesn't bug me. Not every single feeding session is a mystical bonding experience. Sometimes you're so exhausted that you're half napping (like middle of the night feedings) and sometimes it's just a meal. There were a lot of new moms in the Relief Society when my son was born, and it wasn't unusual for there to be 4-6 women feeding their kids and laughing and having conversations with each other while working on service projects or whatever. The normalness of it all was just so incredibly relieving.
In public I cover up, mostly because I get nervous about people looking at me and then don't have a very good let down reflex. I don't think people should have to cover up. And while people can feel grossed out or whatever and that's their right, I do think that as a whole, society just needs to get over it. It's baby food.
It's not really comparable to sex or defecating. Those are things that people don't Need This Instant to survive. Babies need to eat when they're hungry. Otherwise you have blood curdling death screams and people complaining about bratty babies whose parents don't feed. A better comparison might be someone eating food that you find distasteful. Maybe they're eating indian food and the stench of it turns your stomach. Doesn't give them any less right to eat their lunch. Your feelings of revulsion are valid. But they still get to eat. You can choose to do something else away from them.
To the OP, I'd just say something to the mom like, "I wish we could chat, but I've got twenty toddlers to chase right now." Then dart off and get busy real fast. She should get the message. Or at the least, you won't look rude for ignoring her.
) and then when I say I breastfeed look at me like I have 3 heads.