TIME's Cover on Breastfeeding...Opinion?

[AnythingsPossible]

I feel it is each families choice on how they wish to raise their child. If a mother wants to breast feed her child for an extended time, that is her choice, not the one I would make.

As for the cover, I felt the picture was totally inappropriate. To have the son standing on a chair, mom standing there in a slightly sexy stance, him standing there looking at the camera I felt was completly wrong. The pose does nothing for the concept of attachment parenting. If they would have posed the picture differently, I would have different feelings on it, but as the mom in the picture stated in an interview, Time accomplished their goal of getting people talking. I must say I have been dreading getting my copy in the mail. My 15 year old checked the mail yesterday and when he brought the mail in, he strategically placed the bills to cover the picture.

[renodeb]

Can you imagine that child seeing that pic when he is grown? Can you say "therapy for the rest of his life. I think breast feeding is great but there are boundaries. No child of mine is going to stand up on a stool and **** on my boob. Totally inappropiate IMO! As for the co-sleeping, thats a whole other can of worms!
Debbie

[KEG123]

I personally have no problem with extended breastfeeding. My son nursed until he was 2. However, the detached/defiant pose, not to mention the title of the article, rubs me the wrong way.

[3myjob]

I have no problem with mothers who nurse their children into toddler hood. There was a debate i came across on facebook. One person said "how long are mothers going to get away with this before they get into trouble"

That infuriated me...I nursed my children until they were 1. no futher...I found no need for it for my family. That being said mothers who do do extended breast feeding I feel shouldn't be punished either.

http://www.boston.com/community/moms/blogs/24_hour_workday/2012/05/motherhood-mom-enough-advice.html

This is a link that sums up my feelings on the matter. Its a very good read.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I guess I just don't get the attached parenting thing. Uhm, aren't we all "attached" to our own kids? Aren't our kids attached to us? Why so much controversy? Besides breast feeding and co-sleeping, is there something I am missing? Seems like a lot of hoopla over nothing. The picture is creepy, but otherwise, honestly, the whole thing is overblown. I didn't breast feed or co-sleep, does that mean I am somehow "unattached" to my kids? Phooey. Loving, caring , attentive parents is not a "news flash" imo.

[sharlan]

What got me most about this TIME article and cover,was the phrase, " are you MuM
enough."
I really really struggled with breast feeding my son, he was very sick and my milk just never came in! I tried EVERYTHING from herbs to prescription medications. I was made to feel like a complete failure and less of a woman/ mum because of something out of my control.
Once, I got past it I really made sure to act as a support to new Mum's in whatever approach they decided upon - I love that in our society there are so many diverse roles BUT hate that the media feels it is nessecary to push it down others throats in a 'shock and awe' kind of way.

I mean, sure let's hear the facts aboEut the benefits of attachment parenting and breast feeding, but let's let the readers make an educated informed decision about it with out all the hoopla.

Same with my daughter. My grandson projectile vomited most of every feeding for his first 2 weeks. I took my dd to the laction specialist every other day for 10 days because she "was doing something wrong and your baby needs this nutrition." He was losing weight and didn't have much to lose. My dd did some research, decided that he was having issues with her milk and put him on a specialized formula - no more vomiting from the first bottle. The lactation specialist called several times and yelled at her for "not trying hard enough". The nurse said that the breast milk that he vomited 10x a day was more better for him than the specialized formula. Something he vomited was better than formula? Ok, whatever.

The bottom line is you do what is the best thing for you and your family.

[Heidi]

I actually do. When I was a teenager, my family was visiting another family for dinner. The mom brought out the apple pie for dessert, sat down, and then her second youngest walked up to her (probably about 4 at the time), lifted her shirt, and stood there nursing. I had a hard time finishing my pie ::.

I haven't read the article, but I do know that my boys, once they hit 4 or 5, started to notice the female anatomy in a sexualized way. Again, I haven't read the article, but my concern would be that the son may start to confuse the feelings of closeness with his mother with any feelings of arousal that might pop up. In our culture, EVERYTHING is over-sexualized (whereas in many other cultures it is not), and I would think it may cause some feelings of confusion or even some sort of shame for the child. I would hate for something like that to affect his future romantic relationships.

I also know that while men in general tend to be very understanding of the mother/child relationship, MOST of them want their wives/SO's back eventually and resentment can happen when they feel they're sharing for too long.

That all said, I think the cover was created PURELY for the shock value. I mean, look at how much it's been plastered all over the media, Facebook, etc. When you look at it that way, the cover accomplished exactly what it was designed to do: create controversy.

....pun intended???????

[Heidi]

I personally have no problem with extended breastfeeding. My son nursed until he was 2. However, the detached/defiant pose, not to mention the title of the article, rubs me the wrong way.

My former BIL once asked a lady who was nursing in the restaurant to go elsewhere because "this is a FAMILY restaurant". Uhhh.....:confused::confused::confused:

Personally I think it's kind to cover breasts with a blanket when nursing in public, if only for the sake of other's comfort. But, he was basically telling the woman to take her child in the bathroom to nurse. I asked him how often he enjoyed eating in the bathroom....

[Ariana]

It's odd how we go ape **** over a picture like this but if she was scantily clad with her boob hanging out in a sexual way it would be completely acceptable. I hate how my body has been sexualized in this way. Breasts are MADE FOR FEEDING babies and children. I personally chose not to BF until 4-5 but I definately do not judge those who do.

Mothers milk from the breast is sooooo horrible but we willingly wean our children to the milk of a foreign animal...a cow?? makes no sense whatsoever!!

[safechner]

My former BIL once asked a lady who was nursing in the restaurant to go elsewhere because "this is a FAMILY restaurant". Uhhh.....:confused::confused::confused:

Personally I think it's kind to cover breasts with a blanket when nursing in public, if only for the sake of other's comfort. But, he was basically telling the woman to take her child in the bathroom to nurse. I asked him how often he enjoyed eating in the bathroom....

I must admitted I do not nurse my babies in public at all. I do think it is very disturbing but it is my opinion. I do nursed my babies in the restrooms or nurse room that the mall have it or at home or in the car. I feel it is my private body that I do not need to show in public.

[AmyLeigh]

It's odd how we go ape **** over a picture like this but if she was scantily clad with her boob hanging out in a sexual way it would be completely acceptable.

Come on Ariana, it's okay if it's advertising something relevant...like a car, or perfume. ::
I used to say that I showed much, much less skin BFing in public than most of the women that were giving me dirty looks.

[canadian_daycare]

I find this picture more offensive.

[Former Teacher]

I find this picture more offensive.

::::::::::

[DBug]

....pun intended???????

Whoops, no! Not an intentional pun! But a really funny one, nonetheless! ::::