Monday, June 4th, 2007
There are lots of great websites out there supporting breastfeeding, something I whole heartedly approve of! However, it wasn’t until I began reading a few that I realised how breastfeeding isn’t as accepted as it is in Australia in many parts of the world. It seems that it is not unusual for a mother to be harassed in public places for doing nothing more than feeding a hungry baby! I was particularly touched by this story!
When I read and get interested in an issue, DSO suffers! So, he was very obliging when I mentioned a breastfeeding carnival about dads and breastfeeding - he has penned the entry below. You can see why I love him. Enjoy!
DSO’s download:
Leisa keeps me up to date with the breast feeding “incidents†from around the world: mothers turned out of restaurants, hospitals, shopping centres, etc. most of such Incidents are reported from the USA in which some educated, middle class folk see public breastfeeding akin to urinating on a restaurant table. Perhaps they’re so notable because on many levels, the USA is one of the world’s most liberal nations; on another, a nation so conservative it borders on the dark ages (why did the USA adopt a decimal currency but reject the metric system?).
However, Australia has its share of Incidents though thankfully the ones I’ve heard of are at the pointy end of social taboos: such as an elected representative feeding her baby in the parliament while it is sitting. I have little doubt that some countries are more broadly progressive and others broadly regressive. At least Australia has, with few exceptions, moved on from a general disapproval of feeding your baby in a public space.
The mere label of Incident highlights the irony that, to my mind, there should be no issue to discuss – there is nothing offensive, disgusting, improper or vulgar about feeding a baby from the breast. And, if I can give a self-serving perspective (but not uniquely male) – it’s so convenient! There’s enough gear for a new parent to lug around without adding: bottles, formula, sterilisers, etc. If you can, and you want to, don’t let any social taboo stand in your way.
I suspect I’m preaching to the converted in this piece so I’ll spare us all a Socratic dialogue on the issue. My purpose of posting is, not to ask the question, but to maintain the mantra: why is this an issue? There is no issue. Breastfeeding is not an Incident. It’s not an ablution. It’s not public nudity. It’s not about anyone but mother and baby. However, if only to take steps towards changing the perception, we must normalise a mother’s election to nurse her baby so that it’s not an Incident. It’s a nutrient, an experience, a gift, a relationship, an expression of love and it’s just sooo convenient!
breastfeeding in public, convenience, dad
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Monday, May 14th, 2007
The day is nearly over and I’m ready for the assessment of the family’s performance on this Mother’s Day. With the kids so young, it falls to me to cover for Big Sis, Little Bro and even Tertia (on who Leisa would probably go reasonably easy given her in utero status – but the rest of us remain vulnerable).
It was a rough start with Big Sis joining us in bed from 3am and Little Bro restless from 4am. So, by 6 am when I staggered to the kitchen for the first breakfast of the day I already felt the weight of the occasion. Once Big Sis and Little Bro were fed and watered and Leis had her sleep-in I got on with breakfast No. 2: BLT, fresh OJ (which, despite a wall of choice in any supermarket, it’s nearly impossible to find) and a flat white. The meal was accompanied by flowers and cards from the kids.
Returning to the list of delicacies, the odds were against me given the list of contraband. However, mindful that most items were expressly prohibited by the “listeria hysteria†guidelines, I can still confirm delivery of:
- breakfast as described above
- blue irises (arranged before the blog tip-off)
- methode champenoise (1 glass)
- a visit to the park with the kids on bikes
Before we set off to the park in our convoy of kids, dogs and bikes, I disclosed that I was absolutely ragged. By doing this, had I undone everything? If you tell someone that the gift was taxing, have you given away all the points?
breakfast, cards from kids, listeria, mothers day, presents
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Monday, April 9th, 2007
On Easter Monday, I was awoken first by Dog barking then by the cause of his barking – low flying hot air balloons (Big Sis pronounces ‘boon’). These are a regular event around our parts because there are parklands that green-out the whole page of the street directory near our house. Dog is just one member of a sophisticated network of canine intruder alarms first set off by the blast of the balloon’s burners as they skip across our rooftops with just enough hot air to keep them off the ground and airborne long enough to set-down near by.
Leisa suggests that I take the kids to watch them land. Like it was my own idea, I wrap up the kids, strap ‘em in and head off up valley and down dale with Big Sis and Little Bro in tow.
The set-down location changes with all the variables that only a balloon pilot could explain but it turned out to be a 10km+ distance. The pursuit was a treat in itself and was justified by the sight of 7 hot air balloons touching down gently with one of them drifting slowly only metres over the car to land within the city’s sporting oval precinct. The kids were delighted by the spectacle and were in no hurry to leave. Their willingness to watch each one highlighted the jaded adult perspective that it’s enough to watch one balloon land, deflate, pack-up, without having to audit each of them. But it wasn’t about me, was it?
Ultimately exercising my authority, we did a U-turn and headed for home. Big Sis disengaged from the initial entertainment and moved on to the next on her list of demands for the day: “We could go to Old McDonalds and get a small burger! We do that, then? Right now?†We’re not fast food nazis but we certainly discourage the association between junk food and the marketing campaign used to entice the kiddies – so I was quite taken aback by the request that I’d never heard from her before, let alone at 7:45am on a balloon pursuit. However, it occurred to me that she was lining up a similar fact scenario: early morning, on the road, half asleep, in PJ’s and dressing gown, seeing the sun come up, etc. This was a flashback to our marathon 5500km Christmas holiday drive from 4 months ago where we succumbed to the Sinister Clown as part of our drive to survive strategy. Now, if the Golden Arches could only package that mental conditioning – or have they?
activity, balloons, early morning, Food
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