Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Thanks 60mins...

Well since the show aired on the weekend I have to admit to feeling more uncomfortable about being a parent than since she first arrived.

Today I had bubbles in my mesh ring sling - a beautiful sling that is bright and comfy and I adore it. And I was feeding Bubbles - 11 months - and had a group of people watching, commenting to themselves, laughing, whispering. I've never felt uncomfortable with Tara in a sling - but today - I did. I have no idea what they were talking about, but I felt dirty almost. As if, thanks to 60mins, I was being judged as abusive and negligent of my child.

I have no idea what they were talking about. But it felt wrong for me to do what is so natural...

*sigh*

7 comments:

Rae said...

:( I have been feeling exactly the same way when I have to breastfeed in public since the story aired. Completely self conscious all of a sudden. It's so infuriating expecially when it took me two years to get confident with whipping them out.
GRRRRR..

Mr B said...

((hugs)) Ive been feeling pretty awful since it aired as well. Im dreading going out and using my sling when I have a babe, how awful that they've made us feel this way.

Unknown said...

This just infuriates me to no end when people find it their eternal right to judge others on their decisions!
DH & I had a good ol' whinge at the telly on Sunday night about the story and how 1 sided it was (as always with 60mins!)
I fed Rhiannon til she was 2 and used to get comments and stares all the time, but it doesn't take long to get used to it!
But then again, maybe that thick skin comes from having a special needs son! ROFL!
Hang in there and be proud to wear your bubba and feed her wherever necessary!

Anonymous said...

Oh that sucks :( Bloody Sixty Minutes they have LOT to answer for! I have to admit I felt reluctant to tell the woman running the community centre I've just found for a new venue (for our AP playgroups) that we're an AP group cos of that stupid story.Well I did anyway-and it turns out she was an AP mum herself! And an ex La Leche League counsellor back in Sth Africa. I reckon there's heaps of APO's who dont know it out there. Maybe some of those people were admiring your sling even?

Anonymous said...

er that should have read AP's not APO's..lol

Anonymous said...

Ugh, tell me about it. All of a sudden, every time I feed Maeve at the hospital when I visit Mum, there'll be someone going "Oh, did you see that story about those people feeding their 5 year olds, and letting their kids poo everywhere?"

Yeah. Because 60 Minutes gave such an accurate portrayal of modern instinctive parenting. Thanks, "journalists".

I can't even say "well, that's not actually a complete picture of extended breastfeeding/elim. communication/whatever" without getting interrupted and told that it's gross and I don't know what I'm talking about. Sure I don't, I just live it, along with a bunch of my friends.

*shrug* Eh, what can you do? Every time a nurse or doctor or fellow parent comments on how beautiful and healthy and happy my child is, I know that my parenting choices (breastfeeding, babywearing and cosleeping, amongst others) are validated.

Grumpy said...

Y'all got me curious. I don't watch 60 minutes for many reasons... one being they've slammed breastfeeding before and they are so darn biased. anyone have a link?!