Breastfeeding in the parks

[jaysonleah]

Do I think breastfeeding is beautiful and natural? Yes
Does it bother me? No
Does it bother me in public? No
Does Pete saying he dislikes seeing it bother me? No, he has his right to his own opinion
Does what Pete says change my attitude towards breastfeeding in public? No
Are you still allowed to breastfeed in public? Yes
Therefore should I take what anyone says with a pinch of salt and my own judgement? Yes

I could of been offended by some of the things they say on the podcast, but I choose not to. You have as much a right to be offended as he has a right of saying how he feels. It isn't a deliberate attempt to rile you up, so just ignore it.

I can understand in the heat of the moment, you might want to put your point across, but what will it achieve? Will Pete change his mind? I doubt it. Just make it your mission to be supportive of those who do breastfeed, and make life as easy for them as possible.

Thanks. You're right, like I said, I could/should have tempered and measured my words and emotions more. Thanks for your input.

 

[999ghostslover]

I dont want you to "butt out" of my business. I'd like you to call your congressmen, representatives, senators and anyone else who will listen and tell them that you think it's wrong that I don't have the same legal rights that you do.

Great! Then you're in luck. I have written to my congressman, senators, local officials and school officials. All my life. I have held hands with gay friends and neighbors and marched for their rights at our local military base and on college campuses. I am disgusted that you don't have the same rights as me and my family.

I was referring to the people who do not agree with your lifestyle but choose to insert themselves into the conversation. So you don't like gay? Then don't be gay. But quit "butting into" others lives. Look away. Mind your own business. The same applies to those who do not like public breastfeeding. Look away and let them be. My baby cannot NOT eat the way you cannot not be who you are. On this point I thought breastfeeding moms and gay adults could agree.

Just curious, did you think I was not passionate about gay issues because I am from Alabama?

 

[DisneyKevin]

Great! Then you're in luck. I have written to my congressman, senators, local officials and school officials. All my life. I have held hands with gay friends and neighbors and marched for their rights at our local military base and on college campuses. I am disgusted that you don't have the same rights as me and my family.

I was referring to the people who do not agree with your lifestyle but choose to insert themselves into the conversation. So you don't like gay? Then don't be gay. But quit "butting into" others lives. Look away. Mind your own business. The same applies to those who do not like public breastfeeding. Look away and let them be. My baby cannot NOT eat the way you cannot not be who you are. On this point I thought breastfeeding moms and gay adults could agree.

Just curious, did you think I was not passionate about gay issues because I am from Alabama?

There are no laws against breast feeding. You are not denied that right. In fact, your rights to breast feed are guaranteed.

My point was that comparing breast feeding to being gay is ridiculous.

If you read back through the thread and listen to the show, you will see that my concern was for the comfort of the mother and child. I thought finding a quiet, less hectic place in which to breast feed would be better for both. I even went to far as to ask Julie, the only person at the table currently in this position, about bottle feeding and how it might be easier in a quieter location. She explained that if Finley gets distracted, she stops eating.....so a quieter, less chaotic place was better.

I then tried to help think of places where a Mom and baby could be comfortable and content with what they were doing.

I applaud your actions on behalf of gay people and thank you for it and to be honest....I never even looked at where you were from. I was just trying to make a point.

 

[999ghostslover]

There are no laws against breast feeding. You are not denied that right. In fact, your rights to breast feed are guaranteed.

My point was that comparing breast feeding to being gay is ridiculous.

If you read back through the thread and listen to the show, you will see that my concern was for the comfort of the mother and child. I thought finding a quiet, less hectic place in which to breast feed would be better for both. I even went to far as to ask Julie, the only person at the table currently in this position, about bottle feeding and how it might be easier in a quieter location. She explained that if Finley gets distracted, she stops eating.....so a quieter, less chaotic place was better.

I then tried to help think of places where a Mom and baby could be comfortable and content with what they were doing.

I applaud your actions on behalf of gay people and thank you for it and to be honest....I never even looked at where you were from. I was just trying to make a point.

Yes, your points were all very good. And on point to the email that you were there to help with. It was very clear you were trying to reign in the conversation. And I'm sorry that you have been lumped in with Pete on this. Your responses were oceans apart. In my head I knew the distinction and I'm sorry if that did not come across here. I know we would be fast friends so it is silly that we came off as being on opposite sides. Although some of my conservative AL mom friends would think its a hoot that I got into any kind of argument on gay rights and was on the conservative side. Was I? I'm still not sure. As you can imagine, I'm a little different around here.
We are looking forward to being in the world for gay days again in 2011. Just happens to the best time for us to come. Even though I'm not a lesbian I'll do my best Xena warrior princes Warcry to say Hi when there.

 

[jaysonleah]

There are no laws against breast feeding. You are not denied that right. In fact, your rights to breast feed are guaranteed.

My point was that comparing breast feeding to being gay is ridiculous.

If you read back through the thread and listen to the show, you will see that my concern was for the comfort of the mother and child. I thought finding a quiet, less hectic place in which to breast feed would be better for both. I even went to far as to ask Julie, the only person at the table currently in this position, about bottle feeding and how it might be easier in a quieter location. She explained that if Finley gets distracted, she stops eating.....so a quieter, less chaotic place was better.

I then tried to help think of places where a Mom and baby could be comfortable and content with what they were doing.

I applaud your actions on behalf of gay people and thank you for it and to be honest....I never even looked at where you were from. I was just trying to make a point.

In Massachusetts gay couples could marry in 2004, however a woman could be arrested for public breastfeeding until 2008.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I feel that breastfeeding Mothers should be allowed to breastfeed, anytime, and any place, but she should be modest about it.

Some people could be uncomfortable, but for many different reasons that some Women just might not think of.

For me .... It would be another bout of terrible sadness. Every one of my children were born premature and died before I could ever bring them home from the hospital. I would wish so much that I could be HER.

 

[BriarRosie]

You are 100% correct, my tone was abrupt and harsh and I could/should have stated my opinion better and without the anger. I was upset at the time and should have just stopped and taken a breath.

Darren and everyone else who maintains that it was a joke, Pete must have thought it was so funny that it beared repeating because he said again, "just like I don't want to see you go to the bathroom" later in that segment. I have no problem with Pete's sense of humor (see his Beach Club review and the tool who took his "unwashed masses" comment seriously), I just don't think it was said in jest. If I am wrong, it was a bad joke.

I think I understand where you're coming from, and I'm a woman who has never had any children (yet). Everyone has buttons that set us off, and the breastfeeding issue is yours. I know you were trying to use other analogies, but racial/ethnic/religion slurs set me off the same way. I don't see anything wrong with that. That's just what makes us individually sensitive. You might find I am overreacting on my own "hot button" issues. I think others need to realize that and cut you some slack for being emotionally charged about this. You vented and calmed down considerably, so it's all good.

Americans as a whole are pretty uptight about bodies and nudity in general. You won't find topless beaches here the way you'd find elsewhere overseas. That's why people are so gung-ho about modesty.

And there will always be jerks who will always be jerks, even when modesty attempts are made. It's their problem, not yours. Support your wife, and stay strong. That's about all you can do.

 

[KathyTX]

Claudia, I'm so sorry...

 

[dmccarty]

... I dont particularly care if you trot through the park nipples to the wind, ....

Oh My. I about spewed coffee on that line! Tag Fairy Time!

I can just see a topless women trotting down Main Street pursued by WDW Undercover Security.

Later,
Dan

 

[WaltD4Me]

In Massachusetts gay couples could marry in 2004, however a woman could be arrested for public breastfeeding until 2008.

I keep thinking about this topic and I just can't understand how anyone can think these two things are comparable. You talked about persecution. I reserve that term for the poor young man who was tied to tree and had rocks and bottles thrown at him because he was gay. Or the women in some countries who are executed because someone raped them. That is persecution.

In trying to come up with something more reasonably similar, I came up with people who need to use ECV's. They also experience dirty looks and nasty comments, but I would not go as far as calling it persecution. They have no control over their situation and I believe they have every right to use whatever assistance they need, but I also think they need to be considerate and courtesy of others when doing so. Just because they need assistance doesn't mean they should plow through a crowd just because they can, much like someone who is breastfeeding should take others into consideration and not do so in full view of anyone and everyone just because they can.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I keep thinking about this topic and I just can't understand how anyone can think these two things are comparable. You talked about persecution. I reserve that term for the poor young man who was tied to tree and had rocks and bottles thrown at him because he was gay. Or the women in some countries who are executed because someone raped them. That is persecution.

In trying to come up with something more reasonably similiar, I came up with people who need to use ECV's. They also experience dirty looks and nasty comments, but I would not go as far as calling it persecution. They have no control over their situation and I believe they have every right to use what ever assistance they need, but I also think they need to be considerate and courtesy of others when doing so. Just because they need assistance doesn't mean they should plow through a crowd just because they can, much like someone who is breastfeeding should take others into consideration and not do so in full view of anyone and everyone just because they can.

Well, okay, that's close, but women do have control over the breastfeeding situation. They can find a different area, they can cover up, they can not feed in the parks, or they can bottle feed.

 

[cazzie]

So what would you think about the woman who sat next to me last week in Mickeys Philharmagic and proceeded to breastfeed? I'm not so sure it was the place to do it but who am I to criticise, and also the lady in the Season's restaurant whilst we were having lunch

I actually took a photo of a woman breastfeeding sitting on a bench outside Minnies house but never realised it until 6 months later when I was messing with my photos and I was mortified to wonder what she must have thought of me.

 

[Ash&Wes07]

Well, okay, that's close, but women do have control over the breastfeeding situation.

1. They can find a different area,

2. they can cover up, t

3. hey can not feed in the parks,

4. or they can bottle feed.

1. Yes, we can try and find a different area, but I'm not going to walk all over the place just to find a spot others think is suitable for BFing.

2. Try reasoning with my DD and telling her that she needed to stay covered up. She pulled/kicked/yanked at the cover each and every time. It ended up making more people stare because she was throwing a fit instead of quietly and calmly eating as she did without a cover. DS will nurse with a cover now and I do use one, but that might not always be the case. I am not going to cause my child discomfort and make feeding a battle to make others more comfortable.

3. Again, no. I am not leaving the park every 3-4 hours just to breastfeed. That is just crazy. I won't schedule my day around nursing, either, as there are no feeding schedules in my home. I nurse on demand, just like I eat my own meals when I want.

4. Sure. If I wanted to drag a pump, bottles, tubes, valves, a cooler, and other crap with me to WDW and sit in my room every day and hope that I pump enough to get me through the day. It isn't easy to get an entire day's worth of breastmilk from a pump. I am not going to sit on a pump and stress about getting enough milk out and THEN have to worry about getting engorged and being in pain at the park because I'm not nursing because DS is eating from a bottle instead. And, not every breastfed child will tolerate a bottle.

I don't have control over when/where I breastfeed. I feed when DS says it is time to. I may have *some* control over where that is, but I refuse to allow my child to scream in hunger just to find a different spot.

I breastfed DD in WDW. People stared at me MORE when I used a cover, and people would actually try to look down into my cover. When I nursed DD without a cover, it looked like she was sleeping on me. No skin at all showed and she was calm and happy. I'll be feeding DS there in December. I can give my itinerary to anyone that wants to avoid seeing it so they can change their plans because I'm not changing mine.

 

[999ghostslover]

So what would you think about the woman who sat next to me last week in Mickeys Philharmagic and proceeded to breastfeed? I'm not so sure it was the place to do it but who am I to criticise, and also the lady in the Season's restaurant whilst we were having lunch

I actually took a photo of a woman breastfeeding sitting on a bench outside Minnies house but never realised it until 6 months later when I was messing with my photos and I was mortified to wonder what she must have thought of me.

That is awesome that you didn't have to sit next to screaming babies in either of those places.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

1. Yes, we can try and find a different area, but I'm not going to walk all over the place just to find a spot others think is suitable for BFing.

2. Try reasoning with my DD and telling her that she needed to stay covered up. She pulled/kicked/yanked at the cover each and every time. It ended up making more people stare because she was throwing a fit instead of quietly and calmly eating as she did without a cover. DS will nurse with a cover now and I do use one, but that might not always be the case. I am not going to cause my child discomfort and make feeding a battle to make others more comfortable.

3. Again, no. I am not leaving the park every 3-4 hours just to breastfeed. That is just crazy. I won't schedule my day around nursing, either, as there are no feeding schedules in my home. I nurse on demand, just like I eat my own meals when I want.

4. Sure. If I wanted to drag a pump, bottles, tubes, valves, a cooler, and other crap with me to WDW and sit in my room every day and hope that I pump enough to get me through the day. It isn't easy to get an entire day's worth of breastmilk from a pump. I am not going to sit on a pump and stress about getting enough milk out and THEN have to worry about getting engorged and being in pain at the park because I'm not nursing because DS is eating from a bottle instead. And, not every breastfed child will tolerate a bottle.

I don't have control over when/where I breastfeed. I feed when DS says it is time to. I may have *some* control over where that is, but I refuse to allow my child to scream in hunger just to find a different spot.

I breastfed DD in WDW. People stared at me MORE when I used a cover, and people would actually try to look down into my cover. When I nursed DD without a cover, it looked like she was sleeping on me. No skin at all showed and she was calm and happy. I'll be feeding DS there in December. I can give my itinerary to anyone that wants to avoid seeing it so they can change their plans because I'm not changing mine.

I wasn't debating. I'm find for people breastfeeding anywhere, covered up or not. I'm just saying it's not the same thing.

 

[Ash&Wes07]

I wasn't debating. I'm find for people breastfeeding anywhere, covered up or not. I'm just saying it's not the same thing.

And, I agree. I'm just saying your reasons for why it isn't the same thing aren't valid. There are reasons why one isn't the same as the other, but I don't agree with your reasoning.

 

[HollyMac71]

I will start with saying that I have not problem with breast feeding in public, men kissing men, women kissing women, etc...... This is fine with me.

One day my husband and I were having lunch at Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney when a nice European family came to the table next to us. Mom and kids sat down while dad got the food. When dad came back with the food sat down and kids starting eating. Mom promptly started breast feeding the infant with no coverage (she had a v-neck sundress on). This went on for a little while and when she was finished she just slipped things back in place and went along the way. No blanket, no concern for privacy, no nothing.

Considering I was facing the woman I turned in my chair and tried not to glance in the direction as she was probably 3 feet from me.

My husband and I ate our lunch and went along our way.

 

[Dale-Not-Chip]

This summer We were at MK. We were setting waiting for MSEP. We were people watching and we saw a lady walking our way with a large sling with a kid in it. (I say kid because it was no baby). With her shirt pulled way down breastfeeding. Lucky for us they found a spot directly across the road from us to wait. The boy got down and was running around playing then all of a sudden, ran to his mother, pulled the neck of her shirt down by himself to have a few extra sips.

No opinions from me but it sure helped us pass the time waiting for the parade.

 

[soupy11]

BTW do not watch the movie Grown Ups.

Fixed that for you.....no more reason is necessary.

 

[Disney Khi]

I'll be whipping them out to feed my little one in less than a month at WDW.

If I had a trip planned soon, I'd be whipping mine out at WDW, too! And I've never once used a nursing cover.