It's never a good sign for society when a breastfeeding mom is told she has to stop nursing in public because some prude has their panties in a twist. But this one may be the worst yet. A Colorado mom was breastfeeding her 10-month-old son in the kiddie pool at a water park, and other parents wanted her to cover up or get out.
Let me get this straight. A nursing mom can't get some respect at a facility built specifically for parents and their kids. Is it any wonder they're getting picked on out at the courthouse or in the mall?
Charlotte Dirkes says she was breastfeeding 10-month-old Cillian in the kiddie pool at Pirate's Cove, a city-owned water park in Englewood, Colorado. The park attendant who told her to cover up or get out said they were responding to complaints from other patrons.
But who would those other patrons be? Wouldn't they be ... other parents? I mean, this was the kiddie pool, after all.
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As much as the whole thing makes me angry, considering nursing in public is a legally protected right, I'm even more sad.
Of all people, other parents should understand exactly how silly the anti-nursing prudes are. Of all people, other parents should understand how important it is that a mom be able to feed her kiddo in public. Of all people, other parents should want to support ... other parents!
This is one of those infuriating cases that really drives home why the mommy wars end up helping no one in the end. If moms are so busy sniping at each other, we are too disorganized and distracted to fight injustices against momkind.
And you better believe that it's a smack at all parents when one mom is denied her legal right to breastfeed her child in public. If we can't even give our kids nourishment in a way that nature provides for, then every other choice WE want to make as parents is up for public debate ... and public punishment.
What do you make of these others parents getting Dirkes in trouble?
Image via Fifth World Art/Flickr
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Comments 246
Lets be honest, anyone that has a problem being around a woman breastfeeding her child is somewhate immature. Point blank, if you have a problem with it, that means that it makes you uncomfortable and if it makes you uncomfortable, that is pretty immature. That is how babies were meant to be fed. It shouldn't make you uncomfortable unless your parents didn't properly explain that to you, and even so, as an adult, you should get over it. I understand young people and children being uncomfortable because they are immature but really, at some point you should grow up.
why not be discreet??? cause it's your legal right....sorry. yeah I do look the other way.,...and yes my kids know what boobs are and they know what breastfeeding is.. they've seen me do it..Don't ever tell me I failed as a parent when you don't even have ur own kids lady. My kids are well behaved...know right from wrong...and are great kids. privates are privates. if you don't like my comments MOVE ALONG. or uhmmm yeah look the other way??
She was breastfeeding her kid IN the pool? Yeah, that's a little weird. I could understand getting out of the pool and finding a nice, quiet relaxing place to nurse. I usually support these cases, but not this one. Come on.. IN the swimming pool?
@ Nicole Andes Jochim Privates are privates??? So how do you explain to your children it's ok for a man's breasts to be out but not for a woman's to provide nutrition for a baby?? Just wondering why it's ok for a man to be exposed but not a woman & how that is explained other than society's norms??
Nicole Andes Jochim - if your children know what breasts are then my comment doesn't apply to you does it? I also wasn't just talking to you. Many people are commenting......wow.
yeah that was me. sorry I don't feel like I should do it in the open. it's a private moment for me. it's not like I lay her on the floor good grief. haven't you ever changed your baby in a public bathroom before?I have 3 kids...and they are all perfectly healthy. baby #4 in october. pretty sure I know what I'm doing. thanks