With the bold "breastfeeding" Time magazine cover the talk of the nation today, mom and "covergirl" Jamie Lynne Grumet and her almost 4-year-old son Aram appeared on The Today Show this morning to discuss the incendiary cover image and feature. But, contrary what to some might have been expecting, Grumet didn't hop up on a soapbox to preach about attachment parenting. She actually came off as exceptionally sunny, chill, pragmatic, and -- wait for it -- accepting.
Of her breastfeeding practices, Grumet admitted, "It's a big commitment, and it's not right for everybody, and I think that's the big thing. You need to do what's best for your baby." Wow! Wait a minute! So does that mean she's not the extreme-minded, holier-than-thou commander-in-chief of the "Mommy Wars" that haters have made her out to be in the last 24 hours alone?
It's almost as if we cannot wait for the media to deliver us our next target -- someone we can hold up and then, abruptly, tear down. We fall into the trap over and over again.
Okay, so Grumet is passionate about a hot-button, divisive topic. She put herself out there in a huge way, and she even admitted on Today that she was prepared for the media attention. (Not as much as she's received, but she knew what she was getting into for the most part.) Still, there's no excuse for villainizing this woman. Especially now that she's made it blatantly clear in this interview that she "comes in peace" and isn't accusing moms who don't parent as she does of any wrongdoing.
Now that she's made it clear that she doesn't believe her attachment parenting style is necessarily for all moms and that every parent and family should do what's right for them, maybe the character assaults and personal attacks can simmer down a bit. Maybe those who don't see eye-to-eye with Grumet can stop making it like she's a wild-eyed zealot out to convert all mothers into breastfeeding robots. And even those who aren't on Team AP could just agree to disagree with her and move on! Idealistic thoughts? Sure ... but fair, open-minded folks shouldn't find it impossible.
Here's Grumet's appearance on Today if you missed it ...
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Does this interview change how you feel about the Time cover photo or Grumet's parenting style? If so, how?
Image via MSNBC
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Comments 15
Isn't it just fine and dandy to put this nice friendly post up today after yesterday when it was all you guys had on here??? Do you have any idea how YOU ALL vilified her yesterday??
Also, just what would you expect her to say?
I don't begrudge anyone their right to choose what is best for their family. This isn't for me. At all!
My opinion lines up with the psychologist they spoke with before the interview, in that this seems to me to create an attitude that the world revolves around these kids. If mommy and daddy are catering to every whim at the snap of the finger, that's what they expect and the world is not going to deliver. And, the result is a child who is mommy's angel (because he gets what he wants when he wants it with her) and a child who is a royal pain in the a-- for everyone else.
^^ both of those comments.
if people think attachment parenting is about giving your child everything they want,then they didnt do proper research.
Attachment parenting is NOT about giving your child every single thing they want. In fact, an example. Yesterday, I took my two children (a 3 year old daughter and 22 month old son) to Target to get some groceries. It's been a very long 3 weeks with my husband (their father) gone and I decided to get them something special as a treat for being so wonderful, so they each got to pick out a Lego Duplo set. After we checked out, we had to run to the bathroom, at which point my daughter grabbed and squeezed her brother's arm for no reason. I sat down, eye to eye, and explained she CANNOT do that and if she did it again, she would have to return her toy. By the time we left the bathroom, she had done it again, and what did we do? I marched her straight to customer service, and had her ask to return her toy. She handed over the set, and the recepit. When it was all said and done, she willingly apologized to her brother and kissed him. But she still didn't the toy. My kids understand the world doesn't revolve around them and they can't just throw fits and get whatever they want. But kids will be kids, and when they behave that way, there will be consequences, as is done with ALL true AP parents. Before bashing something, how about you research it and become educated on the subject matter?
To each their own! How 'bout that?!