I try not to be too judgmental when it comes to motherhood
because number one, I’ve never had a child so it’s easy to say people aren’t
being good parents when you yourself aren’t one because you don’t know how hard
it is. And number two, I try to live by the motto “to each their own” because I
wouldn’t want someone telling me how to live my life.
HOWEVER, after seeing the new “Time” magazine cover I
thought that the kid was a tad bit too old to still be breast feeding. Again,
just my opinion. But a lot of people are
supporting her and saying that this is natural and “what boobs are intended for.”
OK, yes, that’s true, but just a question. How old is too old? I can accept
that breast feeding is natural and great for children but when does it become inappropriate?
I think it becomes inappropriate when my child and my
husband can have a verbal argument about whose turn it is to have some boob
action from mom. Yes, I think right about then it becomes mildly unsettling. I
think it may also become embarrassing for the kid. You think this kid on the “Time”
magazine is ever NOT going to be made fun of for sucking his mom’s breasts for
all to see? Even if he was an infant on the cover he would still be ridiculed for years to
come.
I can respect everyone’s opinions on the subject because I’m
at peace with my decision to remove my baby from my chest before she can start
asking for it, whether she is “ready” to or not. And that's just me. I can't accept the line, "I'll stop breast-feeding when he/she is ready to stop" because if that was the truth I think many of us would be home schooled.
But again, what's your opinion? When should kids stop breast feeding?
I too have the opinion of "to each their own" and "whatever works for the family" however, I do believe the child displayed in this photo is too old to still be breastfeeding.
ReplyDeleteI am one of the biggest breastfeeding supporters there is. I feel there are very few reasons not to and too many excuses people come up with on why they don't or it doesn't work. My daughter was pre-term but I proudly pumped because she couldn't nurse, I went back to my full time job after 3 month and still pumped, I had my second when my first was just 18 months and still managed to breastfeed the new arrival. If you want to do it, in most cases, you will be ables to figure out a way to make it work. But at some point you have to stop.
So whether it is 6 months, one year or even up to 18 months when you are still breastfeeding you are probably "within a reasonable age" but beyond that it is unnecessary, no matter how you try to justify it.