Time Magazine goes for shock value cover

[DoulaMama]

I have an issue with the title. As for nursing until 3-4yo...I have zero issue with. I may nurse my daughter that long. I find your first post, NBP, offensive and it comes across as quite ignorant. There is nutritive value. Moms don't nurse into toddler years for their own benefit only. The natural weaning age of children is actually closer to 4yo. All this I know because I've researched breastfeeding for the past 3 years now. But what do I know....

[nuthinbutpink]

Doula, I get a vibe from you that I am less of a mom and because I am not as "organic" or "crunchy" as you, I am not on your level. That makes me sad and I am sorry that you believe me to be ignorant. Why can't I joke about the picture? It's obviously ridiculous and I believe hurtful to breastfreding moms everywhere because it casts them in an extremist and defiant light. They lead with a title that does nothing but put others down. Maybe there is an elitist undertone in the extended BF world? Maybe they do feel like they are better moms than those of us that only BF 6 months to a year.

I respect a woman's right to BF. At some point, it grosses me out. Why is it not okay for me to say that? That picture is distributing to me and that large boy just looks odd and I feel sorry for him in years to come with his friends. That doesn't make me ignorant. There are no studied after the age of 2 on the benefits of BF. I realize, because I am not ignorant, that that doesn't mean there are none but nobody knows definitively.

I also knows that prehistoric evidence shows people BF for 2-3 years, Romans 2 years and Medievel times 3+ years. I can walk down to Whole Foods in 2012 and buy locally grown, organic fruits and veggies and locally raised beef and chicken and and provide an excellent days worth of nutrition for my children. That doesn't make me less of a mom because I don't have my kids nurse before meals.

I admire you. EBF, home births, etc. you are an excellent mother. I do not, however, believe I am ignorant or less of a mom because I get epidurals and do not EBF. In fact, I think I am a rock star for the morals and values I have and continue to instill in my children and some of us do not have an easy path to take with some of our kids.

I value your perspective but I beg to differ with the ignorant comment. I am a lot of things but that is not one of them.

[BeadinMom]

Why yes, I AM MOM ENOUGH « The: NewYorkMOM

[Flava]

Ok so Im not enough of a mom because I have to supplement with formula too because I just don't have enough BM?
Even this way Im lucky to BF up to 10-12 months max!
So Im a less mom huh?
I say BS!
And yes that picture is not nice at all and no I would never think to BF up to 4 -5 or more years.
Im sorry but I think BF is for baby's and a 4 year old is not a baby for sure. He can eat lot's of healthy food .Or maybe drink that milk from a cup?
But if someone do it well ok , but why we have to put in on the magazine? I wonder how much she got paid for that pic...
I never buy this magazine so they did not sell it for me with that pic lol.

[begonia]

OK LOL about keeping the boobs because I for one am looking forward to swimsuit season this year, thanks to DD3

[nuthinbutpink]

OK LOL about keeping the boobs because I for one am looking forward to swimsuit season this year, thanks to DD3

I know! I seriously considered taking a picture of my natural BF boobs so if I ever got my breasts done I could show the surgeon what I wanted! I'm glad you got the joke.

Now, my inner tag line for that picture is "bellying up to the bar". Do you think she considered her son at all when she posed for that?

[atomic sagebrush]

I BF my 3rd son at bedtime until well after 3. I didn't set out with that intention in mind and it was not to prove my superiority to anyone at all. He wouldn't drink milk (still won't) and is a very fussy and particular eater and it did make me feel better to know that he was at least getting breastmilk once a day while his brain was still growing superfast. Plus, he has a really difficult personality and it seriously was the only way he could calm down enough to sleep and for the benefit of our entire family, we needed him to go to sleep before 1 am. Say what you want about parenting skillzz but I feel I do have 'em at this point, and he was just BORN a tough kid who needed that extra level of care for a bit longer.

I know that's shocking and offensive to people but you never know until you're in the situation with a child who really seems to NEED to keep BF for longer either for health or for personality or for both, it's hard to say what you'll do. I really think if I hadn't kept nursing him, DH and I would prob. be divorced and I'd be in the insane asylum LOL.

My stepmom BF my sister (who was also a very picky eater and has food allergies) until she was 5.

I'm sure there are people who think some kids are picky eaters BECAUSE they're breastfed and I've had 3 other breastfed babies who were great eaters so I know that just isn't true.

[BeadinMom]

The only problem I have is with the title of the article.
Every mom is different...every child is different...there is no right or wrong way, as far as I'm concerned. I think it is awful that a magazine would attempt to pit moms against each other.
I promise not to judge other moms...I just hope they don't judge me!

[atomic sagebrush]

I agree totally, I mean we're all totally friends here and now people are getting upset. Curse you Time Magazine LOL.

Seriously - being a bad mom means leaving your kid locked in a hot car or living in a meth house - whether you choose to BF or not, organic foods or not, cosleep or CIO - those are all things that great moms worry about. We're all on the same team and want the best for our kids no matter how we go about that!

[BeadinMom]

Amen to that!!!