Let's keep the controversy out (for today, at least) and look at the goofiness in the world related to our milk production.
Exhibit A:
The Breastfeeding Doll. Bebé Glotón is marketed under the guise of teaching our children (daughters, presumably) that breastfeeding is natural. However, it ends up as simply odd.
Case in point: the electronic burp at the end of the demo. File this under WTF?!
I don't have a problem with our kiddos learning about breastfeeding. Heck, when Baby E is frustrated, Little L announces,
He needs breastmilk!
Thanks, Chief.
No, my problem is way more elementary:
- Why are we putting on a halter top--featuring pasties--to teach about how natural breastfeeding?
- What is up with those creepy suckling and hiccuping and burping sounds? Jeez, haven't dolls somewhat improved in the 25 years since I had an eating and pooping plastic baby?
- Well, at least they don't make the little glutton excrete breastmilk poop....do they?
AND next in the WTF category is Exhibit B:
In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, a nude statue of Angelina Jolie will be unveiled just minutes away from Brad Pitt's birthplace in Oklahoma. Forget the nudity for a second, folks. She's breastfeeding twins, football hold style. So it supports breastfeeders. Even if it looks like this:
As you might remember, I appreciated Jolie's cover of W magazine, because seeing hot mamas breastfeed might help others know it's kosher.
But what's up with the nudity? Because when I think of Angelina Jolie naked, I think: breastfeeding.
Or this slightly odd statement, from the press release:
In recognition of the global effort to encourage breastfeeding, one twin is depicted as being of African descent. Future castings of the statue will represent other world cultures through variations of the babies' patina coloring.
As the mother of a biracial child, I also have always appreciated the multicultural Pitt-Jolie brood. But we're gonna color this naked statue of Jolie different colors to show that breastfeeding is cool, no matter what color you are?
I'm stumped on this one, folks.
Finally, I couldn't let the silliness of this post go by without mentioning this:
When Breastfeeders Attack!
This is the funniest satirical breastfeeding story I've read all year (because I've read so many in that genre?), and I couldn't resist sharing it with you again. An excerpt:
Several women had to be treated for shock today, after a rampage of rampant breastfeeders attacked a shopping mall. One mother is reported to be in intensive care, after being exposed to a pendulous breast, leaking milk.
'We've been observing an increase in sightings, for some weeks. First they come in on their own, one to one like, and try and sneak past you. Then, just when you think it's safe, they whip them out and sometimes even put a baby on them, to divert the eye. We've tried to stomp down on this specific site, several times, but they are wily.'
We approached a Government minister to make a statement about today's terrible attack, but found no one brave enough to do so. 'If you think I'm going to admit breastfeeders exist, never mind require legal control, you're mad.'
It's a lovely, long blog post and totally worth the read. Check it out here.
Please! When people get a bit stuffy about breastfeeding politics, share this story with them!
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