Let’s talk about breastfeeding.
Being a male I am in a unique position.
Either what I am about to say is useless because I am a man or it is useful for the same reasons.
I guess you can be the judge.
Recently, a hockey player from Alberta was praised and criticized for breastfeeding her eight-week old baby during intermission.
First of all, my respect goes out to the mother for making it back on the ice within eight weeks of giving birth.
Having never given birth, I can honestly say I have no idea how a woman’s body feels afterwards.
But from all accounts I have heard, it does not feel good, and usually takes a while to feel better.
So for Alberta native Serah Small to be back on the ice eight weeks later is impressive.
Now, on to the breastfeeding part.
Small’s photo, originally drew praise, before the internet, reverted back to the internet ways and began criticizing her.
What I am about to say might be a little controversial, but my question is who cares?
Why are we praising her?
Better yet, why are we criticizing her?
Breastfeeding is a natural part of being a mother and having a child.
So having said that, why do we care?
Mothers deserve to be left alone.
Is breastfeeding a child something to praise?
No. Because it is something that happens daily.
We do not celebrate when we walk, talk, breath, or eat.
Nor should we criticize when someone breast feeds, no matter the location.
Now, some people could argue that it is not on the same level as walking, talking, eating or breathing.
That is fair enough, but to me it is one in the same.
If the woman was told she could not breastfeed and she somehow did it that’s a miracle and deserves praise.
But to just do it?
Leave her alone.
Having said that, does she deserve to be criticized?
Absolutely not.
We have to remember that breastfeeding is a young child’s way of eating.
How can we possibly as a society tell mothers that when they are in public they should be starving their children?
For those that have a problem with it, just move on.
Having said that.
I also do not believe women should be in the middle of public doing so.
You look at Small, she was in the public eye, but in a private-public eye.
She did it quietly in the dressing room with her female teammates, a place that is supposed to be private for those inside.
A perfect place.
Even if you are at a mall, or a restaurant or anywhere else, I have no issue with breastfeeding but do it quietly.
I would not agree if a mother, sitting right in the middle of the mall or restaurant suddenly decided to start breastfeeding in sight of everyone.
There has to be a level of respect.
In my opinion, mothers should find a quieter, less heavily populated area to breastfeed.
By that I mean, move to a smaller area of the mall or restaurant out of the sight of some people.
Mothers should be trying to breastfeed in an inconspicuous area.
Just like lovers should be kissing and showing their affections for one another in an area where they are not the centre of attention.
And if you see a mother breastfeeding, who cares?
Leave the mothers alone.
Breastfeeding is a natural part of life.
But also stop glorifying the action.
It does not deserve to be praised and it especially does not deserve to be criticized.
