At the sound of her little voice this morning, I’ve decided we might have to call it something else.
“Look, Mommy, I’m feeding my baby ‘Boobie’!”
(Oy vey.)
I expected this type of mimicry. All of my “Been There, Done That” mom friends warned me about it. I know I imitated my mom. In fact, one of my earliest memories is sitting at my grandmother’s house, nursing my little baby, Jonathon, while mom nursed my new baby sister. Imitating the world around them is what little kids do and how they learn.
Heck, my mother in law told me HUBBY even pretended to nurse his stuffed animals after the birth of his baby brother.
(Tee hee . . . hi, Hubby)
Fortunately, since we’re all sick today, we’re home and this announcement/act wasn’t in the middle of a crowded store, restaurant, or a friend’s house.
But if it was?
(Oy vey, again, I say.)
Truth be told, I’m torn. Do I let her “nurse her babies,” knowing full well that, at some point, people outside of our immediate family will see her do this? Or, do I tell her that only Mommies feed their babies “boobies” and hand her one of her doll’s bottles?
Both the Little Lady and I were formula fed, so I don’t have any issue with letting her bottle feed her babies, but I love nursing Mr. Boy and I want my daughter to grow up knowing that nursing a baby is an absolutely wonderful a way to feed a child. Yet, do I really want my 2 year old play acting like she’s nursing . . . in public? Little shirt raised up and everything? Yeah. Not sure about that.
Of course, I don’t want to sound as though I’m not truly supportive of breast feeding — believe me, I am!
I don’t have any problem with any woman who breastfeeds, is an extended breastfeeder, who pumps . . . I don’t even have a problem with nursing in public. I do it myself ! (Although I can’t bring myself to do it without my nursing cover and Hubby standing around to beat up anyone who stares a little too hard.) But, the Little Lady, potentially, nursing in public? Yeah — I kind of have a problem with that given that we live in crazy Houston. I was approached once by a stranger who asked if he could take a picture of the Little Lady — just because she was “so cute.” Seriously. So, yeah, I’m a little nervous about her “breast-feeding” in public just like Mommy.
On the other hand, I feel guilty telling her not to do it, especially since she sees me feeding Mr. Boy eight times a day. Just feel a little hypocritical, that’s all. Should I get over it and let her play “Mommy” however she wants? Maybe so — after all, our bodies were made to do this, just as they were made to eat, drink, and sweat. It’s natural, right? And, despite what I tell her, she will still probably end up feeding her baby “boobie” the next time at church . . . ’cause that’s just the type of kiddo I have.
Yeah. I think I should start practicing my new smile. The “Yes, I know my daughter is nursing her baby doll. What’s it to YOU?” Smile. I’m sure I can nail that look. And, in the meantime, perhaps I can incorporate a few modesty lessons into the Little Lady’s life curriculum.
Now — I just need to come up with a new name for nursing, as well as no longer asking Mr. Boy if he “wants a boobie.” If not, that will be the next thing out of the Little Lady’s mouth!
