Here's an interesting anecdote...

[conuly]

A few weeks ago, I was at the SICM in the bathroom. Ana was sitting on the toilet, and I was sitting on the floor in front of her so I could make sure she didn't destroy all the toilet paper.

A woman came in, observed that I was sitting on the floor of the bathroom holding a baby, and began saying there were places I could do that, I didn't have to go into the bathroom.

After a minute or so of this, I realized - she thought I was nursing Eva.

And I give up. I do. If the casual observer can't observe that I'm *not* breastfeeding an infant, I can't think of any argument against nursing in public that I'm willing to listen to. Not that I could before, but I pretended. Because I care? Nope - because not listening isn't a great way to change people's minds.

But now I'm even more adament - You Really Can't Tell. That'll be my new slogan. You Really Can't Tell^TM!

Is she breastfeeding? Or is she merely sitting? Who knows? Because (say it with me now) You Really Can't Tell!

Apparently.

It could just be that this woman was supremely unobservant, or attempting to be polite by not staring (an example that I believe others would be wise to observe, in any situation)... but I don't know. Maybe it's just that You Really Can't Tell!

The whole thing was pretty amusing in retrospect.

Comments

[failstoexist.livejournal.com]

I think sometimes, you really can't tell. and sometimes, you really really can tell. what bothers me is when people look for resistance/a fight about it...like when I'm working and someone makes really loud comments about how they're going to sit over here and nurse, expecting me to tell them that they can't. It's clear from the way they try to catch my eye, and make sure they're right near me when they say it...and the fact that they're talking to their infant in a voice you can hear across the room. I'm not going to tell them they're not allowed-they in fact *are* allowed. But I really don't care if they're going to do it, I don't want to have to hear about it, and I'd really rather just get on with doing my job and pointing out signs to people that are right in front of their face, etc.

I don't have a problem with people who do it, but I don't want to be forced to pay attention to it. Because I really don't care what your child is eating...unless it's not from a bottle or a breast, in which case it's going to have to move out of the exhibits.