I was so annoyed today.

[conuly]

Annoyed isn't even the word.

Here I am, eating lunch with Ana, one of her friends, and the friend's family (mom, brother, nanny), and I pull out a bottle for the baby.

The mother happily (she thinks this is cool and impressive, I gather) tells the nanny that "the baby's still nursing at ten months. This is breastmilk - her mom pumps for her at work!" which is all true. (And to interrupt, that pumping thing makes the weirdest noise.)

And the nanny makes a face - actually makes a face like a child - and goes "Ew. I didn't need to hear that. I don't like seeing that."

Now, let's count how many ways she was rude:

1. She was, first off, rude to her boss, who clearly doesn't tell her things just to gross her out.
2. She was rude to me. I support Jenn in her breastfeeding and pumping. The pumping, I know from being told, is a lot of work. It's not an easy thing. And here I am, with a bottle of breastmilk in my hand, I don't need to be told it's disgusting.
3. She was rude to Ana, who also doesn't need to be told that other people might think what her mother does is gross.
4. She was rude to the baby. Granted, Evangeline doesn't understand any of this, but it is still *never* polite to make faces and rude comments about what another person is eating, especially not in their hearing. Which means...
5. She did wrong by all the kids at the table by setting an *incredibly* bad example.

I don't know. Maybe the woman just doesn't have any self-control. But it really pissed me off. For crying out loud, Ana regularly lifts up her shirt and sticks a doll there! She did that just today! She doesn't need people discouraging her from breastfeeding before she even has breasts, thanks very much.

Comments

[worldmage.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm just weird, but I do not understand the "EW" reaction to breastfeeding. It's milk. Whoopdeedoo. We're mammals. We do that. That's what "mammal" MEANS, for Bob's sake! Folks need to get a grip.

[conuly]

Well, I understand the reaction to bodily fluids... kinda... but not if you're cheerfully watching children consume the rotten milk solids of another species, for crying out loud.

And it was processed cheese to boot, which is even ickier.

[xiggaroo.livejournal.com]

No, no, not processed cheese - processed cheese-food! It isn't even cheese!

[leora.livejournal.com]

If you're referring to American cheese, then it is:

processed cheese food product

it's not even food; it's a food product.

I do kind of understand finding it gross to think about what you eat. I've grossed people out by pointing out that eggs are basically a chicken's period (since we eat the unfertilized ones). They are, they're the stuff the chicken builds ups to nourish a chick if it should have one. When it doesn't, it gets rid of it to start making a new one. It's not the same in that it's not blood and lining, but it's the same basic idea. Apparently this is too gross to mention.

But milk, enh. It's got less involvement with blood and such. And most people don't mind talk of where cow's milk comes from. I find the thought of milk from a human less disturbing than milk from a cow (have you seen a cow?) But enh.

But regardless, it was a rather childish reaction. I also kind of expect adults to be able to handle adult matters, like sex, procreation, and feeding children. And uh, why be a nanny if breastfeeding grosses you out?

[xiggaroo.livejournal.com]

Lol, nannies.

[worldmage.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm just weird, but I do not understand the "EW" reaction to breastfeeding. It's milk. Whoopdeedoo. We're mammals. We do that. That's what "mammal" MEANS, for Bob's sake! Folks need to get a grip.

[conuly]

Well, I understand the reaction to bodily fluids... kinda... but not if you're cheerfully watching children consume the rotten milk solids of another species, for crying out loud.

And it was processed cheese to boot, which is even ickier.

[xiggaroo.livejournal.com]

No, no, not processed cheese - processed cheese-food! It isn't even cheese!

[leora.livejournal.com]

If you're referring to American cheese, then it is:

processed cheese food product

it's not even food; it's a food product.

I do kind of understand finding it gross to think about what you eat. I've grossed people out by pointing out that eggs are basically a chicken's period (since we eat the unfertilized ones). They are, they're the stuff the chicken builds ups to nourish a chick if it should have one. When it doesn't, it gets rid of it to start making a new one. It's not the same in that it's not blood and lining, but it's the same basic idea. Apparently this is too gross to mention.

But milk, enh. It's got less involvement with blood and such. And most people don't mind talk of where cow's milk comes from. I find the thought of milk from a human less disturbing than milk from a cow (have you seen a cow?) But enh.

But regardless, it was a rather childish reaction. I also kind of expect adults to be able to handle adult matters, like sex, procreation, and feeding children. And uh, why be a nanny if breastfeeding grosses you out?

[xiggaroo.livejournal.com]

Lol, nannies.