Schoolkid.Ph

The latest issue of Time magazine (US) showing a mother breastfeeding her 3-year old son standing up is now causing a debate over the mom and parenting blog world. Not only those who are clueless or indifferent (like the men) about breastfeeding find this cover shocking but even many moms feel this way too.

Here in the Philippines, breastfeeding is widely promoted too, both by the public and private sector. However, the reason behind this is primarily due to the high nutritional content of breastmilk that gives great health benefits to a child. A secondary reason is the attachment or bond that is formed between the mother and child.

I have no issues about breastfeeding and all my boys were breastfed when they were infants. I did it for both reasons I stated above. In fact, I breastfed one of them until he was 3 years old. I was fortunate to be able to produce milk that long so I thought might as well continue giving it to my child.

The Photo
So, in a way, I suppose I was like that mom on the Time cover. So it didn’t shock me to know about her breastfeeding her 3yr old son. What did shock me though is seeing the son being breastfed in standing position because it is such weird position to breastfeed a child.

It is obviously just for photo’s sake and I’m even thinking it was meant really to shock people and make them take a double-look on the cover. True enough, according to Yahoo, Time managing editor, Rick Stengel, admits that the photo was to get attention.

This is normal though, in case you’re wondering. Sure, not many moms breastfeed after their child is 6 months to 1 year but there are those who do. I’ve even met a mother who was still breastfeeeding her 5-yr old son.

The Caption
But do you know what to me is off with this cover? the caption – “Are you Mom Enough?“. Seriously? I think I’m mom enough regardless of how I breastfed my kids. If I was only able to breastfeed for a few months, I’d still be mom enough. If I was unable to breastfeed my kids, I’d still be mom enough. If I chose not to breastfeed at all, I’d still be mom enough.

As I said, my reason for breastfeeding my son that long was simply because I was still producing milk. I’d be honest to say that it was not for the attachment or bond that breastfeeding creates. I have my lifetime to have those bonding moments with my children.

You know, parenting is hard enough and even frustrating at times. We are presented with many schools of thought in parenting, but none of them can claim that their parenting way is what will make THE mom. As long as we raise happy, responsible, caring and loving kids then whatever way we choose to achieve it, we can all be great mothers (great dads too, for that matter). There are no rules.

Now, I’m thinking what Time would put up on their cover for Father’s Day.

 

 

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