Friday, May 11, 2012

Breastfeeding Controversy & Attachment...

TODAY IS FRIDAY!!!!!

I am sure you have seen the Time's magazine floating around cyberspace.
Whether you are for breastfeeding after a certain age or not...
the magazine cover will make you pause and take notice. 
And the magazine cover probably is a little extreme because
 they were trying to get people to react.  Hence it did it's job in the media.
What the magazine cover takes away however is the importance of the article. 
I haven't read the complete article but i have read about it. 

And since i am currently in the process of figuring out
what kind of mother and parent i want to be...
this would be an interesting article to read,
since the article is really about a parenting philosophy entitled:
Attachment Parenting (AP). 
AP parenting is about: parents focus on forming
strong emotional bonds with their children as they grow,
using techniques such as co-sleeping, baby wearing and extended nursing.
The article is so much more than breastfeeding but the shocking
picture takes away from the serious topic of parenting
and attachment and sensationalizes it to just a mother breasting a grown-ass baby!

Unfortunate but that's our society nowadays.
Where the unimportant issues gets more of a focus than what really matters.
Where when Beyonce says i breastfeed...
it makes Evening News where women have
 been breastfeeding and talking about it for years and years!

I believe what the Time's magazine does it open the door
for discussion about the importance of parenting and attachment of our child. 
Whether it's using the AP format or something else...
developing an attachment to parenting is important.


Question of the Day:
What do you think about the magazine cover?


Via


17 comments:

Kate @ Daffodils said...

I have two babies who I breastfed until about 8 months (stopped for different reasons with both) and tehy seem to be healthy and smart regardless. AP honestly weirds me out a bit. I think it complicates a child's independence a bit and I just have to imagine it doesnt do well for the spousal relationship (kids always in our bed? No thanks.) But some people swear by it!

Heather said...

I don't yet have children, but when I do, I don't plan to breastfeed at all, for many personal reasons. Neither my sister nor I were breastfed, and I don't think it harmed us in any way. I think the hype surrounding this and other parenting issues is definitely being blown out of proportion for the purpose of media hype.

Anonymous said...

It's not for me, I think, but to each his own. I say I think because if there is one thing I learned as a parent, it's "never say never." I breastfeed my 9 month old daughter. Before she came, I had ideals in my head about how this whole parenting thing was going to go.

I learned quick that my baby is the boss. I sleep when she wants too, eat when she wants too, etc. I learned that as much I as I was against the baby in our bed, after being completely exhausted, I relented. Zoe is still in our bed. It hasn't ruined our spousal relationships, you just have to get creative with where you "relate." *snickers*

I planned on bfing for 6 months and when 6 months came, I said a year... now that a year is coming along, my answer is, as long as my body allows me too.

you just never know. keep an open mind, and you'll do fine!

Alida Sharp said...

for many mother's outside of the US to breastfeed or not is not even a question. It is the only affordable way to feed their child. Just this week I saw a two year old standing up nursing at his mother's breast during a meeting I attended. No one batted an eye...it was just business as usual.

I think mother's need to do what feels right to them. We didn't do co sleeping but I wore a baby sling with both of my sons and carried them everywhere I went and I breastfed them both for a year.

CeCe said...

That pic on the cover of a mag does kind of creep me out but you just have to step back and realize it's natural. I don't get why you'd want to breast feed that long if you can afford milk and especially once a child starts eating food-how much milk do they really need. And by that time can't you just pump? But to each his own I suppose.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the AP, it sounds stiffling to a child's development based on the little I've heard. So many things go on within families and who knows what happens behind closed doors but this right here (picture), I find a little disturbing. I think this is just odd. After a certain point I think boundaries need to be in place between children and parents as far as maintaining some modesty. If a mother is just insistent on providing breastmilk for a kid this age, I think a pump would work just fine and he can drink it from a cup! LOL

Adrienne said...

I think, to each their own! You gotta what's best for your kiddo and you've gotta do what's best for your family. That's all that matters :)

Candice said...

The cover is definitely extreme, but it does do the job it wanted to - hence why we are having this discussion :)
My siblings and I weren't breastfed as my mum wasn't able to for various reasons, and we have all been above average in whatever we have done - so I don't think it really matters. Personally, when I become a mum I would like to breastfeed, but my stance is when the kid can ask for it? That's when breast feeding stops.

Pegster said...

I am all about attachment parenting, heck I still cosleep with my 21 month old and breastfed him until 14 months. I think people need to let women do what they want when it comes to feeding or raising their children. Now, I think the picture is way more provocative than it needs to be (almost even sexual, who stands up while they breastfeed come on) but the concept makes sense. People should back off mothers who want to breastfeed for a long time. It's their choice and it's natural.

Pegster said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ashley said...

The cover is definitely an attention-getter. Speaks volumes lol. Although I wasn't breastfed, & doctors wished I could have, but being a preemie certain things were out the question. BUT, I do plan on breastfeeding when I do have a child. If I'm able to. Extend nursing & other foolishness isn't my thing. Some kids grow to feel so dependent on their mother to do for them even when their old enough to do for themselves...

Ps. I am super LATE & I feel bad. But congrats to you & the Mr. on the baby. What a blessing!

LaShawn Wiltz said...

I think the cover was too much, and takes away from the subject.

Mrs. C. said...

Thanks for visiting my blog =) I'm all for women choosing whether bf is right for them or not. However, that cover photo really makes me stomach churn. I feel like that boy is too old for bf and the way they are making him pose just makes the photo seem provocative.

TheProDiva said...

The pic on the cover was a bit too much for me. I even said to someone that I thought it was photoshopped because it was a bit much. Like you said, I didn't bother reading the article because the cover made me uncomfortable. Not because I am adverse to women breastfeeding, but because its a bit jarring to see a child who appears to be school age with a boob in his mouth. The issue is appropriate, but who cares if you can't get past the cover.

Anonymous said...

I breastfed my son for 9 months, and very supportive of those who chose to make the same choice AND of those who do not. Honestly one of the things that bothered me most was the title of the associated article. I also imagine the ad was a way to get people talking and that they did. The media strikes again.......

Theodora Ofosuhima said...

as you rightly wrote, the cover wants to shock, i have seen one of my friends asking her three year old boy if she wanted to breastfeed standing of lying on her so, the cover didn't make me blink. i only thought, such a cute mother/model AP is something that has always been there but now intellectuals are attaching names. my philosophy about parenting is instinct parenting - just learn and listen to yourself and your baby needs

Rod and Alex - aka: "Rolex" said...

The cover photo does look shocking. I have always been of the opinion that once a child is talking...breastfeeding should come to an end...
The photo certainly gets attention.
It certainly is unfortunate that the photo, which has little to do with the actual article, received 90% of the publicity.