Nursies?

A few weeks ago when Jon was out of town my mother came up to help put the kids to bed while I taught my birth class. We were sitting at dinner at Ewan looked at my mom, then looked at me, then looked at my mom, then looked at me and said the following:

Ewan: (Poking my mother's breasts) Are those your nursies?

Mom: Yes.

Ewan: My mom has nursies. Okay, but you don't have anything to drink out of your nursies. My mom is going to feed the baby with hers.

Mom: That is right Ewan.

My mother and I were containing ourselves from laughter because it was such a funny thing for him to observe and suddenly be aware of at dinner. He is a smart kid and is figuring out the world.

Now, some of you may be wondering why I don't discourage him from this conversation. Let me tell you why. Because breastfeeding is NORMAL and NATURAL. Breastfeeding isn't sexual in nature and for sure Ewan's poking and prodding isn't either. He is learning about babies and body parts. That is normal. I want him to grow up with a healthy idea of what breasts are for. I would hope that he would grow up to be a man who supports his wife and encourages her to give their baby the best food available. Sure, when he gets older he will enjoy the sexual nature of breasts but that isn't all they are for. Breasts were made to feed babies and it is a pity to me that so many people try to make breastfeeding something "gross" or sexual. I think it is ludicrous when people say nursing women should hide themselves and/or go sit in a bathroom somewhere to feed their babies "in case someone sees something". Um, have you seen the way women dress these days? Have ya ever walked by Victoria's Secret in the mall? Have you ever seen their commercials? Have you ever seen the covers of Maxim magazine? Have you ever seen the suggestive poses that Brittany Spears and Christina Aguilara have done in their music magazine spreads? Have you ever seen beer ads? I see more cleavage and boob walking around the mall than I see from women nursing their babies! Anyway, I am sure you get my point although I know that most of you who read my blog aren't naysayers of breastfeeding but I thought I would go ahead and let you know why we consider this normal conversation around our house.

(The picture above is of a woman who has a video series out on breastfeeding that is really good. It covers the how to's, the benefits, personal testimony etc.)