I'm a nursing mom and spend a lot of time with a curious
nursing babe in my arms.
But even in my circle of mama friends
who nurse their babes way, way longer than the average American nursing mom, I am still an anomaly.
-- people have looked down at my in -
a-sling nursing babe from over my shoulder while I was using a motorized cart and not realize he wasn't just sleeping, how's THAT for discreet!)
Nursing babes often have the association of nursing to sleep (which has so many beautiful aspects to it and isn't a negative, but could become so if you're struggling to help a baby or toddler to sleep on his own).
When I began breastfeeding, I repeatedly ran to a restroom (or if at home, to the privacy of our bedroom), to
nurse my babe when she was hungry rather than breastfeed in front of guests.
This actually initiated my first time nursing in public - I went out to the parking lot of our apartment complex and
nursed my babe in the sun for a few minutes - less than 10 because I didn't want her to be sunburned.
I am busy with all the tinies, the house, the homeschooling,
the nursing babe, family, friends, life.
Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and
nursing babes;
Sitting in the quiet at the end of a long day while
I nursed my babe would previously include an episode of some old show on Netflix.
The oldest is 37 with
a nursing babe of her own and the youngest is 24.
The tongue of
the nursing babe cleaves to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the young children beg for food, but no one gives it to them.
Then into this world our baby was born, and into the loving hands of a woman who has
nursed my babes.
It is so worth it as I had no idea how amazing it is to
nurse your babe.
Did
you nurse your babes into toddlerhood?
Regardless of how excited you are to breastfeed or how satisfied you are with your decision to
nurse your babe, it can still be incredibly tough to walk that road without any support.
The next time you sit down to
nurse your babe, from bottle or breast, make his or her gaze your meditation.