America is a funny place.  Our society is just so backwards.  

We do the most unnatural things in world and make that our norm.  Then,  if someone does something that IS natural, they are weird/an extrememist/a nazi/a tree hugger, etc.

 My older son is circumsized.  I was told that it was normal and common for it to be done. I was 18, didn't do any research, so I just followed along.  My baby isn't circumsized.  I did not have a piece of skin arbitrarily and painful excised from his most tender parts.  It just didnt' seem right to me.  For some reason, that makes me "weird."  I am not sure why.  I don't knock those who do it-hell, I did it.  I just feel differently now and it was the right choice for my child.  I don't think mamas that have their boys circumsized are bad or stupid.  Many do it for religious reasons.  Others do it because they want their sons' parts to be "prettied up" (their words, not mine).  Others do it because they assume that all men are circ'ed. Your reasons are your reasons.  Mine are mine.  We can be different. It's okay.

I breastfed/feed all four of my ducklings.  It is what boobs do-they make milk.  They really don't have any other natural purpose.  Everybody's boobs do it after they give birth so it is normal and natural to breastfeed.  It is abnormal and unnatural to give your newborn the milk of another species, adulturated and mixed with chemicals, fungi, etc.  It is even dangerous in some cases (feeding preemie/immunocompromised babies powdered formula can make them very, very sick).  I don't walk around with signs condemning formula.  I don't look down on moms who tried to breastfeed but had issues that led to them stopping.  Hell, I don't look down on moms who choose not to breastfeed (though I must admit that I make assumptions abou their priorities but I keep them to myself).  I just believe that breastmilk is the proper and normal nutrition for infants.   You feed your baby they way you want, I will feed my baby the way I want.  No hard feelings.

What gets me is the negativity from moms who choose more mainstream ways of raising their children.  They want to mock and point fingers at moms who make different choices.  Then, if a mom defends her choices (which she shouldn't have to do, but it gets to you sometimes) they say she is bashing them or trying ot make them feel bad or pushing her ideas on them.  But that is not it.  It is nothing close to that.  I neer feel this way.  For example, I vaccinate my children. I know a lot of moms who don't.  They don't try to make me feel bad.  They simply offer information which I am free to analyze on my own.   I don't feel attacked or harassed.  They just have different opinions.

The only reason a mother would feel attacked or harrassed when someone states what they do and their reasons for doing it would be guilty. If you are proud of your mothering and the choices you make.  Since I am not ashamed of the choices I make, I don't feel bad when talking to moms who don't vaccinate, don't spank, are vegetarian, etc. I don't feel like they are bashing me.  I don't think they look down on me.  I just feel like they make different mommy choices than I do.   

Tags: circumcision, circumcise, rib, breastfeeding, nazi, harrass, attack, negative, formula, e. sakazakii, choices, mama, different, moms, can't we all just get along?, strife, conditioning, normal, abnormal, natural, bash, vaccine, co sleep, cio, vegan, spank, gentle discipline, no vax, baby wearing, ebf, delay solids.

Add A Comment