It's been interesting, though, to observe their reactions to
my ever-increasing "crunchy granola" lifestyle. Kind of like a funny little social experiment
that leaves me grinning (though sometimes frowning) on the inside.
Take the breastfeeding issue. Thankfully, I haven't received any
off-putting comments about my nursing (respectfully and covered) during the
discussion hour or in the service. But
it's been amusing to observe the different reactions of people when it's time
for Augustine to eat.
When I'm in the sanctuary and he needs to nurse, it almost always happens right before the pastor
tells everyone to stand up and greet those around you. Awkward!
So there I am, sitting at the end of
the aisle with my noisy eater suckin' away!
I get the impression that some people try to avoid eye contact or walk
the other way, while those who know me well don't bat an eyelash. While I wish breastfeeding at church would be
a non-issue, Greg brought up the point that some might just be trying to be
respectful. Breastfeeding is, in fact, a
very intimate and special thing between a mom and her baby. I can understand why people would want to
give me space.
In spite of the funny and semi-awkward encounters I've
experienced while nursing, I have noticed that it gets a little better with
each passing Sunday. People are getting
used to it, which I like. The awkward
avoiders are becoming fewer, and I feel like people are realizing that this is
just what we do.
I recently read an article in Christianity Today called "Breastfeeding in the Back
Pew." In it, the author proclaims,
"In a culture where breasts are perennially on display--but where
breastfeeding is often regarded with disgust or at least
embarrassment--allowing mothers to breast-feed in worship would counter how
sexualized breasts are in modern culture.
It would also communicate respect for mothers.... The earthy eloquence
of breast-feeding, even in church, would also remind us of both the humanness
of our Savior and of God's loving sustenance of us through all the seasons of
our lives."
Amen and amen.
This is such a weird conversation because it's something that makes so much sense to me (and you), but seems so foreign and uncomfortable to some people--even some people with children, even those who have breastfed! I have breastfed a lot in public, but I show a lot of discretion with the way I do. And I have sometimes opted out of public feeding in some circumstances when it seemed too uncomfortable for the other people present. But I would never, never, never bat an eye at another woman feeding her child during church, at a restaurant, in a park, wherever. Practice with public breastfeeding does really make it easy and less noticable. The more women are "allowed" to nurse in public, the easier it becomes for them and their children.
ReplyDeleteI have often said that you can judge how welcoming a church is of young families by how far a woman must remove herself from the sanctuary to 1. breastfeed and 2. change a diaper. Sad to say, at our current church, a nursing or diaper-change trip takes me the the entire opposite side of the church--plus a trip downstairs. Super disappointing and discouraging.