What You Probably Don't Understand About My Activism

It is National Breastfeeding Awareness month!  I was so excited for August to roll around because we get to celebrate something that has become so very dear to me.  I did my research to find out otherwise lesser known facts about the topic and was so excited to post a fun fact everyday.  It really is eye opening to see just the complexities that goes into a woman’s body.  I can’t understand the full extent of it but God really had a plan and intelligence.

Now before you get offended, because I know some of you are, I do not mean to say that God intended children to starve because there is the 3-4% of women that cannot breastfeed, that women should all be able to get pregnant.  Goodness sakes, no!  We have options now; viable options for those that are otherwise unable to.

I do appreciate the “I Support You” movement.  It is necessary.  I do support you!  My only negative feeling about it is that I do feel it undermines the celebration of this month.  All women should be celebrated for doing their best.  This month is specifically dedicated to breastfeeding and bringing awareness to how complex, difficult, wonderful, life giving, expansive, and how in need breastfeeding women are of support.  By supporting breastfeeding and pointing out the benefits of it, I am not insulting formula feeding.  This seems to be a never-ending opinion.  That by somehow pointing out the benefits of breastfeeding I am somehow pointing out the flaws of formula feeding.  Not true!

The mothers I know are all wonderful.  They all do their very best for their children.  They do not all breastfeed but that is not what makes them wonderful mothers.  What makes them wonderful mothers is researching and taking what knowledge they find and doing their best to apply it.  We can not, for the most part, change what our bodies allow us to do.  We have to do our best with what we are given.

I aim to support mothers that breastfeed.  To let them know they do not have to feel alone, sequestered, or ashamed.  I want to educate future mothers that do wish to breastfeed.  That there are numerous benefits, it is difficult, you will need help, that it is a learned skill.  This does not mean that I think those that chose the alternative are not equally great mothers. 

There is a lot of misinformation out there concerning breastfeeding.  It has become such a political topic that even medical professionals are starting to become politically correct about how they discuss it.  Science does not worry about offending, only people do.

If supporting breastfeeding mothers and nursing in public makes me a feminist, great!  Feminism doesn’t have to mean I am an angry, crotchety, Godless woman that does not need a man.  It means that I stand up for women that are otherwise being discriminated against for their choices when that choice happens to be a wonderful one.  I absolutely need and love my husband.  I wouldn’t be the woman or mother I am today without his support.

I do feel like I have lost the support of close friends and family.  I am affected by it, but I can not let it change my goal.  I do feel like I am working towards a positive change, a difference that needs to be made.  I won’t stop.  Unfortunately that will mean the loss of others, but it will mean I will gain support from others that agree with me.  It is my fault for picking a topic that happens to be controversial.  It is their fault for looking past the whole of me to be offended and uncomfortable by a part of what I do.  I’m not going to apologize for following my heart and my spirit.

I hope I have explained to those that have become offended or uncomfortable my views.  I’m sure some will not even bother to read this because it mentions the word “breastfeeding” in the first sentence and will likely be followed by some sort of “here she goes again” thought.  I do not feel I need to explain myself, but it is out of love and a hopeful mutual understanding that I do it.  I don’t want my family and friends to lose out on seeing my wonderful son grow up or my amazing husband realize his goals because they cannot get past my activism.

My passion comes from my heart and my spirit.  Is a fire that has started and will not be stopped.  I can promise you this.