‘I’ve nursed my son through four birthdays now’
The new Time magazine cover reminded me of a piece — titled “The Breast of Times” — that my former Milwaukee Magazine colleague Judith Woodburn wrote for Salon in 2006. I thought I’d share it with you.
One passage:
Are you a bad mother if you don’t breast-feed? Having experienced the challenges of breast-feeding firsthand, I don’t think so. But having started down this path, my personal debate has involved a different question altogether: Am I a bad mother if I haven’t stopped?
Woodburn, who was Milwaukee Magazine editor-in-chief in the early 1990s (I was senior editor at the time), points out in her piece that in some places, her decision to breast-feed her four-year-old son might still be considered criminal.
* The Breast of Times (Salon)
* How common is extended breast-feeding? (Time)
* Time managing editor discusses the cover with Paul Farhi (WP)
* Time’s breast-feeding cover heats up on social media (USAToday.com)
Time Magazine is still publishing?
That’s pretty hilarious, your feigned surprise that Time still exists. Now say something about “Saturday Night Live.”
Sorry, I don’t have children. Is this normal to breastfeed a 4-year-old? Or is it like that scene in Game of Thrones where the woman has what looks like an 8-year-old nursing away?
Also, is it appropriate to show a 4-year-old nursing? From the point of view of how, thanks to the Internet, every single embarrassing moment of our lives will be with us forever?
The problem is, most moms DON’T LOOK LIKE THAT!!