I support breast feeding moms; I was one. I support attachment parenting; I practice it to a certain extent. But, this week’s Time Magazine cover photo is inappropriate and the caption included makes breast feeding moms – and attachment parenting supporters – sound like bullies.
Breast feeding a toddler is a touchy subject, and when you take into account that Americans in general view breasts as sexual, this photograph is not going to garner any support for extended breast feeding. Many Americans cannot accept that a mother would breast feed her infant in public, I can only imagine what people would have said to this mom as she breast fed her toddler.
Attachment parenting – keeping your child as close to you as possible – co-sleeping, baby wearing, and breast feeding isn’t for everyone. For many reasons, not every woman can breast feed, baby wear or co-sleep. This cover photo is going to create judgement among those who can and those can not, between those who do and those who do not.
Why is the media consistently trying to create competition and hostility among parents? Because that’s what sells and gets people talking.
Do you think Time Magazine has gone too far with this image? Do you support attachment parenting?
I am pro breastfeeding. Kudos to those who do it past the age of 2. I find the cover to be a bit much. And like you said it only fuels the fire that is already out there regarding breastfeeding. As mothers instead of constantly competing or fighting we should just support one another no matter our parenting style or choice to breastfeed. And the media needs to stop fueling the fire.
Breastfeeding is healthier for the baby, of course. But the current controversy over attachment parenting seems primarily centered on breastfeeding children (Note: I used the word ‘children’ and not ‘infants’) .
The photo does elicit an immediate wave of unease, but for a lot of people that feeling is no greater here that if a woman were to breastfeed at a restaurant. Sexuality, the human body, and basic nudity are all points of titillation and shame in this culture. Can we just acknowledge that?
Yes, TIME is covering a hot topic. The cover is not to my taste, but since we’re talking about it, clearly, they have done their job.
These attachment mothers are doing a wonderful job with their children, and these children never have any socially awkward moments do to this. In fact, at school, other children never sniff out those who have such intense bonds to their mothers. And if they do, are wholly accepting and respectful of the bonds that their peers have formed even going so far and to pull up a chair at the table for Mom to breastfeed her second-grader while everyone else has their lunchables. Oh yeah, that’s a lie. Children do immediately mark you or your mother as the oddball. And that mark can and usually will follow you through high school.
I predict this boy will come to hate this photo. But what’s a scarred childhood as long as Mom gets to work out her own issues and will probably get a book deal.
There are much better ways to make our point than this. I would hope that we would be smarter than this. That is too bad.
I do think Time Magazine went to far, both with the image and the story title. I was never able to breastfeed, I tried with all my children-but was not successful. I had a friend who breastfed her son until he was 3.5 years- that was her choice and she suffered through some tough comments, glares, and was chastised for doing so. My general philosophy is “to each their own”. The media shouldn’t be highlighting this subject in such a garish way.
I saw this going around fb. I am pro- breast-feeding but this is taking it one step too far!
I definitely think TIME stepped over some boundaries with this one. I’m fine with attachment parenting – so long as you are not causing harm to your child, I see no problem with how anyone wants to parent. But, this photo isn’t even of breastfeeding – he’s simply got his mouth in place. Wrong, IMO.
Ick…….this made me want to cancel my Time subscription. I do think they went too far with this cover. I’m okay with controversial issues and debates, but I don’t need the visual image in my head. Trying to scrub this out of my memory.
I am all for breastfeeding and even breastfeeding in public, but this cover seemed to purely be for shock value and I don’t think that’s cool.
I don’t think the magazine went too far with the photograph as they did with the title. It’s as if they want to make it seem even more controversial by phrasing it the way they did. I see nothing wrong with extended breastfeeding and breastfed my oldest until she was 2. You’re so right that in our culture we see breasts as more sexual and it’s sad that society isn’t more accepting of something our breasts were made to do.