Planting Seeds
Take a look at the picture above. What do you see. First instinctual thought. Keep that thought in mind.
When I was trying to decide what topic would be best for my first blog my brain was exploding with ideas. It was one summer day while at the cottage with my family that THE hottest topic literally came up in conversation. Judgment. Societies idea of what motherhood is, what it should look like, sound like, smell like, the list is never ending. What is right as a mother, what is wrong, is there a right and wrong? Who can you listen to, go to, depend on for advice and guidance. The reason this topic is so heated is that EVERYONE has an opinion on the matter! The secret? No one actually knows! No one has all the answers.
What happened to women in caveman day. I would love to go back to that time and take notes! I picture it primal, natural and community based. No one ashamed of their bodies or nervous to feed their children in front of others.
I am, by no means saying ways of life were better then and we shouldn’t be grateful for our advances as a species but I do think we need to ask ourselves what happened to that way of life. Why has something so basic to our survival changed so much in terms of what is acceptable and what isn’t.
The truth is we have $&@!ed it all up. Years of advancement in our culture has literally changed the way we look at birth and the function of a woman’s body. At some point men and women together began to prioritize attractiveness and superficial means of life and quickly forgot that birth and breastfeeding are beautiful and crazy amazing! We literally almost lost the knowledge and culture of breastfeeding in the 60s and 70s. That blows my mind!
As years in our western society trickle by we have slowly adopted a new way of thinking. Boobs are for sex and pregnant bellies should be clothed. 
How did something so beautiful become so controversial? Why did we let this happen. Can we turn the clocks of time?
Remember that picture I asked you to judge? My guess is you thought one of two things. Either it appeared Sexual or Natural and beautiful. I’m not judging you for thinking sexual (if you did) because it’s not your fault. We have been raised to feel this way! Is there a problem with this? YES you bet there is! As a culture we have made 2 of the 3 acts which use to ensure our survival as a species, taboo. Sex, birth, and breastfeeding. Sex is perfectly normal. We see boobs ALL THE TIME. Play boy, movies and no one bats an eye. However The act of birth and feeding your baby has become private and taboo in nature.
I began sharing my website on Facebook and the picture that It choose to display as the cover happened to be this picture of me on my bed embracing my baby moving in my belly in all my curvy pregnant glory. My family saw this and immediately judged me. They felt it was too sexual and private to have displayed for anyone to see.
I asked them. What about it is sexual to you? Their answer was very basic. The boobs, too much skin, your laying in your bed etc. I told them exactly what I told you. It’s not your fault. Society has done this to us! I’m not 100% innocent. In my 20’s I wanted nothing more then some big fake boobs. And to this day I enjoy feeling attractive and using my curves to my advantage. But I know their primary role and I will never shy away from feeding my child in public. I’m proud of the amazing moment, caught on camera of the birth of my second son. I would show it to the world if they could handle it.
It’s my personal belief that this thought processes plays into the alienation and judgment many moms feel. Not only are we now judged for doing things that should be praised but we are bombarded with instruction and advice on what is acceptable and what is not.
My 3 year old son is often found “breastfeeding” his dolls and even his younger brother. This bothers my husband immensely but fills me with joy! This is the change. The turning of the clocks before my very eyes! Planting seeds where ever we can will grow into a new generation of young people that are less judgmental and more supportive.
In the states there is a woman who turned a cube van into a giant boobie van.
When ever a breastfeeding mother is shamed or turned away for feeding in public a chain of phone calls go out and a rally of nursing women unite at the shameful location. The boobie van sounds an alarm and dozens of women sit outside together and feed their children in unison. Picturing this brings a huge smile to my face! It sends a very loud message that I think it important on many levels.
Mamas are instinctual. Bears. You $&@! With our young we will bite you. Where has this passion gone when it comes to being proud of our amazing pregnant bodies?! The fire behind keeping our young alive and feeding them wherever and whenever we want to. What happened to a good old stare down when someone tries to hinder your motherly instincts? I don’t think nature has deserted us completely yet. Every mama has the desire to do what’s best for your baby. Give into it!!!! Don’t let judgment get the best of you. Harness your inner mama bear. Drive a boobie van. And plant some seeds. Let’s grow a generation that praise motherhood for all that it is.