Posted on 04/30/2005 5:56:16 AM PDT by tuffydoodle
Nursing mom gets unwelcome reception
FW mall says security firm made a mistake
10:37 PM CDT on Friday, April 29, 2005
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA-TV
For many mothers, breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world.
But it turned into an embarassing situation that angered a North Texas woman this week after she said a mall security guard harassed her.
Adrian Sparks was shopping at Hulen Mall Thursday, and decided to discreetly nurse her eight-month-old baby under a blanket in the food court.
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Karin Kelly reports "The security guard came over and asked me to stop, and either go to the restroom or to leave," Sparks said.
The guard told Sparks a food court customer had complained, even though Sparks was covered with a blanket.
"I told him it was perfectly legal for me to nurse my child," Sparks said. "And that they sell clothes more revealing that what I was doing right here."
Of course, it is legal - but soon another manager approached.
"He said, 'well those rules don't apply because we're a private facility,'" she recalled.
Friends who breastfeed have rushed in for support.
"The human race wouldn't exist without breast milk," said nursing mom Rachel Tarbutton.
Some are members of La Leche League, an organization that supports mother's milk for health and bonding benefits..
"To know that she is getting everything she needs from me, from my body, is (important)," Sparks said.
Mall officials said the incident was not normal procedure, and that t heir new security company made a mistake.
"That is not a Hulen Mall policy," said manager Kevin Davies. " We support what she was doing, we support moms and all of our customers, and feel badly this occurred."
That's not all that reassuring for Sparks, though.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to shop there again, because I was just so upset about it," she said.
My daughter in law would kill me if she knew I posted her product. I thought it was appropriate though.
I've run into that problem many times. Two children years of breastfeeding. I just ignored them.
I Waitressed at a coffee shop long time ago, was asked by a customer to stop the mother breastfeeding because it made her nauseated. It puts the employee in an awkward position.
"was asked by a customer to stop the mother breastfeeding because it made her nauseated"
That is incomprehensible to me. I would probably lose my job over something like that. There are so many crazy things going on in the world, to complain about a nursing mother, saying it made them nauseated, is insane.
I've noticed that motherhood tends to be despised in the U.S., or at least not as important as other things such as career.
Don't see a lot of same sex marriages where I live. None, now that I think of it. Most of the perverts and paranoids probably live in Mass.
Are we allowed to post photos of women breast feeding on FR ? (this is a leading question btw ;) )
I don't see this about the babies suffering, I see this as women who want be able to do whatever they want. Oh and I'm a chick myself.
And would never consider doing something so unladylike as performing an act like that in public.
And I feel really bad for the poor guys who can't help but be momentarily be awestruck by a woman with her breast hanging out and a small human sucking on it. The women invariably shoot daggers at the hapless men and make them feel bad. Bad form.
Or in my town outside NYC.
Neighbors on my street are Lesbian couple.
I was walking my dog in the park last year and one of them was nursing her adopted baby in plain view.
Nothing like the sight of hairy nipple to burn one's eyelids off.
Bingo! The dressing rooms are excellent and for that purpose. Some are even dim enough that a little shut-eye with feet up restoreth the soul, while nursing a wee one.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, it sure became a political "statement". Governor Wilson had to even "rule" on it -- that's how stupid this argument is. Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing; BUT HERE'S THE POINT -- IT AIN'T FOR EVERYONE. Asking people in a public place to simply "avert" their gaze is the same argument made by liberal exhibitionists.
I can sure understand the breastfeeding parents who are in love with their infant. And understand "nursing" to be a wonderful thing.
But men didn't make boobs an issue any more than women do. The "obsession" with boobs is just as great among women as it is with men.
And what amazes me, is how many pro-nursing females are making this very argument: that breasts are important. Use 'em in public; but get upset if anyone else objects.
Schedules, planning, politeness is what constitutes a civil society. Nursing in public is just.... drum-roll ... inconsiderate.
lol! Yours was a "feminist" alert -- the first full throttle one I've read in this entertaining thread. "woman-hater"? Interesting...
This woman has teets which facilitate this nifty position. The "child" is a child. Depending upon the shape of a woman's teets, and the age of her child.. some breastfeeding cannot be done discreetly. Good try tho, in posting *that* particular photo.
However, rabid-pro-breastfeeding activists will never succumb to logic; they'll go for the "for the children" angle, every single time.
There is a time and place for everything.
As dave berry is so fond of saying that would make a great name for a rock band :-)
I took my babies everywhere and never had to breast-feed in public. I supplemented with a bottle if necessary when I was out. Breast-feeding is a very private matter to me and not something to be shared with strangers at a mall dining court! Just call me old-fashioned I guess.
You are so right. Thanks for the sanity.
Actually, milk supplies are quite predictable. And if a woman doesn't have time for breast-feeding, maybe she should reconsider it. It seems some women just don't have time for the children, period. And whatever happened to manners and consideration?
Sounds like some women are just too busy for their children's sake.
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