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.
Xena, if you run away, think about it, would you let us know where you are going so we can keep you up to date on the search?
Meanwhile, I think one should not plan to breastfeed in public places just as I think one should not be out and about without one's panties on. But there are emergencies. Sometimes we have to leave home without our underpants. And sometimes babies get hungry when one is out. THus the well bred woman carried a crocheted, preferably hand crocheted by her grandmother, with her at all times to be discrete. A pashmina would do nicely and be up to date but grannie's shawl just screams "well bred".
That is my opinion and I am sticking to it.
We are all waiting, breathlessly, for her new hairdo. And the wedding is on. We are all just so anxious,,,I am worried a few freepers may take a hike to vegas to get away from the stress.
Dan, you would not believe the scorching we've taken for this. It's been a VERY informative thread.
For instance, I've been told that since I've never borne or breast-fed a child, my opinion is invalid and should not be aired in public.
For another, I've been accused of thinking I know how to parent better than any parent on this thread. (I love it when people tell me what I'm thinking. Miss Cleo would have paid big to employ them.)
If this is your first-time in a "breastfeeding" scorcher thread, let me tell you -- over the past few years there have been blurbs about women (who breastfeed) and in "mommy forums" online who've been subjected to the same flames as you've taken in this thread.
Can you imagine being raised by women who "rant ugly" like this? Egads.. and for merely expressing an opinion? Time to expose nasty mommies, no? There are plenty of them out there who hide behind the "woman as supreme nurturer" arguments and who use their breasts as means to foist their ideology upon others. Actually, you do sound like you might be a better parent than some in this thread who are actual parents currently.
ROFL!!!! Her new 'do'. LOL! Yes.. sounds like the "runaway" bride has bigger plans than mere "marriage". Oh, Camilla Parks should have taken counsel from this chick, no?
Amazing about Camilla. I would have never thought she could have pulled it off. Imagine, she did it. And now she has him. I hear they are so hot for each other, they do it in the bushes at Highgrove. Those two kids!!!
My vote for classiest post on this thread. Thank you.
You need to get expert help; given what you've just written to me. You sound terribly overwhelmed. I do commisserate; but I object to your personal hyperbole. You are trying to do a "guilting" thing upon any who disagree with your perspective. That's a rude tactic, did you know this? Your life is a bit out of control, you are demanding that others SHUT UP about their own opinions. This says.. you are feeling out of control. You are spewing fury all over the map.
La Leche League has been very helpful; but I don't buy into the "nursing as a natural public position" part of the gambit. I guess you don't either.
Let's see.. you post an opinion publically, and you call me a "busybody" for posting mine in response?
It isn't me who is having the problem, dear mother. Dr. Dobson gives very good counsel. I like his material.
If you are truly being discreet in public while nursing, I don't understand why it hits a nerve with you when others disagree. If you are discreet, who knows it then? NO ONE.
I'm disappointed to learn that you cannot discover ways by which to have more privacy in your life to nurse. This tells me how stressed you are. Or, perhaps, not wishing to give up parts of your own schedule in order to make room for "truly discreet" nursing. I think it is the former: You sound stressed. And I bet you are a good, loving mother. Be gentle with yourself too, dear mother.
Well.. uh.. I suppose that after so many years of "hiding in the bushes" to do their "thing"; it must feel liberating to them to do so publically. Can't ya just hear the libs ranting: Down with the Bushes! "Down with the Bushes". lol
WOW you said it!!!
My sons are 21 and 16... when I was pregnant with my first son I managed a little store at the mall... I was the local La Leche league's "project" I think... every day another nursing mother coming in to "recruit" me.. I don't know what the deal was - but even back then they were the most militant types... they drove me absolutely INSANE.. (which when you're pregnant isn't very far to go.. laugh)
Neither of my boys could nurse... not to say I didn't give it a go.. Only ONCE did I attempt it in public.. but it wasn't really public.. I stayed in the car when my husband ran into the store... it was too nerve wracking.. the public part.. I HATED it.
It became obvious that it wasn't going to work when I was feeding my first one "on demand" every HOUR for the first 5 weeks of his wonderful little life... He GLADLY took a bottle of formula because the little guy just wasn't getting enough.
On going back to work at 6 weeks... the above LaLeche Leaguers came in... and BERATED me for "not trying hard enough"... let me tell you .. I was a first time mother who felt like a total failure.. The I spoke to my FEMALE pediatrician who basically made me feel better..
Yep - I agree while it's a "natural thing" .. it isn't ALWAYS the best thing - for mom or baby... AND I think once a baby's getting teeth - it's time to start giving them a cup!
That's what I've said all along - it isn't about the baby. It's about selfish, self-absorbed women who demand things their way. A sad commentary on our society but not unexpected given those who have been brainwashed by the feminazis.
Wouldn't exist without fornication either. Doesn't mean we should do it in the mall.
(I'm not a prude or anything. I'm just pointing out this is a very bad argument she's putting forward!)
So those who object to public breast-feeding are now busybodies? I certainly don't consider myself a busybody. I don't care what people do - I just expect polite consideration. As many have stated on here, a women's dressing room sounds like an ideal place to breastfeed if the mother is too busy with other things to be feeding her baby at home. I doubt anyone would object to that. It's private, clean, and doesn't disturb others.
Obviously, you didn't succumb to this "sisterhood" peer pressure. And therefore, have by *natural* laws, taught your sons to not be anyone's patsy in the gaming of "peer pressure". Good Mommy,you!!
I like it best when the pro-breastfeeding movement was focused upon the "intimacy" part of nursing the young. Before the "movement" got political. Once they got political, it just became another "game". People do react to bs. And the politics of breastfeeding is naturally going to create an adverse reaction. Keep hitting anyone, eventually, they fight back. This is "natural law" of "humans". The ardent pro-breastfeeding-as-politics groups don't get it. They are destroying, IMHO, a natural and wonderful thing: the nursing of the young. If doing a combination of bottle and breastfeeding works; do it. If the bottle works best - do it. Do what comes works best; and when folks try to guilt or shame you; ignore them.
I've witnessed far too many discouraged and stressed moms trying to do the "breastfeeding" thing when in fact it doesn't work for them and the baby. The baby is miserable and so is the mom. Not all "breasts are equal" in this fair world. I'll always encourage breastfeeding; and because I find it to be most productive on many levels -- but the moment it becomes counterproductive; it's time to feel "NATURAL" about doing something else. This is advice you'll never hear from "pro-breastfeeding" rabid-nistas. As though doing what works best.. is "unnatural". Very sorry to witness the politization of "breastfeeding" many years ago. But it happened.
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