Ponderings

Proving that truth is stranger than fiction, MSNBC publicized the plight of a young mom from Santa Fe who was kicked off an airplane last month for breastfeeding her child. The woman was nursing the baby by the window with her husband between her and the aisle and being, she thought, discreet. The flight attendant handed her a blanket and ordered her to “cover up” and when she refused she was escorted off the plane. Amazing. We can advertise on prime time television for erectile dysfunction (try explaining that to your kids!) but we are supposed to be offended by a woman’s breast offered to a hungry kid?

This one is personal. Having been a nursing mother while serving as pastor in a small town parish (with no other nursing mothers in town!), I am well acquainted with the problem of balancing discretion and a baby’s need. Basically I subscribed to the theory that I wouldn’t allow myself (and thereby my baby) to be put in the closet (literally!); I knew that if I couldn’t make peace with nursing them in public, I wouldn’t enjoy nursing and they wouldn’t get the nutrition they deserved. Although I attempted discretion, I nursed the kids when they were hungry (except while leading worship!) and undoubtedly I ruffled feathers.

As I ponder our congregation’s commitment to extend welcome and expand the “safe zone” in our culture, I propose that we delcare our church a “safe nursing zone”. Of course, that’s pretty easy since we already are… for which I give thanks. But we can share that good news with others. And we can also share information about La Leche League, a group which offers education and support for nursing mothers. We actually have a La Leche group that meets in our church on Fridays. Many of our members participate and both Alyssa Schnell and Laurie Shornick are leaders in this important work.

And as for the television ads… well, that’s a problem bigger than I can tackle this week!