You sure have come a long way in the last few years, huh? Listen, thanks for not exploding when my blood pressure took off. Hell, thanks for not exploding during that last month of pregnancy. It really means a lot to me that you were able to keep it together through all that neglect. And I know, I know - I need to start taking vitamins again. But can I have props for at least remembering to take our daily meds?
I want you to know that I really don’t expect you to look a certain way anymore (although I really wish that I had THIS attitude back when a quarter could bounce off our ass and make change). I know that the off-the-shelf clothes don’t really fit properly, and I’m sorry about that. Clothing manufacturers have to hit a sort of size range, and well….with a waist that is 7 inches smaller than your hips, nothing is really going to really work.
The way I see it, there are only a few things we need to work on. That whole not-sleeping thing we’ve got going on? Yeah, we need to fix that the rest of the way. It’s time to wrap the brain around a bathing suit - we promised the kids we’d go to the beach this year. And really, truly - it’ll be OK if we leave the majority of the books in the van instead of carrying them around all.day.long. Also? How about if we work on that whole “priorities” thing? You know - schoolwork THEN the google reader.
One last thing: You were a huge asshole when you were fourteen. Your daughter is a huge asshole now that she’s fourteen. You got over it (for the most part), so will she. A panic attack every time she pitches a fit really is overkill.
This is my contribution to BlogHer’s Letter to my Body campaign.
The way people find my blog never ceases to amaze me. A very few friends have me bookmarked, but the vast majority of people come from google searches - with one glaring exception.
Back in July 2006, indignation rippled through the blogosphere. Pro- and anti-breastfeeding mothers the world ’round spouted their opinion of a baby obviously nursing on the cover of BabyTalk Magazine. Obviously (at least, to me) ANY magazine about babies these days is going to show a little boob.
Wet Feet did a blog entry about it, and I contributed to her listing of “Boobs around the ‘net” - a bunch of moms who ALSO did breastfeeding-positive blog entries in one handy-dandy list. My own contribution is one of the shortest posts I’ve ever done: a photo of my boy milk-drunk and fast asleep, and a link to the brouhaha.
Although I don’t keep an aggregate total of my blogstats, I can say without a doubt that 90% of my non-search engine readers come from that link on Wet Feet. While I’m quite sure that by now the people clicking on that link aren’t interested in The Breastfeeding Boob issue, I’m going to talk about it anyway.
The whole thing highlights one of the more schizophrenic things in American culture. Letters were written to BabyTalk complaining about their children teen boys youth being inappropriately exposed to nudity. Yet these same complaining parents have absolutely no problem with exposure to the soft-core porn that is advertising (and truthfully, the media in general).
Most breastfeeding mothers are EXTREMELY conscious of the amount of skin they’re showing, and make every effort they can to cover up. BUT a trip down the well-trod paths of any shopping mall will reveal larger-than-life posters of photoshopped perfection clad in little more than a string bikini. Why aren’t the anti-nudity police harassing THEM?
I also don’t understand the whole “breastfeeding disgusts me” attitude. Breastmilk tastes a LOT better than formula. Although I haven’t taken a poll of any sort, I’d be more than willing to bet that these same disgusted folks will comment on their filthy (unsanitary) house, their heirloom family recipe that always makes *someone* sick, or how proud they are of their ability to perform … certain sexual acts (and swallow).
To them, I say: You REALLY need to STFU until you know what you’re talking about.
