It's funny how many things change when you have another baby. It's not just the obvious- getting your first kid used to the new one, etc. It's the things that change in your parenting style from one to the next. The main thing I've changed on this time around is where I'm willing to breastfeed at. When Will was a baby, I rarely nursed him in public- I can only think of one time when we weren't secluded away, and that was in my car in an empty area of a parking lot. Up until a few days ago, I wasn't planning on changing that. Then came the first grocery trip when I had to bring the kids.
About 10 minutes into the shopping, Emily woke up and started crying for food- nevermind that she had just eaten less than an hour before. I tried holding her, but it quickly became aparent that I had 3 choices:
1- leave the store and hope she'd be more co-operative next time.
2- listen to her cry for the entire trip while imagining that I was the worst parent alive for starving my baby. -or-
3- feed the kid in the store.
So we sat down in the comfy-ish chairs by the closed pharmacy since the area was pretty well empty, and I breastfed her in the grocery store. A little awkward at first, but uneventful aside from a little spit-up.
Since then, I have nursed Emily in 2 parking lots (the library and Walgreens), and a Marion's Pizza bathroom. The bathroom wasn't great, but it was away from anyone else (especially the m-i-l), so Emmy was able to calm down. Honestly? I don't remember why I felt like it was a big deal before. Of course, having a small child overly attached to my chest for like 3 years before may have had an effect. (lol)
I did happen across a fortuitous article on one of the parenting sites a couple days ago. It confirmed that breastfeeding in public is a legal right in all 50 states, although still recommended discretion. Duh. After all, if I'm holding the baby, I don't have a free hand to collect cash, and I'm not performing for free
:-D
Of course, some things don't change about being a new parent. I'm consistently drinking 1-2 full pots of coffee per 24 hour period, plus at least one large mug a day of chai tea. On the plus side, Emily is starting to develop a consistent schedule. Occassionally, I can even get both kids to nap at the same time during the day and sneak an extra hour that way. And at least I can slightly work on novelling when I'm up during the night with Em, give or take being able to type coherently.
And as a final, random note, my son is either certifiably insane, or a pathalogical neat freak. He's currently talking in his sleep- asking if he can please vaccum. All I know is, he doesn't get it from me... at least not being a neat freak.
Posted by Jenn at October 21, 2005 11:37 PM