The crickets.
It’s the crickets chirping in the air that signal the end of summer to me here in Michigan. The nights get cooler and the crickets chirp louder and more often. The sun, which never seemed to set just a few weeks ago, goes to bed by 9 pm.
And it is this late August setting that always, always reminds me of the time I first breastfed in public. Because it was 11 years ago on a late August night that I finally took the plunge and breastfed my newborn in public.
My son and I were not good at breastfeeding. It was a long, labor-intensive process to get it down. (I shared the sordid details years ago here).
So breastfeeding in public was a big deal for me. First, it was in PUBLIC. Second, I barely had a handle of giving him milk from my breast in the comfort of my own home, so I was a bit stressed about feeding him OUT THERE.
So where was the first place I ever breastfed in public?
A rodeo!
Yup, my husband and I attended a rodeo with our newborn. We took advantage of a pleasant summer evening, headed to the local fairgrounds, and sat on the hill overlooking the arena watching the action. There were barrel races, lassos galore, and more. When the baby got hungry, I fed him.
Turns out the rodeo would be the strangest place I would ever breastfeed in public, too.
Which got me thinking.
What about you? Where was the first time you breastfed in public or the strangest place you breastfed? If you didn’t breastfeed (no judgment here!), did you ever prepare a bottle in a crazy place?
Image courtesy of Gualberto107/Freedigitalphotos.net
Lol, I just love your blogs. So much truth and memories seem to come flooding back from all 3 of my babies… the oldest being 19 now. :’)
With that being said, the first time I breast fed in public was while trying yo open a checking account at AmSouth Bank. Everyone kept wanting to see the “sleeping infant”…ummm you really don’t want to! Considering everyone thought he was sleeping, I think we done pretty well. The strangest place I ever died my babies… hmm… I think it would be either at Moe’s while eating a Homewrecker burrito (those things are huge!!) or while in Walmart pushing a grocery buggy full of food and keeping track of 3 other children (I’m great at multitasking, lol).
Lol… I didn’t died my babies in More’s or a…
Anywhere else. This phone is NOT cooperating!
In a very small, crowded waiting room with chairs all facing each other, while I waited to get my oil changed. It was freezing cold outside and the appointment took MUCH longer than it was supposed to. I might have made some of the other customers uncomfortable – Oh well! Thanks for the I’m glad I found it at the #SITSSharefest today!
Susan – ofeverymoment.com recently posted…What Are Your Plans This Weekend?
Oh, my! I can sympathize with your discomfort! I love the image of the crowded room with all the chairs facing each other. I feel like as mothers if we can survive stuff like that, then we can do anything. Mom power!
Thanks for stopping by from Sharefest!
I never got the hang of breastfeeding in public. It always felt like a struggle so eventually I just gave up (breastfeeding in public, not breastfeeding)! But if we have another I want to give it another go because it felt too restricting. Kind of awesome that you nursed at a rodeo!
Katie @ Pick Any Two recently posted…The 5-Word Motto Truly Healthy People Live By
That is AWESOME Katie!! Love it! Gosh, I breast fed both my kids for a year each, and it’s honestly all a blur!! I would have to think on that…
I’m sure I did it in so many places that were absolutely strange!! I remember a parking lot garage… sitting in the car as a group of teens walked right by me… looked in and I waved.
Chris Carter recently posted…Leave A Trail Behind You…
Would you believe I don’t remember? It was so long ago. But I breastfed everywhere. It didn’t matter where we were, I just did it.
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life recently posted…A Thank You to a Good Neighbor
I was very fortunate and breast feeding came very easily to me and all three of my kiddos. If they were hungry, I fed them…wherever I was: church, grocery store, visiting my husband’s office , Lowe’s…
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted…Surviving Middle School: One Day Down
It’s not strange, or maybe it is, but I breastfed right next to the Taj Mahal! I’ll always remember that. Oh, and also in a crowded train in London.
Tarana recently posted…Six Reassuring Phrases For Toddlers
Well, now, that is just an amazing place to have breastfed!
Hmmm. I’m sure there were odder spots but the most uncomfortable was at my in-laws who lived out of town. So delightful – like you it took awhile for me and my first born to get it all worked out. Anywho, we went for a walk that took longer than I planned. Got back and my shirt was soaking. Soaking. My mother in-law took one look and dispatched me to a back, back bedroom. Everyone drinking and eating in the living room whooping it up while babe and I are in a dark, cold, bedroom. Couldn’t find the light. Awful. Hormones raging so I’m getting sulky. Finally finish and stomp into the party room. Everyone looks at my damp shirt and I hear someone say “she should feed her baby.”
Kelly l m kenzie recently posted…Letting Kids Eat Whatever
You deserve a medal for enduring that! Or a stiff drink. Make it a cookie because you can’t drink and breastfeed. 🙂