NIP - Long

holley79 wrote: Well Ladies it has been a night to remember.

Shawn is out of town for reserve training in New Orleans. A friend of mine called and asked if I would go to dinner with her, her little girl and her little girl’s friends. Sure why not! It was great. Annika got a new sippy cup today so she is all about it. I also took her food with us. We kind of got a late start which is not what I wanted but did all the same. We sat toward the back of the restaurant and my back was to the other patrons. Annika got a little fussy at dinner. I knew she was tired because it was getting close to bed time. She didn’t want her cereal, her sippy cup and there wasn’t anything going to appease her. The only thing she wanted was mommy and mommy milk. Well we were in a booth in a local Mexican restaurant. I frequent this restaurant often so they know me well there. I was nursing Annika and I guess I “offended” someone. (They were sitting caddy corner from our booth.) They told the waiter they didn’t appreciate my “indecent” display. He glanced over to where I was sitting and asked them what they “thought” he should do about it. They told him to tell me to stop. He told them all I was doing was feeding my child, nothing indecent about that and he would not ask me to stop. If they would like to sit elsewhere in the restaurant they were more then welcome to. They wanted to speak to the manager immediately. The manager (a good friend of mine and a dad of 6 children all BF) came over. He offered them the same solution. They told the manager they were never going to eat there again. He told them he was sorry they felt that way. A couple, who was sitting behind us, heard everything. She stood up, came over to our table and told me how important it was to continue doing as I was doing. She didn’t have the support she needed when she was BF and only nursed her child for 6 weeks before giving up. She said there are worse ads on TV that show more skin then what I was showing and gave me a pat on the shoulder.

As the “offended” couple were gathering up their belongings, I told both of them I was not sorry they were leaving. I asked her how she even knew I was nursing and she told me she could tell by the position Annika was laying in. I told them I was sorry they were close- minded to a woman feeding her child. I was also sorry America has sexualized women to the point where they do not feel comfortable in their own skin. I told them I was not nursing my child in the restaurant to “offend” anyone. The lady, very snotty like, told me I could take “it” in the bathroom. I just kind of laughed and asked her if she would enjoy her meal in the restroom. Guess what her response was….. Why should I eat in the bathroom? I just looked at her and gave my warmest most sympathetic smile I could conjure up and said, “My sentiments exactly.”

I’m sorry this got long. I guess I’m still a little ill. I guess I am on the “I’m a BF mother and I can’t believe how ignorant people can be” kick. I didn’t “whip” it out there. She didn’t see even a flash of skin and so what if she did. The little girls just kind of looked at the woman and man like they were nuts.

Needless to say we left our waiter a HUGE tip.

I will say it again, I hope when the time comes our children are not subjected to the absurdity of how America views BF. Thank you so much for letting me go with this. I am just so totally over it and just really ready to scream. People are just getting on my nerves. I’m sure you probably think I need to take a chill pill. I probably do.

CantWait replied: Sweetheart, I would have said THAT, and a WHOLE LOT MORE. I'm just very blunt when it comes to things like that. Sorry they were so rude, I can't say I ever experienced anything like that when nursing Anthony in public over his 13 or so months, thank God. Coodles to the waiter though, he did awesome and it's so good to see that not everyone is SO CLOSE MINDED.


Keep up the great work mommy.

Jackie012007 replied: WOW I love how people think they can say exactly what is on their minds to a pregnant or BF woman... and it is ALWAYS the close minded idiots! NO you did not do anything wrong and what you said was PERFECT... biting yet classy! What, your baby is supposed to starve because some people can't get over a breast being a sexual object? ugh You keep on BF! I intend to BF and if someone has something they're going to get a squirt in the face... THEN they will have something to complain about!

luvmykids replied: You did absolutely the right thing. Not only is it your right to bf, but it is your daughters right to be fed.

Hats off to the waiter and manager too

ediep replied: you absolutely did the right thing! I can't believe how ignorant some people are!!!

kit_kats_mom replied: Good for you and the staff.

here is a link to a convo from last year about NIP: http://forums.parentingclub.com/index.php?...33&hl=red+shoes

if you don't want to read the whole thing, or my link doesn't work, this is my response:

Well, when everyone else goes out of their way to not offend me in public, I will set my babies needs aside to make them comfortable as well.

That would entail everyone who talks with their mouth full, to stop. Everyone who talks on a cell phone, to stop. Anyone with any flab hanging out of the top of their low-rise jeans, stop. Everyone should cover their butt floss, put their toilet paper rolls the way I prefer them (that would be the sheets coming over the top rather than under), stop cursing, quit with the bad perms, stop showing belly buttons, quit already with the bad roots, stop using slang, stop wearing red shoes, stop carrying ugly purses, stop wearing glasses and for the love of Peter, stop having blue eyes!

Ok, I'm totally teasing but my point is, no one goes out of their way to make me feel comfy in public, I feel no need to bend to their personal wierdness either...especially when my child is hungry.

MyLuvBugs replied: You did an awesome job Holley! I worry that I'd say a lot more with my temper. You should send the manager and waiter a HUGE thank you. They sounds really awesome!!

gr33n3y3z replied: You did a great job Holley much better then I would have done
And I'm glad the restraunt staff stuck up for you Its great to see ppl. support BF in public to those

ZandersMama replied: I am SO proud of you! And great staff too, I would continue to go to that restaurant!

MomToJade&Jordan replied: First of all here's a big for the wait staff and manager at that resturant. That is absoluetly awesome that they stuck behind you and your right to feed your baby. Secondly you were perfect Holley. As you can see by the resounding yes vote you did everything right. BF in public should not be a taboo in this country. There should not be censor when we were given these things to feed our babies in the first place.

redchief replied: Good for you Holley. I wish there were stronger words to define my approval at how you handled yourself. I also think the restaurant deserves kudos for defending, indeed encouraging you to NIP. It's about time this country's self-righteous prudes ate their dinner in the privacy of their own homes.

PrairieMom replied: I voted I don't know what I would have said. I would have NIP. I don't think I would have said anything to the people that complained unless they said something to me first. If they approached me I would let them know that I have the right to nurse my child and that it is agains the law for the restraunt to prevent me from doing so. Good for you for being so brave and outspoaken!

Kirstenmumof3 replied: I give you a HUGE thumbs up for what you did! I honestly wouldn't have been able to stand up for myself the way you did. But I have breastfeed in public. In my book what you did will set a precident in that resturant. And I applaud the waiter and the manager fot siding with you breastfeeding your child! You should be very proud of yourself!

holley79 replied: Thank you everyone. I am a true 100% redhead and it took a lot for me to keep my cool. Had their not been young ones at the table I would have most likely went off. People just amaze me over and over again. I get no flak at work for pumping but I go out to eat and get flak. They can all KMA. We were in a Mexican resturaunt. As we all know else where in the world NIP is just as natural and accepted as breathing. Maybe America can take a lesson from our surrounding sisters.

kimberley replied:


kudos to you and the restaurant. i would have picked up her plate and dumped it in the bathroom lol.

ashtonsmama replied: Of course! You go Mama! I think you responded in just the right way.

Mommy2Isabella replied: WOW! I am a very outgoing person but when people say stuff to me about what I am doing wrong or right, I kind of clam up ... I am proud of you for sticking up for yourself. You are like the breastfeeding spokesperson ...

AlexsPajamaMama replied: You sooo did the right thing and major kudos to the staff at the restuarant!

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Oh my goodness, you definitely did the right thing. I can't believe that horrible woman! to your waiter and the manager! I'm really impressed with how they dealt with her. It sounds to me like you handled it really well too ~ I probably would have kept nursing but been in tears and unable to say anything to her at all. There is nothing offensive about nursing your baby in a restaurant. I have no idea why someone would be grossed out about seeing someone bf'ing when they're *trying to eat*.