The Best Breastfeeding Story Ever (for me anyway)

A little background story: I have been going to the same hair salon for quite some time. Since I was about 10 at least. The guy I go to is on Main Street and is middle eastern/european (armenian? spelling?). He speaks with a little accent and is just all around very sweet.

I enjoy going to this place and have recommended them to a number of people. My dear friend Meghan is one of the people who took my recommendation to heart and has been going to them on and off for a little while now. She had an appointment with them today in fact and asked me to go along with her.

The guy who cuts our hair was married to a woman who still currently works at the salon. At some point she started a discussion about breast feeding. Now, she has an accent so I could only understand a portion of what she was saying, but basically she talked about how her first child didn't latch on well at first but her youngest did and how good breastfeeding is for our children.I'm not sure what started her on this conversation (I think it had to do with Jude thumb sucking??), but in order for her to not go through all the pros of breastfeeding that I'm aware of, I chimed in that I too breastfeed and that it has worked out well for us so far. I then added "as a matter of fact, I think he's hungry right now". Typically I'd take a quick trip out to the car where we have a comfortable seat and our privacy, but not today.

The important thing to remember is that they're european. It's my understanding that america is "behind" in thinking and other countries have been much more open and accepting of breastfeeding for much longer (well, they have always been while americans during the wwII era kinda put breastfeeding on the back burner and we're just now getting it back where it needs to be), so to them a BFing mother is nothing. I think they sensed though that I didn't want to whip it out in public and so they excitedly got me a chair and told me I could use their tanning room to feed Jude in. I accepted and left Meghan to her hair cut - which turned out lovely I might add.

Prior to this conversation about feeding, there was a little boy (one of the salon worker's sons - not the one with the BFing daughters/son of my 'stylist' - long story) who was very interested in Jude and I and was showing us his cars, etc. He was not breastfed - his mother is not of european decent and it much more on the 'american' way of thinking. So, as I went in the room he immediately asked where we were going. His mother gave the response most American women would give "she's going to feed him honey - he doesn't eat out of a bottle like you did". Well, of course as any three year old boy would, he wanted to know WHAT this baby was drinking that wasn't in a bottle and WHY we were going in a room to do it!


At that time the european woman (Irene) walks up and says "oh, he's breastfed. Here, look!". I simultaneously freeze and start pulling down my shirt in any place my breast was not, trying to cover myself as I hear a knock on the door. Irene peaks her head in and says "is it OK for him to see??" Not knowing what else to say, I agree and in walks this little boy staring at me with a confused look. He could not figure out why this baby was sucking on my boob and just stood there uncomfortably for a few minutes with Irene peaking her head in the door looking at us both with such a pleased look on her face that another "all american boy" was being cultured. After an awkward 60 seconds or so she tells him to leave me be. He didn't want to leave though so stood there for a little longer before she ushered him out.

All I could do after they left was sit there silently laughing to myself about what an awkward moment I had just experienced. I wouldn't say that I'm super a prude about breastfeeding, I mean I frequently feed Jude in my living room with select guests that I know are not uncomfortable about it with my wrap on. I also whip it out at my grandparents with family around after tossing out the "I'm feeding" warning. In addition I feed Jude regularly in my car without a cover on and know that some passer-byers can see in, but in my mind, I'm in my car, I'm in my space, if you're looking in. it's your fault. However, being on display to this little boy was just outside of my comfort zone.I obviously survived the situation and can at least be proud that one more child has been introduced to the world of breastfeeding because of me... too bad it wasn't a little girl??