via time.com
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This picture has stirred up a least a few million. I have read reactions all across the web to this blogger, Jamie Grumet, breastfeeding her three-year old son. The picture is controversial, for sure! I don’t even know that I have anything to say about her breastfeeding a three year old boy. My first thought is that it wouldn’t be me. For me, I don’t see the benefit in nursing my child that long. Two years is tops in my world. I narrowly missed one year with my own son. Jamie is an advocate of attachment parenting and this cover bluntly and boldly puts it in your face. I’ve heard of attachment parenting but didn’t know much about it. I looked it up…
Sensitive and emotionally available parenting helps the child to form a secure attachment style which fosters a child’s socio-emotional development and well-being. Principles of attachment parenting aim to increase development of child’s secure attachment and decrease insecure attachment.
Sounds fine – why the boob for a three year old though. He’s not ready to wean, so why make him? Is that the logic? I dunno. Not my business or decision. I think what disturbs me most is that the cover is obviously trying to stir up controversy. There really wasn’t another way for the cover to convey the point of the story? It seems to be just another argument in the “mom wars”. I’m not sure “dad wars” exist. If they do, they don’t get nearly the amount of attention. With moms it’s constant. Natural versus medicated delivery, breast versus bottle, stay at home versus working mom, clothe versus disposable diapers. I could go on – seriously, I could! I’ll spare you, because I like you.
Sure I have my preferences on every topic but I’m not beating anybody over the head with it or on the cover of a magazine with the headline “Are you Mom Enough?” Mom enough for what, exactly? You know a question like that instantly ticks people off and puts them on the defense. Why go there? Oh yes, sales!!!!
I’ve read many good things about Jamie as a blogger and mom. I’ve read her blog in the past and really like her. That hasn’t changed. Right now, I just feel like she’s being used – just a little. Yes, she’s telling her story in regards to attachment parenting but it could have been done by Time magazine in a way that was less self-serving – to them! Having a mother on the cover breastfeeding her child is no big deal. It’s the idea that all of this was staged for impact that give me the “ick” feeling. I get it, it’s jut that in this case, a child was part of the staging process.
It’s like, “Ok, mom wear this. Have your son stand here. Ok, now that we’re all in position, go ahead and nurse him while I snap away. Don’t forget both of you should be looking at the camera. Can you look a little more aggressive? That’s right, give us that conviction. Great, that’s a wrap. Little Johnnie can we have our chair back. I know you’re not done nursing but we’ve got our shot.”
What are your thoughts about this cover?
