Judgemental Rant

Hey, I'm human, I judge others. I just usually keep it to myself. Today, not so much. Some things just really irritate me. Here's my list:

** Women who think they should be able to walk around in low-cut, super short, skin-tight clothes without getting gawked at. If you choose to put it on display, you are inviting people to look.

** People who insist that all Muslims are terrorists. Give me a break. Are all blacks criminals? Are all hispanics drug dealers? It's the same thing.

** Liberals who believe in free speech,  but only when what's being said aligns with their views.

** Any parent who doesn't teach their child basic manners.

** Any parent who gives their child a name that is impossible to spell and/or pronounce.

** Any person who thinks the world should revolve around them. (There are far too many of them these days.)

** Anyone with bad cell phone habits... i.e. not ending a call before going through a drive-through window or a check-out line, texting while driving or walking, not turning your phone off during a performance of any kind, not using headphones in a public setting (bus, store, break room). Seriously, people, there's more to life than your phone.

** People who get "facts" about a person or group of people from anywhere other than that person or group of people.

** People who believe every rumor they hear. Especially the internet rumors.

** People who assume that their way of doing things is the only way. This especially applies to moms. Moms are the worst at this.

** People who assume they know something about me without actually trying to get to know me.

** People who refuse to believe a disease or medical condition exists and insist that the person in question is just being lazy, or is complaining too much, or just wants attention, or should be able to "snap out of it."

Coming soon, a list of things I'm grateful for.

Breastfeeding - My Thoughts and Opinions

Among women, especially those in their childbearing years, breastfeeding can be a very heated topic. Up until my oldest child was born, I hadn't thought I had much of an opinion on it. As it turns out, I do.

With my son, I had just assumed that I would breastfeed exclusively until I went back to work, then pump as needed after that. What actually happened is that I gave up on breastfeeding the day after we came home from the hospital, tried pumping for maybe 2 weeks, and after that went to formula. As it turns out, for physiological and psychological reasons, breastfeeding does not work for me. I am, by necessity, a full-time working-outside-the-home mom. I have limited waking hours with my kids (and for doing housework), and I feel my time is better spent taking care of my whole family and getting quality time with them, than going through the problems I have in breastfeeding and pumping.

I tried breastfeeding again with my daughter, and had the same problems as before. That time, I went to formula by the end of the first week. I plan on 1 more child, and I will be going straight to formula.

I can hear the die-hards telling me any breastfeeding problem can be overcome, that I gave up too soon or didn't try hard enough. That's fine, they are entitled to their opinion. The fact is, I did what was best for me and my family. I firmly believe that, and I will not be made to feel guilty by the die-hards.

I feel that every new mom (medical conditions aside), should at least try breastfeeding. They should be given coaching if wanted, rather than having it forced on them. No mom should be made to feel guilty who has at least tried to breastfeed, regardless of her reasons for switching to formula. Yes, I agree that breastmilk is best, but formula quality has come a long way, and there is no medical proof that formula feeding is, in any way, "child abuse."

I also feel that, while I support moms who choose to breastfeed in public, they need to keep themselves covered while doing so. Personally, I am uncomfortable with a woman exposing her breasts in public. (For any reason!)

Both of my children were exclusively formula-fed after the first 2 weeks, and I have yet to notice any ill effect. I also have no regrets.  I will continue to support moms in whatever decision they make, whatever their reasons, because let's face it- being a mom of an infant is hard enough without the fanatics breathing down your neck.