Tags
babies, breastfeeding, personal space, questions, tmi, toddlers
The first thing Owl wants when I pick him up at Daycare is booba.
“Sit, sit!” Daycare Lady always says, and I sit on the couch and nurse Owl for 15 minutes or so while she lists everything Owl consumed that day. She nursed her own children past the age of three, so it seems perfectly normal to her.
Not so for all of the kids at the daycare. The older ones tend to be curious about it.
“What is he doing?” a three year old asked me.
“He’s drinking milk,” I told her.
I don’t mind them watching, and Daycare Lady considers it good education for them.
But one little girl gets a little too up close and personal.
She’s just two, with golden hair and big, big blue eyes which stare in fascination at Owl’s face while he roots around and grunts in milky satisfaction. As I nurse, she draws closer and closer, a perplexed look on her face. She points to Owl, and to me, and I tell her “he’s nursing”.
Her big eyes look into mine for a moment, and then return to my breast. Her face draws well into my personal space, which catches Owl’s attention and he stops nursing to look at her in surprise.
Then, her tiny index finger comes out and gently touches my nipple.
“He’s having some milk,” I say.
I wonder – is she remembering her own breastfeeding days? WAS she breastfed, or is this an alien act to her? Maybe it is, because she looks like there’s something she wants to ask me.
Her earnest gaze catches mine, and she points again at my nipple with a smile.
“Tit?” she says, “Tit??“
…
Go away, kid.
If By Yes 
Ooooo, classy. Have you met her parents?
I… think so? Not totally sure because the woman who picks her up has a very different complexion – dark, Mediterranean – and she calls the woman by her first name. But she is so happy to see her, that I assume she must be the mother…
LOL
My cousin, when he was very little, pointed to one of the dogs I was training and said “BOOBIES”. Well done, Uncle. Well done. At least he could generalize.
Babies are good at the generalization thing. Although finding Beloved Dog’s shoulders may stump Owl.
I have to say, nursing in the dayhome has been really hard to get used to… you’d think I wouldn’t mind children being curious but hey! it turns out I do. One of the kids in particular gets way too close for comfort.
Although none of them have said “tit” yet.
There’s still time to teach them! :-p
There is nothing wrong with you telling her about personal space. That it’s ok for her to hang out and watch, and ask questions, but your body is your space, and hers is hers.
Yes, but it’s hard to explain that to the two year old. She usually ends up stealing my phone or something and then throwing a tantrum when Daycare Lady takes it away.
Ack!! I can’t even stand when Liam gets like that! I prefer he not touch me at all when I’m nursing Jonah, but he’s been known to lay a hand on my breast the rare time, or sometimes asks if he can nurse too. Both of these creep me out a LOT, but I try to be casual about it. I know he’s just interested, curious, and maybe a little jealous. I also know he really does NOT want to nurse at all, and doesn’t remember it.
But from another kid? A stranger? Yeah, no.
Good on you for handling it so well, though!
At least he isn’t all like “TIT!”
Oh my. I’ll admit I LOL’d a little at that. You were mighty patient with your curious onlooker!
That’s awesome and awful at the same time.
I needed that LOL, thanks dear! Maybe you should accidentally squirt her? Pardon my sorry brestfeeding manners.