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Community Mama

by Halle Bennett

Walking around any community, town, or city is usually a joy for me when I bring Jack (now 5 months old) along. We, or rather, HE attracts a lot of attention from almost everyone. Jack is an incredible flirt, smiling at anyone and cos* cousin. Having a child with me has brought me to a place of acceptance among mainstream people. I no longer feel like an out of place freak when I go to the mall or the movie theater (Jack is such a quiet baby that he can sit through the loudest of movies without disturbing the rest of the audience!).

I still have my freakish values to deal with, however, specifically my commitment to breastfeed Jack whenever and WHEREVER he needs. I successfully overcame the pressure of my family that I shouldn't just whip out my titties (a term I frown upon) in front of certain men in my family. This became quite inconvenient for me because I was constantly having to leave one room after another. Finally, I decided that I have withstood the jokes and mockery about not shaving my legs or armpits, living on a hippie commune, not wearing make-up, eating sprouts, etc... that I would just add exposing my breasts to the long list. Fortunately, most of my family has learned that I will defend myself with as much vigor as they have for making fun of my lifestyle, and no one was shocked whenever I breastfed in public. Now I feel like I can write a book on the oddest places I have breastfed my child.

After my success in dealing with this issue among family members, I returned home to read in the news that a womon was arrested in Quincy, Illinois (only 60 miles away from DR) for breast feeding in public. She was technically arrested for disturbing the peace, which is shocking! I have not heard any more about what happened to this martyr among womyn, but I hope the cop received a heavy reprimand, and our breast feeding heroine is giving the judge hell.

*co is a non gender specific term used in place of he or she when the substituted noun is non gendered or refers to both feminine and masculine. "Cos" is simply the possessive of co (i.e. hers or his).