Extended Nursers Unite!

This is my second child I'm nursing (at 18 months), so being that "freaky, militant breastfeeder" is not new to me. It almost feels like a superpower: the ability to calm a frantic toddler by whipping out the secret weapon. What I'm surprised at lately is that I'm finding so many other superheroines around.

In Canada I had 2 friends who nursed kids past two. Here in Florida, I'm now hanging out with a friend who EBFed her son to over a year, and I just reconnected with a long-lost friend from elementary school on Facebook. Guess what? She's nursing and even pumping on business trips for her 15 month old! Girls, I think it's time to think about taking over the world.

But we are, in a way, even without doing anything extra. Toddler nursing, especially when done in public, sends a message to young people that breastfeeding is normal. If kids and teenagers grow up seeing women nursing children, they will be more inclined to do it themselves.

It broke my heart when my 20-year-old cousin got pregnant unexpectedly, chose a scheduled C-section because she was so terrified of labor and birth (another story), and shoved a bottle into her baby's mouth first thing. She never even considered breastfeeding him. Probably thought it was "gross".

So, ladies, keep breastfeeding your kids, and what's more, do it openly! We are superheroes of sorts. By breastfeeding our kids, we can actually save the world by creating children who are healthier in body, mind and spirit, and by encouraging others to do the same. In the words of one of my online breastfeeding buddies: keep breastfeeding, don't be a weaner.

Change Is Good

Well, I'm back in Florida after 6 years in Canada. This time I brought with me a sunburn-prone, but golf-loving husband (how else do you think I got him here?) and two little girls who tan pretty well and don't like snow just as much as I don't.

There are things I miss about Canada, though. We had some great playgroup friends-- real women who weren't fake, even in their flaws. I miss MC and S, and even "Crazy Lou" of the inappropriate comments and lazy eye. She tried real hard to bond with me.

I also miss the Canadian health care system. I had both my babies at home with the midwives and it was great. Didn't pay a dime. Anytime my kids had an ear infection I ran them right to the doctor. No $35 copay. Now I have to admit I'm a little nervous. If something happens to my husband, my kids or me, will we go broke paying deductibles? Will our insurance company try to get out of paying? I saw Michael Moore's Sicko after all. Still, there is hope. I mean, Obama's on the ticket, isn't he?

So is this a little inflammatory for a first post? Probably. But I figure it's best to get the main cards on the table right away, so here goes:
I support Obama
I'm still breastfeeding my 18 month old
I love midwives
I support attachment parenting (even though I don't practice it 100%)
I'm a wanna be crunchy mom
If any of that stuff doesn't turn you on, you might not be the right audience for this blog. Or you can try to give me heck, but I'm not changing my mind on any of that stuff, no matter how nice Sarah Palin is. (my bf's husband calls the Republicans "evil geniuses". I'm beginning to think he's right.)

So here's my first call out. If you've found this blog, post a comment so I know there's an audience. Lots of good stuff coming, including how to stick it to Dr. Phil (I know, I used to love him, too, but lately...)

Oops! Gotta go-- Diego's over.