My wife and I were on a trip to New Orleans (pre-Katrina) and were returning to Nashville on Southwest. The particular flight was booked solid and as we boarded two of the only seats that were available were at the very front, facing the other passengers. It was a short flight so we didn’t mind sitting there. Sitting directly in front of us was a woman and her 6 or 7 yr old daughter. About ten minutes into the flight the little girl told her mom that she was hungry so the mom gave her some crackers which pacified the girl for a few minutes. Soon the little girl asked once again for something to eat, so mom brought out a banana. A few minutes later the little girl asked for a “drinky.”
My wife and I smiled at each other, thinking how cute the little girl was until, to our horror we realized what “drinky” meant. The mom proceeded to lift her shirt and plop out a boob as the little girl (remember she was at least 6!) climbed into mom’s lap and latched on. Now, I’m not a lactophobe, but if you whip it out on a crowded flight without taking the care to be modest around me…expect comment. After several painful minutes of trying to avert our eyes and focus on anything but what was happening right in front of us, I made eye contact with the mom and cheerfully announced, “I’m next!”
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Are you sure the kid was six? Six-year-olds tend to be past the point where they say things like "drinky." Then again, she was talking, so she was most likely too old to be breastfed regardless. >_>
AH thats so sick…i would have gone to the flight attendant
There are people who will give breast milk to "overage" children… personally I think they should be reported to HHS… that's gotta be a mental problem with the mother, and future mental problems with the kid.
Good grief, what is wrong with people? Nursing older children, nursing puppies…
My oldest nephew was breast-fed, which I think is a wonderful thing for any mother to do, but he was weaned at age two. His little brother, age one and a half, is in the process of being weaned. And their mother has always been discreet about nursing. If a child isn't weaned by age two, there's something very wrong.
So was her milk tasty? You were next, after all…
While I am not against breastfeeding, even in public, some discretion should be used. I also understand that it is up to the parents when to wean their children, but 6 seems like WAY too old be be nursing, especially on a plane. I can understand a baby NEEDING to be fed in public, a 6 year old can wait until later.
Where does the line start?
That's hysterical…
Hilarious, social justice is always a welcome sight!
This mother is a sicko. The child may end up mentally deficient too. I hesitate to wonder what other weird methods she employs raising this child.
i am a mother who nursed both of her children, so i totally believe in breast feeding. that being said two things strike me with this situation. modesty should always be observed in public. and… for god's sake, the child is too old to still be breast feeding! the mother needs therapy.
No way, you did not say that!! Funny though…
Weird. People are constantly whining, "Boo hoo! You were mean! Mean man!"
Yet you say something that immediately raised a bunch of red flags in rudeness, and everyone is agreeing with you. (Including me, but that is irrelevant)
Oh, well. Maybe you just got a good crowd.
I am still laughing!!!
"I'm Next" HAHAHAAA that is so funny.
So, I am curious, what was her response?
1. Breastfeeding older children is the mother's right. Believe it or not, the average age worldwide to wean a kid is 7 years old.
2. In the developed Western world people find it offensive to see boobs lopped out for a kid to latch onto, let alone a child who is older than toddler stage.
3. A child over 12 months old doesn't "need" breastmilk; it's not a significant part of their diet; but may have some small benefits for the immune system.
4. Mothers who insist on feeding these children in public are inconsiderate. The kid was old enough to be told, "No honey, not in the plane. Later on when we get home."
I breastfed my kids but no matter their age I NEVER made any one else witness it in public. It's not hard to cover up even if you have no blanket handy, it's called pulling your shirt over the top of baby's head. Breastfeeding is natural but so is masturbation and we don't allow men to whip it out in public and start flogging their meat do we?
Thank you Elisa! Hallelujah!
I'm sick nigh unto death of people going on about their 'right' to brazenly whip it out in public and then complain about anyone who wishes not to witness such an intimate act!
Sex, evacuating one's bowels and bladder is also natural but I don't need to see it!
Have you heard about Emily Gillette? She was kicked off a flight for refusing to comply with an FA's request to breast feed her 22month (!) old kid discreetly, she was offered a blanket but refused – now she's suing!
As far as I'm concerned as soon as the kid is old enough to ask he's too old.
Some things I really don't need to see.