The Crunchy Granola Family

October 10, 2009

in Passenger Stories

On an 11 or 12 hour flight from Auckland, NZ to Los Angeles, a family that I would consider to be “crunchy granola” boarded and had the entire middle row of seats against the bulkhead. We were sitting a couple of rows behind them and at cruise altitude when their youngest (approximately 5yr old son) says “Mommy, I am hungry.” I’m thinking this is not unusual, I am sort of hungry too! He repeats this a number of times and starts pawing at her shirt. I was thinking, no way is this going to happen, when the mom undoes her shirt revealing her “front side” and starts breastfeeding this kid. My wife and I were speechless. The kid was too old in my opinion and the mom was – well I don’t know what she was thinking. When does this, I don’t care about what anyone else thinks, attitude stop?

{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }

Demotage October 10, 2009 at 3:15 pm

I really don't understand the problem that people with public breast feeding. It is a natural thing. There is nothing sexual or indecent about it. If you don't want to see it, then don't look. In fact, by the author's admission, the family was seated on the center bulkhead, the most private possible seat, and the author was seated several rows behind. How did you even see "her front side"? Were you so "disgusted" that you had to get up, walk forward and have a look?

As for the age of the kid, it's really none of your damned business. Some kids wean earlier than others, and while I'd agree that 5yo is getting to the edge of the range, you really have no idea how old the kid was, and even if he was five, it's not your decision.

The world would be a better place if judgmental busy-bodies like you would mind their own business.

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Eliza Day February 1, 2016 at 11:15 pm

Well, animals do the same thing, so perhaps she is like-minded. I suppose she also pees in public; After all, it is perfectly natural.

And yes – At a point very near this age, it stops becoming "bonding", and starts becoming incest.

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Yoder October 11, 2009 at 7:50 am

Demotage. I really don't think the author had a problem with the breast feeding part. If a child can freeking ask for a meal then it problably should be something out of a jar, bag ,or can, not the mothers chesticles.

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Crunchy Nurse October 11, 2009 at 8:39 am

Yeah, because we all know that the healthiest food comes from jars, bags, or cans. Listen folks, if you don't like seeing breastfeeding, you have the right to look somewhere else. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for a minimum of 2 years, and as long afterward as mutually desired.

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blah blah October 11, 2009 at 12:50 pm

It always get me when pornographic magazines are considered taboo but it's ok for a women to whip out her breast and start breast feeding in public. I have small children. They do not need to see that. It's rude and disrespectful. At least cover with a clean blanket. I can remember sitting in chapel once for my strict public school and seeing a woman whip out her breast and start breast feeding while we're singing praise and worship songs. Then later on in the year, a guy got in trouble for having a magazine with nudity. It is a double standard because to a young boy a breast is a breast doesn't matter what it's being used for. Bottom line, cover it up or hold off, everyone on this site talks about being respectful to others, it most definitely includes this. Otherwise showering, brushing your teeth, or personal hygiene in general could be included in those unnatural events we shouldn't judge people for not doing.

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blah blah October 11, 2009 at 12:50 pm

I meant strict private school!

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Demotage October 11, 2009 at 1:31 pm

Oh, puleeeze.  First, what else was the author complaining about if not breast feeding?  Second, my daughter could ask for food at 14 months. Were we required to wean her then?  Most women I've seen breast feeding are very discreet. Your son is not going to be perverted by the site of a baby feeding. Hell, Mary suckled Jesus in public because it is COMPLETELY NORMAL.  Imagine the lesson you could teach you son on the importance of giving other people their privacy when they are feeding their children. 

I still maintain that the author was offended by the IDEA of breadtfeeding, not from actually seeing it. He was seated BEHIND the woman breadtfeeding. He needs to get over his imagined hangups.    

Do you know what I find offensive?  When people feed their children on plane with baby bottles. The nipples on those bottles are SO BIG, and made out of rubber, they are like letting your kid use a SEX TOY on the airplane!

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blah blah October 11, 2009 at 2:01 pm

It says he and his wife were speechless. Not just him. We don't know all the details but I'm guessing if the FEMALE was speechless as well it was probably a little over the top. I have no problem with breast feeding. I could care less. But be prepared about it. You are in public that means be respectful of others. Bring a cover up.

My almost adolescent son sees a woman breast feeding he doesn't think oh what a natural beautiful part of life. He sees one thing and one thing only. Come on don't be naive.

So…if you want to get technical like that with the nipples of baby bottles maybe we can do the same for a lady publicly breast feeding around my son. I could imply she exposed herself to a minor. Don't be ridiculous. The bottom line is it's disrespectful.

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Demotage October 11, 2009 at 2:13 pm

FSure his wife was speechless, a completely valid observation, because we know he speaks for her in most cases. Perhaps his wife was speechless because she couldn't beliveve what an idiot her husband was. As for your son, treat it as a teachable moment. Breast are meant for feeding children. That is their purpose. Perhaps you could use it as an opportunity to help him learn not to objectify women.

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blah blah October 11, 2009 at 2:29 pm

Ahhh I'm done. I'm going to take your lame comeback as a submission of your wrongness go take my bra off and go grocery shopping with my kids. When the young one tells me she has committed the natural act of going potty I will promptly remove her diaper in the middle of the store and change it in the aisle yelling at those around to get used to it, it's a natural act. Then we will try the completely natural concept of brushing our teeth with butter and clay and showering only when it rains then book flights across the world hoping to sit next to such a open minded person such as yourself.

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crella October 12, 2009 at 2:45 am

"a lady publicly breast feeding around my son"

"They do not need to see that"

You say that like it's dirty or something. You don't want your son to know how babies are fed? In addition, breastmilk isn't a bodily waste product. It is definitely not the same as urinating or defecating , but you chose to compare it with diaper changing…

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DSD October 12, 2009 at 6:07 am

The root problem is the fucked up values in the US. Its fine for a 10 year old to see someone's head blown off with a shotgun, but the glimps of a booby being used for its natural purpose is going to warp Johnny. Personally I don't care if a mother breastfeeds in public but I would prefer if she does, to cover up. Otherwise, being the pervert that I am, I'm going to look at her booby.

If the kid can unbuttom mommy's shirt and "fix" his meal then its time to stop breast feeding.

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Demotage October 13, 2009 at 7:58 pm

Do you know what we really need? We need Roman Polanski, noted director and child rapist, to be released so he can make a film. He needs to make a film about a flight where terrorists, the spawn of incestuous relationships, hijack a plane, and in the process blow the head off a passenger who is breast feeding, before they themselves are killed by a vengefull Samuel Jackson, who at the end of the film (this is the most important part), annonces: "get these mother f#%^ing breast feeding mothers off my mother f#^{ing plane!".

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Dee October 27, 2009 at 5:25 am

At 5 yrs of age a kid is to old to be breastfeeding.

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Mack October 27, 2009 at 9:16 am

If a woman chooses to breastfeed in public, she should not be surprised nor should she complain about the fact that some people look at her breasts. Defecating, urinating, love-making and clipping finger and toenails are "natural" too. Not everything that is natural should be done in public.

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