Not Saying I'm always right ......

This is a continuation of my last post. I decided to try and smooth things over so I sent her an email and she responded very poorly. I wont be responding back because it's just not worth it.

Cheri,

I apologize for offending you. My statements were not intended to be offensive and not intended to tell you personally how to raise your kids. You posted a statement on your status for everyone to read and I made an (apparently poor) assumption that you were willing to have a discussion on the topic. It's a topic with a lot of opinions and those kinds of topics posted openly on FB tend to bring about a lot of discussion. I don't mind when others disagree with my statuses - in fact, I expect it because 500 people obviously arent all going to agree. Your friend Roz saying that a woman should "take it to the restroom" really got to me so I sat down and calmly wrote from a breastfeeders point of view. It was not meant to be an attack. You are correct that you have a right to your opinion.

I just wanted to let you know that I am truly not angry and did not intended to fight. If you ever want to have a discussion on the topic then please let me know because I'm sure that we can have a productive talk on the matter. Neil and I are always telling the girls that although we have our opinions, that there are a lot of other opinions out there. We tell them that we are not always right and that anyone who tells them that they are 100% right probably doesn't listen well to other people and keep an open mind. So just because I feel passionately about a topic doesnt mean that I am not willing to listen to the other side.

I love you and I love my nieces and nephews. I just want you to know that my page is open to you anytime you want to view pictures or share thoughts. For now I will send pics to your email.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday and watching all the kids run around and have fun.

See you there :)

With Sincerity,

Bri

Ok, here's the thing...
You know me well enough to know that your comments were going to irritate me & offend me, yet you went right ahead with it. If you had posted all that to the public on your own page...that would be different. You didn't need to do that on my page, for one. On top of that, how did you expect me to react to your telling me I have the right to leave the room etc... as if MY rights as the mother of boys & what they see doesn't matter. You want me to respect your right to breastfeed, and I do everytime I let you breastfeed in my great room full of people, but you do not show equal respect to my choices as a mother.

Bottom line: I'm done.... I've tried to be nice, regardless of the many things I disagree with..... I've let you breastfeed in my great room everytime.... why should I continue to be respectful of your breastfeeding when you so clearly refuse to respect my choices as a mother. When Austin was a baby & Jeff's folks were offended because I changed his diaper on their living room floor (because to me that was no big deal)... I still changed him openly at my house, but when we were at their house, I refused to change him on the bathroom floor as they suggested, but I did go in to another room away from everyone. Respecting their views & opinions on the matter, especially in their house.

So what you do in public when I'm not around is your business.... but at my house, you will be asked to breastfeed in another room... if you are offended by that, I apologize, but I'm putting my foot down. It's my house & it's my choice. I also ask YET AGAIN for you to not breastfeed around my children. Period. If you want to do it anyway... go for it.... but don't be surprised when I notice it & I'm rude about it. Because I've asked you nicely... they are my kids & it's my choice what they see, not yours. I wish it didn't have to come to this, I tried to ask that you simply be more discrete, respecting my wishes around my children for what I feel is appropriate for them. Yet you insist on it being your right to breastfeed, it's natural... but just as urinating is natural... and yes some find it offensive.... I don't find it offensive at all... it's just peeing.... but not everyone agrees with that, just like not everyone agrees with breastfeeding so openly. So at my house, this is how it will be.... many will be more comfortable with it this way.

So ~ as before, yes you irritated me... big surprise. But it's not going to change if you can't seriously be more considerate of those of us around you who aren't comfortable with your nursing to openly. My mother is a smoker & she legally can be outside smoking right next to you breastfeeding your baby, yet she chooses to move away from people because of their comfort level. It shouldn't be so hard for you to do the same. And I know, smoking is very different than nursing, I realize that ... but I am referring to the consideration of others that you should be more respectful of.

I'm not mad really, yes I was irritated.... but really, for me it's more "I'm done"
I don't see anything changing here... because you feel you have the right to do it in front of my children regardless.
And that's fine... I'll deal with it each time it occurs
and as for what we are comfortable with our kids seeing & hearing....
well, I guess I don't need to worry about the "older Kid" stuff that my kids sometimes refer to & I tell them not around the little kids......nope, not anymore.... you have the right to remove your kids from the area if such an instance occurs.
Have a great day Bri