Should I feel weird about my sister-in-law breastfeeding when my kids are there visiting?

[Anonymous]

To this particular relatoive (the nursing SIL), b perhaps her idea of being a gentlemna is one of the boys holding the tit for the baby while she rests or wiping the milked tit for her after the baby is done.

I'm sorry, are you one of the 12 year olds in question? Did someone invite you to the thread?

[Anonymous]

Why does this topic of supposed topless women breastfeeding babies keep coming up? I have never seen a woman feed her child like that in front of other people. It just Does.Not.Happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a husband. I have a son.

This thread is making me sad.

Here is a chance to give these boys a lesson in being gentlemen, and too many of you don't get it.

I am a wife. I have teen and tween sons.

This thread makes me sad, too.

I'll say it again in case someone didn't hear you, PP. Here is a teachable moment, an opportunity to give these boys a lesson in being gentlemen. It doesn't matter if these boys are not seeing even a glimpse of breast, or getting an eyeful. Here is a woman they (presumably) like and respect, feeling comfortable with her own body, feeding her child. It doesn't matter if they are sexually aroused by the sight. They should continue to act respectfully, not ogle, come to understand that this is normal and natural and not about them. Because men become aroused by women they see all the time, no matter what the woman is doing or wearing. A gentleman continues to act respectfully even when he is turned on by a classmate or a coworker.

[Anonymous]

Why does this topic of supposed topless women breastfeeding babies keep coming up? I have never seen a woman feed her child like that in front of other people. It just Does.Not.Happen.

Yes. OP, can you clarify what "pretty much topless" means? Is she wearing no top at all, openly? I could see your maybe having an issue with that. (Still doesn't let you tell her what to do in her house, but if you wanted to urge your sons to leave the room, leave the house, or quietly let her know that you're not comfortable with them being in the room when she's disrobed, that would make sense.) Or does it mean, "wow, you can see her breast when she does that"? In which case, well, that's part of breastfeeding. She's comfortable with it; help your sons be respectful of it.


There are a lot of scary things in the world that they're going to come into contact with as they grow into adulthood. Breasts are far, far from the top of that list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And people wonder why some boys grow up feeling entitled to women, or with misogynistic attitudes. Not saying that OP's sons are going to grow up to be rapists or abusers, but if you don't teach boys to respect women, especially women in their OWN HOMES, feeding their children, then how the hell do you expect them to grow up with a mature and responsible attitude about women?

OP, you have a teachable moment here. And yes, you should feel weird about feeling weird about your SIL feeding her child.

+++10000

[Anonymous]

What if it's not in HER home, but in someone else's (i.e. my home)? And she's nursing a toddler? In front of all my guests... Hypothetically...