Great Moments in Parenting: The CD Booth

CanCan, 12 August 2008,
Categories: Jojo, Traveling baby
Tags: breastfeeding

I recently won a prize drawing celebrating World Breastfeeding Week 2008. To enter, you had to submit a breastfeeding story:

Here is my story: *dramatic pause*. When my first baby (Jojo) was 7 weeks old, I returned to my job which required me to move back to Laos, Southeast Asia.

The first week back, I was showing some visitors around an indoor/outdoor market and my baby was really really fussy. I took all of his clothes off, hoping he was hot and it would help. He continued to cry, so finally out of desperation I decided to kneel in an alley to nurse him.

A CD seller in the market saw me and insisted that I sit in her booth. The “booth” was about 2 feet deep and 7 feet wide…just big enough for a stool behind a counter and a vertical wall of CD’s for sale. I sat on the stool and tried to get my baby to discretely latch on. My baby was overwrought by now and would not latch on.

In an effort to “help” me, the CD booth lady decided she would hold my shirt for me, only she held it WAY UP, about chin level. At that same moment I was aware of a small crowd of southeast Asians gathering to see what an American breast looked like. They DEFINITELY got to see EVERYTHING.

My baby never did latch so finally the CD lady took him from me and he instantly fell asleep in her arms. It was pretty embarrassing at the time but now it is one of my favorite stories. I went on to nurse my son for 26 months, but we never went back to the market!

I’m now nursing my second child, and despite the awkward moments and accidental “flashing” of gawkers, I think breast feeding is the perfect thing while traveling with baby.

Looks like a winning essay to me! Winning with this story made the humiliation worth it. I was so inspired, I dug up the one picture that I have preserving that memory. It was taken by my friend Nikki, who was with us for the whole scene, although I’m not sure she got to see the goods. I’ve never shared this on the web because we just got a scanner this week. I look a bit shell-shocked in this picture. I’m probably still thinking about what just happened:

What really added insult to injury was not only did the lady take the liberty to flash the crowd by lifting my shirt, she also was able to get Jojo to stop crying when I couldn’t.

Lesson learned: no outdoor markets with a 2 month-old baby.

Kumon, Let’s Learn! »

Comments

13 Responses, Leave a Reply

1 Jenn
12 August 2008, 12:13 pm

I’m glad you have a photo to go along with the story.
2 Heather
12 August 2008, 1:12 pm

I am glad I never had an embarrassing breast feeding story like that because it sounds so stressful more than anything. I agree that breast feeding makes travel so much easier with babies, I never would have been able to take mine tent camping if I used bottles. I’ve been lucky also in that I’ve only had compliments from people when I’ve breastfed out in public so far with the kids. Maybe I’m jinxing myself and I’ll have a horror story to share after the 4th baby is born!
3 Wendy
12 August 2008, 4:14 pm

Embarrassing to be sure, but I think it was sweet of the woman to try to help (even if she did go a bit far with it, LOL). Breastfeeding is such a natural, beautiful part of motherhood. Your essay was definitely inspirational, congrats on winning the contest!
4 Amanda
12 August 2008, 5:04 pm

congrats on winning! glad you can look back on it and laugh now
5 Kathleen
13 August 2008, 12:22 am

That’s a great story and a wonderful image to go with it. I love breastfeeding when my son is cooperating. He’s been refusing the breast off and on this week.

Anyway, I wish I had an interesting story like yours to tell! Maybe eventually.
6 Abbey
13 August 2008, 1:20 am

Aha! Now that is funny stuff! Don’t you hate that when the tiniest of babies can make you into an instant boob? HA! Now, that was a good one you have to admit…
I’ll tell you mine… I nursed Ando in the car before shopping and forgot to button myself OR hook the little bra covering panel thingy over the “goods” on one side. So, needless to say, alot of peeps in my own home town have seen one “good” of mine and nobody even told me. Traders!
7 Aabharan
13 August 2008, 3:58 am

Cancan - Congratulations on winning! U sure look dazed in the pic:)

Thank you for visiting my blog. do drop in when time permits.
8 Glass Beads
13 August 2008, 4:54 am

Congratulations on winning the contest. glad you have overcome the feeling and are able to share.
9 Nancy M.
13 August 2008, 4:25 pm

Nursing can be embarrassing at times. But by the time you give birth and everything, most of that modesty goes out the window! Congratulations on winning the contest!
10 The Nikkster
13 August 2008, 8:56 pm

I’m glad you won the contest, and am even more pleased to have been there to share in the experience. Although I do believe I was looking the other way across the aisle when the flashing took place. Memories…
11 Rebecca
18 August 2008, 5:09 am

The most embarrassing thing I have ever experienced is my daughter who is now 3, loudly exclaiming in public that she wanted Boobie! and trying to pull my shirt up while I am trying to shop, she was still in the cart while doing this. She was about 26 months or so at the time, so I told her she would have to wait and distracted her with fruit snacks

It was embarrassing because here in the bible belt they gawk at people who breastfeed in public, especially when they are old enough to ask for it.

I agree that breastfeeding is the best thing for travelling, you have to carry a lot less stuff and it’s always ready!
12 Tales from the Road: Family Travel in Asia Public Breastfeeding Fail | Mom Most Traveled
31 December 2010, 3:47 am

[...] Read here for a detailed written account. [...]
13 Tina Page
31 December 2010, 8:21 am

I had an experience traveling in Mexico with my first child. he was maybe 2 months old and I was a young, inexperienced traveler and did not speak Spanish yet. I did not want to do anything to upset locals but the baby wanted to eat….so I found a policeman and asked what I thought was “Can I breastfeed here?” and received an emphatic “NO!!” I came to realize later that I believe I offered to breastfeed the policeman! Live and learn, right?
I’ve breastfed a total of 7 years over my 3 kids lives and I can’t imagine what a pain bottles must be….Good for you on your story and winning!