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Rebuttal to Anonymous

I got a rather fiery comment today, and since it was anonymous, I would like to respond to it in the public forum.

I would also like to point out that my contact information is readily accessible if you would ever like to address a complaint. I am all “ears”. And by “ears”, I mean able to read and respond to emails.

This comment was left just today on this post, about the Motrin Moms thing. In my mind, Motrin Moms is over and done with, water under the bridge, etc. etc. But one anonymous reader from Santiago, Chile who spent 43 minutes and 8 seconds reading only this post had strong feelings about my opinions.

Honestly, I’m really surprised so many people are so “outraged” at this campaign. Really? This is a pain reliever company letting people know that if you’re suffering from any discomfort trying out what is a growing trend, then they are there to help. You can’t deny that “baby wearing” is a growing trend. It doesn’t say it’s a fashion statement, that’s something that the angry mothers implied. It also doesn’t say that baby wearing isn’t legitimate, they don’t imply that.

MMT response: I think that saying “supposedly” baby wearing is a bonding experience actually was implying that it was perhaps not a legitimate bonding experience.

Anonymous Chilean: Also, yes, some people do follow trends, simply because everyone else is doing it. And to imply that NO new mothers out there are trying a baby sling just because they saw someone else do it is very naive. I’m not saying those mothers won’t benefit from the practice, but all humans are susceptible to shallowness and most trends are the result of a few influential people doing something new that sparks a large group of people replicating their actions, and for a variety of reasons. Motrin noticing this does not make them bad.
MMT: Trying a baby sling because you see another mom with a sling is not the same as “following a trend”. Wearing a baby in a sling with the intent to “look cool” is probably extremely rare. I can think of lots of other accessories that look cool.
As many of the baby wearing bloggers have noted, baby wearing has been in practice for centuries. Even in third world countries today, moms who have never seen a fashion magazine wear their babies.
Anonymous Chilean: And finally, while you certainly were subjected to some rude behavior on your flight, I wonder why you feel justified in hosing down another human with your bodily fluid? Regardless of the amazing miracle of human milk, and how it feeds and nurtures our children, your breast milk is still a bodily fluid, and a very personal one at that. If I urinated, spit, or sweat on someone every time they did something that disrespected me or my family members, I would be considered a negative member of society. Just because your body fluid involves a precious gift of life for your baby DOES NOT mean that you have the right to feel justified in your actions, nor should you be proud of it. Those that encourage you in the above comments are simply blinded by their own “mother pride” to realize that you were just as rude, arrogant, and wrong as your flight companions were. The action might have been an accident, but your happiness certainly proves you’re not above them.

MMT: This response totally jumps to some crazy conclusions about the whole breast milk episode. I did not grab the ol’ mammary and “Ready…Aim…FIRE!” at my seat mate. It was unintentional, and there was no need for me to wake up a sleeping stranger to tell them that I accidentally squirted them with breast milk.

My reason for including that in my post was in response to Steph from Adventures in Baby Wearing calling for, “embarrassing nursing/sling stories.” It had nothing to do with the “Motrin Thing”.

Anonymous Chilean: your happiness certainly proves you’re not above them

I certainly never thought I was “above them” even though they exhibited annoying behavior. I don’t think I am super amazing because I can produce breast milk.
I enjoy rehashing embarrasing things that happen to me that are beyond my control. Ask me about the time I vomited all over the gymnasium in 6th grade P.E. class, or read about the time I flashed an entire outdoor market.
Laughing about these embarrassing situations that I was powerless to change does make me happy. I don’t know what that proves.

I just wanted Anonymous Chilean to know that I did allow him or her to be the voice of dissent in the comments over at this post.

If I left anything out, feel free to email me.

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