I asked Aram if I could sit down with him and ask him some questions about breastfeeding. The first thing he said was, “Oh, to help other mommies? Sure!” But at the time, it was really just for a book full of their thoughts as children that I am currently creating for the boys. After we finished the interview, I realized that he was right. Hopefully this inspires some of you on your breastfeeding journey.
Me: What do you think about nursing?
A: I think it’s a good thing.
Me: Why?
A: Because babies are supposed to nurse.
Me: What if the mommy can’t nurse or maybe doesn’t want to?
A: Then the mommy or the daddy will give the baby milk in a bottle.
Me: What do you think about that?
A: It’s good.
Me: How long do kids nurse for?
A: Like 6.
Me: You didn’t nurse until you were 6.
A: When they are 4 they still nurse a little bit, but when they get bigger they don’t.
Me: Some people think kids will never stop nursing unless the mommy says they’re all done. Do you think kids would nurse forever if mommy didn’t say it’s time to stop?
A: They always stop nursing! Even I don’t want to nurse anymore! Sometimes they will nurse a little when they’re like 5, but when they get a little bigger they stop.
Me: Always?
A: Yeah.
Me: Some people think that kids who nurse when they’re three or four never want to be away from their mommies.
A: No, no, no…it’s okay, the daddy will take care of them when the mommy is gone and they’ll still be happy.
Me: Well, some people think that kids who nurse for a long time will be too attached to their mommies.
A: They are wrong.
Me: Why?
Aram: Because they are wrong about the kids doing that. Because when all kids get bigger they want to go.
Me: What do you mean by go?
Aram: Like go away and do stuff by themselves. And when they’re really big they really go away.
Me: What do you mean by really go away?
Aram: They go away and do what they want to do.
Me: What do you think about the people who think it’s hurting kids if they nurse for a long time?
Aram: It’s hurtful to do that.
Me: To do what?
Aram: To say to people things like, “No, you don’t need to nurse,” because it’s better for them to nurse their mommies if they can.
Me: Who should decide when it’s time to stop nursing?
A: The mommy…actually, the kid. Because the kid really knows when it’s time to stop nursing.
Me: Can you tell me what you told Auntie Ali when she had to stop nursing cousin Bobby?
A: I told her it was a good thing that she stopped nursing bobby.
Me: Why?
Aram: Because she wasn’t feeling good. She couldn’t be a good mommy if she wasn’t feeling good! It’s a good idea to stop nursing if it will help her get better…And she might have another baby when she’s feeling better! Maybe she can nurse that baby!
Me: What about the people who say that mommies should pump and put it in a bottle if they’re in public?
A: No, you don’t. You should nurse in public. It’s better for the babies if they want to nurse to nurse when they want to nurse.
Me: Why is it better to nurse from the mommy’s breast?
A: Because it’s their mommy and they like it.
Me: What do they like about it?
A: They like holding onto their mommies and when they nurse they like to do this. ::Closes eyes and tilts head to the side.::
Me: Also, some people say after kids aren’t tiny babies anymore that it is more appropriate to put breast milk in a cup.
A: Oh, I know all about this! People think boobies are just for daddies! That makes no sense! Those people are wrong! They are for kids. Daddies don’t nurse!
Me: Well, some people think that that part of a woman’s body is for a man because a lot of men in society are attracted to women’s breasts.
A: No, they just like the woman. They think the girl looks pretty. Boobies are on ladies.
Me: So you think that it’s part of what makes a woman a woman and that is why men like breasts?
A: Yes.
Me: What would you want to tell other mommies who want to let their babies decide when to stop nursing, but they are afraid of what other people think.
A: You should still nurse, you shouldn’t listen to those people. You can’t let other people boss you around! What will your kid think when he gets older? Will he be happy or sad that you let him nurse until he was all done?
Me: Wow, that is a fantastic answer, buddy!
A: Do you think this will help lots of mommies?
Me: I think so.
