Breast feeding older kids- a touchy subject

I just a BBC.COM article about the front cover of the latest edition if Time magazine. It shows a young woman standing upright with a child suckling at her left breast. Nothing unusual except that the child is standing on a stool and is obviously way beyond average breast feeding age. I haven't read the article but the picture itself says a few things to me that I would like to talk and think more about 1) Eye catching and bold- so full marks to the Editor for breaking through the clutter 2) Unusual subject- why should this be a cover story unless it's a matter big enough to warrant this attention 3) Frankly why all the bur ha ha? Why should breast feeding be such a big deal. It's a personal choice that a mother makes and she should have the freedom to make that choice 4) What is more shocking- the photograph or the fact that some women breast feed for that long? Decide people All the noise about this making it more difficult for women to breast feed in public is just crap. People in sub saharn Africa roam around with nothing more than loin cloths and they lead happy full lives. While not propagating nudity I so think that we as a "civilised" society should not be so squeamish about a woman's breast. While being a body part with sexual implications it's most important function is to lactate. A picture of a breast is context should be treated appropriately. If you can change a child's diaper you can breast feed. A deeper look at the picture shows a message in the attitude of the model- I am breast-feeding my child and I am proud of it. If you have a problem with it, that's your problem not mine. While most mothers would not like to be photographed like that, here perhaps it was important to portray the act in an unconventional way so that the unconventional message could be conveyed and everyone forced to take notice.

When I was alone I said Jalebi!

Yes this is what I said out aloud when recently I found myself alone in the elevator even though it sounds really odd and frankly is a little embarrassing to admit on my blog. But it is the truth. If we stop and consider for a moment, odd thoughts, just like my sudden craving for jalebi, are actually not so uncommon when we are truly alone with our thoughts. Think about it. Have you recently been alone in an elevator or a conference room all by yourself? I can bet at least a few times this year. Haven't you heard the uncanny sound of your thoughts running in your brain? A fear of heights that you don't like to think about, a sinfully expensive manicure that you told no one about, a fetish for late night re-runs of the despicable Jerry Springer maybe? All in all it is a moment of truth when we are by ourselves because we can lie to the whole world but can not lie to ourselves. In this increasingly crowded world where information, communication and interactions constantly surround us and where socialising is a compulsion, it is hard to be alone just with our innermost thoughts. But if we make the time and keep our ears open, we maybe surprised at what we learn the next time we are alone. Maybe like me you will discover that you have a sweet tooth and get off the elevator to go back and get that jalebi immediately!