To the older Gentleman at the east end Walmart this morning,



I'd like to thank you for the ignorant comment you decided to yell at me while I was exercising my legal right to nurse my child in public before you scurried away like the rat that you are. I was in such shock that I didn't have anything to say at the time but it has given me much to think about. Frankly, I wasn't about to yell any of the numerous things rolling through my mind because I decided to be the bigger person. I'm not going to try to educate you on the benefits of breastfeeding or the legal and social struggles women throughout the world experience on a daily basis when all we want to do is feed our hungry children. And to be honest, it's not worth my time and effort to attempt to educate the ignorant, I have better things to do. But I would like to thank you.



Thanks for being the first person to negatively comment on my decision to breastfeed in public, it has made me appreciate the rest of society so much more. In the 2+ years I've been nursing my children I've never once come across a single person with something negative to say. In fact, most people are extremely kind and supportive. I'm so grateful to them, they've made my breastfeeding journey so rewarding. I know that what I'm doing is the best thing for my children and it's always nice to have strangers acknowledge it too.



Thanks for giving me the opportunity to think about my rights as a parent. I am grateful to live in a country where breastfeeding is a human right. Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms I have the right to nurse my child wherever and whenever my child and I choose. There are so many women in this world who don't have that right and that is truly a shame.



Thanks for encouraging me to continue to nurse my child for as long as she wishes to be nursed and to nurse her wherever she wants to be. If you thought that by making derogatory comments that it would convince me otherwise, you're very mistaken. We had a very difficult start and I have no intention of giving it up any time soon. It is after all what we as mammals were designed to do.



Thanks for the opportunity to speak out about breastfeeding and encourage other moms who have chosen to nurse their child to do what makes them comfortable. Perhaps they prefer to pump and bottle feed or maybe they'd rather cover up and while this may make you happier, it doesn't work for us and I wouldn't want it to. I prefer to feed my baby wherever and whenever she is hungry and neither of us feels a need to cover up. Even if that means nursing her while pushing a shopping cart. Ultimately, if seeing me nurse in public encourages just one more mom to feel comfortable to do the same, I know that I've made this world a better place.



I'm sure that if this ever gets to you, you'll never read it. Ignorance will do that to a person. I do however want to leave you with one thought given your age, odds are you were breastfed too.

