Maybe squeamish is the wrong word JV. People can be uncomfortable with things they are not familar with or have not been exposed to. Damn, I'm uncomfortable on a topless beach. It's not that I've never seen breasts before, but in the US, we keep our tops on.I don't know where the hell to look with a woman in front of me with her boobs out. In other parts of the world it's normal to go topless. Having never been exposed to women breast feeding, I find it uncomfortable, by no means disgusting, just odd to see in public. I view it as a private thing.
Just my 2 cents.

sounds like she was disgusted to me. And disgusted it is a subset of squeamish: if you're disgusted, you're necessarily squeamish. For example, you can be squeamish without necessarily being "disgusted." But if you're "disgusted," you were and certainly are "squeamish." Hence to call her "squeamish" is quite accurate.

OK, so maybe I missed that statement. I still think it has to do with exposure, up bringing, culture. I'm sure you agree based upon your questions to Michelle regarding age, if she has children etc.

Bozo,
Where exactly did you see girls peeing on the street? Are they school girls? Grown Women? It would be interesting to know. Breastfeeding is about eating, but peeing is about you know.. the opposite, gross. What would be the realationship you are refering to.

I have shared an apartment with European girls during college, some of them metioned 'Backward Morality', ie those girls wanted to be topless while sunbathing in public swimming pool but was not allowed here. Perhpas that was what you were getting at?

I just remembered the scene from Jim Carrey Movie 'Me myself and Irene' where he played a bipolar cop Hank. At one scene beatiful mom was breastfeeding and next thing was Hank was sucking her tit instead of the infant she was nursing. Haha.

__________________

I'm 25, was not breastfed, and haven't decided if I will breastfeed when I have children. I didn't say "disgusting." I said gross. I think it was more about the infant being fresh out of the hospital than anything. I plan to follow the old school "newborns don't leave the house for six weeks" rule when I have children. It's something my fiance and I have discussed many times and feel the same way about. One of us can go out in that six week period, while the other is home with the baby. She wasn't that discreet about it; I just wasn't staring at her the entire 10-15 minutes before I noticed what she was doing. It would've been better if she moved to the far inside of the booth, or even switched sides with her husband so that she wasn't "front and center" for the entire restaurant to view. We don't dine with the general public that often, so I posted the thread just wondering if this is the norm. I don't watch bloody, violent movies, I can't stand them! (A good handful of members here know what type of movies I enjoy...and it ain't the type that someone living in a Catholic church would enjoy! ;) ) I guess it was more of an uncomfortable feeling...you can choose to watch a violent or disturbing movie...here, I didn't have a choice. I grew up on a farm, and still live on one. I've seen and assisted many cows and a few lambs giving birth. I've seen vets stick their arm up a cow's ass hundreds of times and watched them autopsy cows before, as well. This is stuff that would totally gross people out. I often joke with a nurse friend of mine about the difference between humans and cows...I'd much rather touch cow shit and piss than human waste...and she feels the exact opposite. I guess it's what you're used to...and this is definitely something I'm not. I really don't have a problem with women breastfeeding in public places, but I think the line should be drawn when it comes to restaurants.

LOL..Guess I have to check out 'Irene'! Sounds hilarious..You mean where di I see them HERE,or in Korea? Here, I see mostly drunk or semi drunk chicks doing it outside of bars or nightclubs..I know Ive been away for a little bit, and things might have changed, but I dont remember that kind of activity being rampant in the US...In Korea, I lived in a couple of small towns, (only for a year and a half)but I saw more than a couple of grown women doing it...In very rural areas, but more than a couple times..Not sure if it was the norm, and after all that Ive seen in life, it hardly offended me...And there was no intended relationship between the two circumstances, other than someone finding a certain situation stranger than normal....

Dont make me talk about Hanguk..Ill start crying..I miss it big time..Oops...offtopic..Sorry!

That is disgusting and you should draw attention to it. Get the manager over, tell him vocally it is grossing you out. I never understand why people with infants insist on "showing it off".

Great response, Michelle. I agree with all your points. Ask for a corner booth, face away from the other patrons, and don't make it a public spectacle.

I can't say I agree at all

breastfeeding is both a natural thing, and a moment of intimacy between the mother and the child.

as a parent, the REALITY of when a baby needs attending to is that you cannot plan everything. Often after a birth and the previous 9 or so months of every daily event revolving around the baby, a simple normal outing such as going out to dinner can be a treat, and a relief.

before my son was born my wife and I were determined that our social life would go on unchanged, we would still go out to cafes, see our friends as often etc. We were naive to say the least.

I learnt very quickly that people frown at you or even abuse you because your child needs a nappy changed and there is no where else other than the park seat where you have been strolling. You have already discounted the ground, you can't get to a change room so the best you can do is be discrete. Doesn't stop prudes from telling you what you should be doing.

We go out with major back up plans, and it still doesn't always work. Kids and babies have IMMEDIATE needs and as a parent you have to deal with them as they arise the best you can while retaining your own life as much as possible.

The other night my son had just been to the toilet before we went out as I asked and then you get to the video store where there is no toilet and lo and behold, they need to go again.

I also know that when you become a parent, your views and opinions change very quickly on what should or shouldn't happen. You also become far more sympathetic to other parents and help them wherever possible, as you can understand the difficulties and stresses involved.

I personally could not stand the sound of a crying child. Now it doesn't faze me as I can tell the differece between a need and a tantrum.

Breastfeeding is an act of both necessity and intimacy. As any act of intimacy is private, you should try to be discrete, which it apppears she did. I can't see what the problem is because you had to look repeatedly to work out what she was doing.

What does her economic status have to do with it? She is a parent, and one day you will be too. One day, somone will pass judgement on your actions that you deem necessary, whilst being as discrete as you can.

Hopefully someone won't go to the manager and vocally demand that you stop......

a mother's instinct is always right, she would put her child as first priority before anything else. i will not argue with that.