Is my six-year-old, too old to still breastfeed?

Okay, RELAX.  My oldest son is about to turn five and no, he isn't still breastfeeding, but I got your attention didn't I?

Seriously, this is a mini-rant about breastfeeding and the lack of tolerance that exists.  I believe it is due to a lack of the correct perspective, so I am going to help out with that part.

I breastfed 3 children.  They weaned at 22 months (gasp!), 14 months (mini gasp), and I am currently weaning my 11 month old (she is down to 2 feedings per day and well, she tried to bite off my nipple the other day and I decided --- it is time!)  So, I consider myself to be among the "mainstream" as far as "normal" nursing duration goes.

BUT, I think it is hilarious that people gasp and shriek and whatever else when they see or most likely read about someone nursing a child until an older age (like 3, 4, or 5 years old)  And, this is why I think this:

1. No one gasps, shrieks, or posts that neighbor-so-and-so formula feeds her child.  After all it is everyone's right to chose their method of feeding.  It's her body, her right.  Why doesn't that apply the other way around?  It is a mother's right to nurse however long she wants.  If the power-that-be decided that extended nursing psychologically messed with a kid, then they need to do something about it.  Until then, it is still her right.

2. Speaking of breastmilk --- When PETA put out a press release this past summer about wanting to introduce breastmilk to things like icecream and other dairy products (some craziness about it being healthier and about abusing dairy cows and poor "working" conditions for the cows) people WIGGED OUT!  I can here them now ---- GROSS BOOBIE MILK is in my icecream!  But yet we drink milk from a COW BOOB on a regular basis --- now please tell me HOW is milk from a HUMAN boob GROSSER than milk from a cow boob.  Have you seen how cow's live?  I used to live next to a dairy farm ---- the stench alone was enough to turn me off the dairy!  Now, before dairy farmers try to sue me for libel or defamation of the dairy industry, I am not Oprah, do not have millions and this is just my opinion and I know that you THINK your cows are well treated, and that they are "clean" etc....  But, I know they don't shower twice a day or sleep on a pillow top mattress like I do.  I don't lay on the ground, or in my own poo, so by default, my nipples are definitely cleaner!  But yet my milk is less appealing?  GO FIGURE.

3.  Not to mention that human milk is formulated BY HUMANS for HUMANS --- enough said.  I don't know who decided we should drink milk created by cows for other cows, but somewhere, the brilliant idea was hatched and well, it stuck.  Do you know that we are the only species that continues drinking milk past weaning from either mother's milk or a bottle?   No other species drinks milk into adulthood --- let alone another animal's milk.  And we wonder why some people have dairy intolerance --- we're not cows!

4. Now some argue that extended breastfeeding damages the child.  I am not a child psychologist and have not personally studied this, but I do know that my children still snuggle me and want my affection --- my almost 5 year old kissed me on the lips (gasp!) this morning and well, it was a sweet, innocent, non-sexual kiss.  Nursing doesn't have to have a sexual conotation just because there is a boob involved --- why do people see extended nursing as perverted?  The same 5-year-old son told me that when daddy is done being married to me, it's his turn.  Kids are SO innocent.  Too bad it's the adults that are perverse!

People are uncomfortable with iextended breastfeeding because it isn't the social norm (in this country anyway), but can we instead try to understand that most moms are simply trying to do what is best for their own child.  I am not necessarily suggesting we all continue nursing for extended periods nor am I going to --- I would like my nipples still attached and miss-biter-pants is getting weaned with or without her permission!--- but I am just trying to point out that if we want tolerance for ourselves, then apply that tolerance to other people. 

I for one have been nursing and/or pregnant for the past 6 years --- I am so done with both it's not even funny.  But, that doesn't mean I need to judge another mother because those 6 years of nursing have all been with the same child!  It just means that she has a different idea of what is best and healthiest for her child.  It's amazing to me that I am supposed to be tolerant of ideas like abortion and a woman's right to choose, but that right to choose isn't applied uniformally across the board.

Rant over --- now comment away!