O Canada. I'm confused.
I thought everything was better up there, up north, Canada. What with your clean air and your bacon and your quaint, cooing vowels. You've got all the good bands, all the funny comedians, all those adorably feisty French-speaking separatists.
And Canada, don’t make me bring up healthcare – the envy of North America. Free surgeries! Free consultations! Practically free cholesterol drugs! Can I be you, Canada?
Then I read this, my understandably smug northern neighbor, and I am stunned. Canada, I no idea that you hate breastfeeders too!
Hate, I don’t mean hate (do I?). Fear, loathe, barely tolerate, misunderstand? I don’t know. But you’re sounding an awful lot like the sad lot of us parents down here in the blushing, close-minded, breasts-are-for-waitresses U.S.
See, someone at one of your YMCAs asked a mom to stop nursing poolside. An Edmonton Facebook member lost her account after posting pics of herself breastfeeding. Another mom felt like crap for choosing formula over breastmilk for her child. Worst of all, a Canadian university researcher on mothering says “it takes courage to breastfeed … it can make you quite vulnerable.” In Canada! Women need courage to breastfeed in Canada? That’s so American!
The article touches on other modern mom issues and, let me tell you, I thought I was reading the local paper. Lack of support for your choices. Pressure to go back to work but no help with daycare. Cloth vs. disposable. Attachment vs. cry-it-out. Canada, quit copying!
Listen, I know we in the U.S. push our bad TV and endless wars on you, Canada. But do yourself a favor. Leave the prudishness, the body discomfort, the love-the-breast-hate-the-function contradictions to us. That’s something we Americans do best.
