More on the learning curve

I know, I know, most of my posts in the last 2 1/2 months have been about breastfeeding. But honestly, you try doing something eight times a day and tell me what else you have time for. Much less have anything else to talk about.

My recent lightbulb moment as a Mother of three is that breastfeeding isn't just a learning process for the Mother. It is a learning process for the whole family. Especially when it is something you have never really done long term before. How is it a learning process for the whole family you ask. Good question.

I have realized that Big Daddy has had to learn to deal with his inability to feed the baby on a moments notice. Much to his dismay, as he loves to feed our babies. But, thankfully our sweet Addie will take a bottle. She dosen't have much choice when it is feeding time and I instantly come down with a gallbladder attack and am writhing around on the floor. The downside to this is that poor Big Daddy then has to run hot water on a frozen milksicle for about 20 minutes before he can feed the baby. But alas, the girl eats. Big Daddy has learnt his share about breastfeeding. Moreso he has had to learn to be the support person when times are (or were) tough. He, being the good man he is sat beside me and let me cry on his shoulder when I wanted to continue but the pain was almost too much. With his support, we as a team persevered. I think the most success I felt was once things were going well and latching was getting better and he so non-chalantly said "I am proud of you". It was a moment I so much needed and will never forget. Big Daddy learnt, and did his part.

The boys had a learning curve as well. As much as I hated doing it, there were and still are moments when the dudes have to have some patience for me to finish feeding before I can fulfill their needs. But they understand and have learnt a bit of patience.

Joseph is six, and with being six he knows that being naked in public isn't really all that appropriate. So, he has a hard time understanding how I can breastfeed in public. As we were driving to the mall he mentioned to me that if I fed Addie at the mall that it would just be downright embarassing. But, he is learning that Addie needs to eat, embarassing or not.

But to round out our family Addie has had to learn too. She has had to learn how to feed. Also, I am quite sure she knows that when I take her off and put her down mid-feed that her brothers are into some knee deep kaka.

I guess it just goes to who that it dosen't matter what task one of us takes on or what life throws at us that as a family if we support one another and stick together we will make it through.