Now that I'm an expert.

I am a one-handed baby carrier, dinner cooking, laundry folding, walking/biking mama. I can manage to feed my kid and myself often at the same time.  Each morning I can put Jackson in the stroller and hook Edgar up to the leash and we can cruse the neighborhood. I've got this, until I totally don't. (What are you crying about?!)

I totally get where the "mommy wars" come from.  There is this need to ferociously protect your baby and what you believe is best for your babe, because any suggestion to the contrary would be a stab at your motherhood. It might stem from early during pregnancy when people like to reassure a pregnant person that motherhood just comes naturally, and that you'll know what to do. So when what "comes naturally"is questioned, it just feels completely unnatural.

I am always in awe of people who can so easily and graciously take other people's suggestions, no matter how pointed they might be, and say thank you and honestly consider what that person had to say. Whenever I see that, I try to remind myself it is ok to consider what other people (experienced people) have to offer. I think that sometimes in effort to protect my little one, I am also trying to protect who I am as "Mom" and often feel a threat of being put down if my beliefs are questioned, even if it is just someone offering a different point of view.  I am new at this.  I have been a mom for a total of 8 weeks and 4 days.  I still don't know why he suddenly cries, I can't get him to take from a bottle and I am pretty sure I will be feeding him with the shield the entire time I am able to breastfeed. Despite the newness of it all, I am doing the best I can.  The interesting thing is that it seems as though the medical community has been the most supportive and forgiving.  While admitting that breastfeeding is the best, Jackson's doctor isn't going to hang me if we have to eventually supplement with formula.  She has a realistic view of the life of a working mom.  When talking with my OB, she didn't make it seem like the sky was going to fall if I wind up always breastfeeding using the shield.  In the end, is he being fed? Is he being taken care of and is happy and healthy?  This is what is important.

This whole experience has been humbling.  It's amazing how easily I could judge other parents when I wasn't one. I am still not a fan/comfortable with breastfeeding in public, but I can easily see the need for it.  I just wish there were more private places reserved to allow moms to feed their babies when out and about that didn't include a stall with a toilet. I find that I have a lot more forgiveness for parents now.  For the most part, we are all still new at this, and as I am learning, it takes time to learn your kid and what works and what doesn't.  I am sure that it changes too, as they grow up. That being said, I still don't care for most children.