"NURSING IN PUBLIC?
I do not condone nurse-ins, flashing your breasts openly to prove a point or shaming women that just can't do it... but here are some tips for feeding your baby in public:"
I do not condone nurse-ins, flashing your breasts openly to prove a point or shaming women that just can't do it... but here are some tips for feeding your baby in public:"
blah blah....you get the idea. Time to eat it, because I went to a nurse-in today. And friends, here's why:
Dear Hobby Lobby,
Dear Hobby Lobby,
I absolutely adore your place of business! Walking into your store seems to cause my heart, my mind and my wallet to burst open in acceptance and enjoyment. I come there A LOT, and typically with all six of my children (though it started with 4 when I found the crafter within just dying to put hot glue or a needle to everything.) I was sad and confused when I heard the location I most often frequent had been unwelcoming to nursing mothers. At least two have communicated their stories in the last few days and I couldn't stay silent and here's why.
A) I agree there are three sides to every story. Mine, yours and the truth. Regardless of how accurate the stories I've heard are, there has yet to be a public response, even a simple one on your facebook page. If there's no problem, why not say so? Companies typically speak out that an individual employee did not act in accordance with the company policy and they will be trained better... something to that effect. But silence is bothersome. This nurse-in was to get you to say something to the public. While it involved only individuals in the past, it now involves crafty nursing mama bears everywhere. I will not shop where I don't believe I could nurse my baby if she needed to be.
B) You know there isn't any private space in your store at all, right? The one bathroom you have in the back corner doesn't even have a chair to seat a mom that may be willing to sit in there (I'm not and I'm sad for any woman that feels she should.). You cram beautiful trinkets, supplies and decor in every stinking corner of your store. Where could a mom nurse in your store that's considered appropriate in your eyes? Another reason why I attended this nurse-in, to reveal our predicament. This leads me to the next point.
C) You should WANT to make Hobby Lobby a comfortable place for moms. Imagine one like me, I have counted it up and I have purchased over 500 yards of fabric from your store in the last three years. You have a fabric I simply adore and need oodles of on a regular basis to spread the fabulosity to my friends and their friends' friends. That's just fabric, I've bought tons of other amazing crap there too. When I'm shopping with my gaggle and baby is hungry, but I have yet to complete my shopping, I have three options: let baby cry, leave or nurse baby. I'm discreet and my babies don't take long to eat. I could be showing maybe 1-3 inches of skin around baby's mouth if she's wiggly for about 10-15 minutes then move on with my shopping, or I could leave - stressed and frustrated to not accomplish my mission. "The longer I'm in your store, the more money I spend," - said almost every crafter, ever.
A) I agree there are three sides to every story. Mine, yours and the truth. Regardless of how accurate the stories I've heard are, there has yet to be a public response, even a simple one on your facebook page. If there's no problem, why not say so? Companies typically speak out that an individual employee did not act in accordance with the company policy and they will be trained better... something to that effect. But silence is bothersome. This nurse-in was to get you to say something to the public. While it involved only individuals in the past, it now involves crafty nursing mama bears everywhere. I will not shop where I don't believe I could nurse my baby if she needed to be.
B) You know there isn't any private space in your store at all, right? The one bathroom you have in the back corner doesn't even have a chair to seat a mom that may be willing to sit in there (I'm not and I'm sad for any woman that feels she should.). You cram beautiful trinkets, supplies and decor in every stinking corner of your store. Where could a mom nurse in your store that's considered appropriate in your eyes? Another reason why I attended this nurse-in, to reveal our predicament. This leads me to the next point.
C) You should WANT to make Hobby Lobby a comfortable place for moms. Imagine one like me, I have counted it up and I have purchased over 500 yards of fabric from your store in the last three years. You have a fabric I simply adore and need oodles of on a regular basis to spread the fabulosity to my friends and their friends' friends. That's just fabric, I've bought tons of other amazing crap there too. When I'm shopping with my gaggle and baby is hungry, but I have yet to complete my shopping, I have three options: let baby cry, leave or nurse baby. I'm discreet and my babies don't take long to eat. I could be showing maybe 1-3 inches of skin around baby's mouth if she's wiggly for about 10-15 minutes then move on with my shopping, or I could leave - stressed and frustrated to not accomplish my mission. "The longer I'm in your store, the more money I spend," - said almost every crafter, ever.
D)...hmm... where did I see Hobby Lobby in the news lately? Oh yeah, They're a Christian, family-owned company that rightfully refuses the right to pay for birth control designed to abort fertilized eggs. You were loud and proud when you defended unborn babies... why so quiet when it comes to defending the life-sustaining nourishment to those babies outside the womb? The hypocrisy gives me a headache. Let us feed these precious babes and buy our crafts. That's all we want.
This nurse-in was peaceful and intended to draw attention for Hobby Lobby to support women that now feel unwelcome in your store. I was late, so I only got to meet a couple of the wonderful women there. I went to do a little shopping, planning to nurse my sweetheart if she was hungry. Guess what? She wasn't hungry, so I didn't nurse her. I'm still puzzled some people don't get that, the nursing is about the baby. Please let us know if you do or do not support moms feeding their babies in your store. It will make a difference. I won't shop there anymore until you do, and I'm not the only one.
Sincerely,
A mom just trying to do best for her babies.
