Make Your Case for Attachment Parenting Here

[Subby]

Behind the Scenes Photos: TIME's Cover Story on Attachment Parenting - LightBox (http://lightbox.time.com/2012/05/10/parenting/#1)

http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/thecutline/time-magazine-breastfeeding-cover.jpg

[Logan]

I'd rather make my case for being that kid right now.

[korme]

rob delaney ‏ <s>@</s>robdelaney (https://twitter.com/#%21/robdelaney) "This photo's OK but it doesn't INSTANTLY give me a boner AND fill my eyes with tears; let's see another." - editor of <s>@</s>TIME (https://twitter.com/#%21/TIME)

[cartman]

I wonder if she'd consider adoption?

[Rizon]

What the hell is Attachment Parenting? I tried looking it up online but it was tl;dr

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QEZWtohobaE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Logan]

That picture offends me. I think I'll protest TIME and their advertisers.

[PilotMan]

Momma knows best.

[Grover]

rob delaney ‏ <s>@</s>robdelaney (https://twitter.com/#%21/robdelaney) "This photo's OK but it doesn't INSTANTLY give me a boner AND fill my eyes with tears; let's see another." - editor of <s>@</s>TIME (https://twitter.com/#%21/TIME)

Delaney is the best thing on twitter.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Robert Arryn seems to have turned out fine.

[stevew]

Titties on Time Magazine, but no NFLN on Time Warner Cable. What a bunch of boobs.

[Rizon]

What's the point of breastfeeding a 3 year old? Is that part of some new hippie movement? I'm not talking about the weirdness part of it, I thought that at that age they aren't getting enough nutrients from breastmilk.

[JPhillips]

Robert Arryn seems to have turned out fine.

GEEK!

[I. J. Reilly]

What's the point of breastfeeding a 3 year old? Is that part of some new hippie movement? I'm not talking about the weirdness part of it, I thought that at that age they aren't getting enough nutrients from breastmilk.

That was my first thought as well, but that looks like one big ass three year old, so maybe there's something to it.

[molson]

What's the point of breastfeeding a 3 year old? Is that part of some new hippie movement? I'm not talking about the weirdness part of it, I thought that at that age they aren't getting enough nutrients from breastmilk.

Wait, I assumed that was like, symbolism or something. People aren't really doing this, are they?

[GrantDawg]

Wait, I assumed that was like, symbolism or something. People aren't really doing this, are they?


Yes they are. It is what the article is about. They found one "expert" to say it was ok, so it must be ok. I honestly think it just shows an attachment defect in the mother (an inability to "let go" and allow the child to grow up).

[Rizon]

Wait, I assumed that was like, symbolism or something. People aren't really doing this, are they?

Yeah, I think I saw it on Oprah or something years ago. Maybe even Lifetime (while flipping through the channels ... of course ...).

[SteveMax58]

Wait, I assumed that was like, symbolism or something. People aren't really doing this, are they?

Yes...and I intend to get in on this.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Yeah, I think I saw it on Oprah or something years ago.

It was Oprah. The 'expert' on the subject is a man that Dr. Phil calls his mentor.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Yes...and I intend to get in on this.

Your mom is still lactating? :eek:

[Rizon]

Yes they are. It is what the article is about. They found one "expert" to say it was ok, so it must be ok. I honestly think it just shows an attachment defect in the mother (an inability to "let go" and allow the child to grow up).

Kind of how I feel about it, and what my wife and I are going through with our 7 1/2 month old. We planned to breastfeed up to one year, but her milk supply can't keep up. Our pediatrician had recommended supplements after 6 months because breastmilk, while containing super important things, isn't enough after that time. He recommended breastfeeding as long as you can up to one year, though.

So mom right now is having a hard time with giving up breastfeeding (only producing 10% of our daughter's daily intake) because of the attachment thing. She feels not important anymore, etc.

Breastfeeding toddlers comes across to me as a "can't let go" thing. But I'm really not an expert. I wasn't breastfed at all and didn't end up fucked up, though I ended up in Oakland.

[SteveMax58]

Your mom is still lactating? :eek:

I'll call her whatever she wants!

[Galaril]

:bowdown: I'll call her whatever she wants!

[Ben E Lou]

Wait, I assumed that was like, symbolism or something. People aren't really doing this, are they?Attachment parenting is a fairly recent movement. I get the impression that there aren't specific guidelines around the movement in this area, but in general, breast feeding much longer than is needed for nutritional purposes fits into the attachment parenting model.

[DanGarion]

Titties on Time Magazine, but no NFLN on Time Warner Cable. What a bunch of boobs.

Time Warner != Time Warner Cable...

[JonInMiddleGA]

From an AJC blog (where they're trying to blow the controversy up into a controversy of its own) I discover that the cover model isn't a model, but an actual attachment parenting mom. Just thought that was a randomly interesting bit of trivia.

That's actually being turned into one of the talking points: whether using a real person instead of a model makes the cover more defensible/justifiable/whatever, since the growing controversy includes questions about whether the intent of the cover (rather than just the cover photo itself) is appropriate.

[Ksyrup]

John Walters ‏ <S>@</S>jdubs88
Do the Oedipal Time cover couple have a reality show yet?

[RomaGoth]

...He recommended breastfeeding as long as you can up to one year, though.

This is what it really comes down to. The nutritional value of a mothers milk after about a year is almost nill for a child. This absurd idea that a child should be breastfeeding until high school or some ridiculous shit is just ludicrous.

[Ben E Lou]

This is what it really comes down to. The nutritional value of a mothers milk after about a year is almost nill for a child. This absurd idea that a child should be breastfeeding until high school or some ridiculous shit is just ludicrous.I don't think even the most hardcore attachment parenting proponents are arguing that there's a significant nutritional component. Everything I've ever read about attachment parenting and heard from its proponents would lead me to think that it's about extending the connection.

FWIW, where I live, parenting philosophy can be quite the divisive issue. The "gurus" on the other end of the continuum from attachment-style parenting live here and their philosophy is taught to a significant number of new parents, which therefore creates a fair number of heavily anti-attachment people. That in turn makes the pro-attachment people more vocal than I would guess they are elsewhere. When people start criticizing how people raise their children, it can get very heated in a hurry. ;)

[thesloppy]

The "gurus" on the other end of the continuum from attachment-style parenting live here and their philosophy is taught to a significant number of new parents, which therefore creates a fair number of heavily anti-attachment people.

I am intrigued. What is the gist of the anti-attachment philosophy? Ship your kid off to military school at 6 months?

[Autumn]

Billions of kids around the world breast feed until they are 3 to 5 years old. It's not some new fad. My youngest breasted until he was four, and there was nothing weird about it. Naturally women tend to lactate until their next child, on average three and a half years.

[Autumn]

This is what it really comes down to. The nutritional value of a mothers milk after about a year is almost nill for a child. This absurd idea that a child should be breastfeeding until high school or some ridiculous shit is just ludicrous.

Right, high school, that's what people do. :rolleyes:

[Ben E Lou]

I am intrigued. What is the gist of the anti-attachment philosophy? Ship your kid off to military school at 6 months?Hehehe. No, it's not that extreme as a philosophy, though my observation is that it tends to attract people who are extreme and push it to some absurd limits. ;) But it's definitely more structured, and along the lines of the parents "leading" the child more, and starting well before a year old with doing some specific things to encourage independence. It's also big on the husband-wife relationship, not the parent-child relationship, being the primary one in the household, so there's a component of being intentional about trying to free up time as parents away from the little one, both in the house, and for routine date nights. We aren't full-fledged disciples of the other end, but we did use some of their stuff. One example would be daily "playpen time." The routine immediately after her breakfast every morning was that we would put her in her playpen with several toys in a room by herself with the door closed, and she would stay in there without needing us to see us. By the time she was around 10ish months old, she would give a huge grin when we said "it's playpen time" and then she'd play happily in there for 60 minutes every day while the wife and I had breakfast together, visited, and even engaged in some hanky-panky from time to time. ;) To a hardcore attachment parenting proponent, I'm pretty sure that having an awake 10-month-old who can't see her parents or another human being for an hour a day is borderline child abuse.

[thesloppy]

Gotcha. I can see the appeal to both approaches (and to riding the middle line, and stealing the best parts of each), in the new, hyper-social age. It's kind of an odd time to be a parent. I certainly don't want to presume that it's any 'harder', but the internet/social aspect is kind of new ground. As far as the breastfeeding thing goes, it does immediately trip my socially conditioned gag reflex, but biologically/nutritionally is it really any weirder than the fact that the great majority of us drink and eat the breast milk of an entirely different species, often moldy and coagulated, for the entirety of our lives?

[PilotMan]

My wife is at high risk for breast cancer, and every year that she could breast feed lowered her chances of developing the cancer.

The oldest breast fed until he was 2.5, the middle about a year, and the youngest quit after 9 mo. The last 2 were a natural weaning despite her best efforts.

[thesloppy]

My wife is at high risk for breast cancer, and every year that she could breast feed lowered her chances of developing the cancer.

That's interesting, and something I'd never heard before. Also: I think my risk of penis cancer just increased. I'm going to have to seek out preventive services.

[Autumn]

My wife is at high risk for breast cancer, and every year that she could breast feed lowered her chances of developing the cancer.

The oldest breast fed until he was 2.5, the middle about a year, and the youngest quit after 9 mo. The last 2 were a natural weaning despite her best efforts.

Yeah my oldest weaned himself at a year. My youngest was weaned off around four years. It varies a lot. The breast cancer thing is another good impetus too. Clearly, I think everyone can agree if they look into it, we're biologically designed to have kids on a regular basis all through childrearing years and breast feed near-continuously. Doesn't mean we have to, but it's certainly natural.

[Autumn]

There are also nutritional reasons to breastfeed even after a child is getting a normal solid diet. There is plenty of stuff in breast milk that continues to boost the immune system and such even if it's not providing the basic nutrients. Eventually that goes away, at which point it's more of a nurturing thing, but it's not like there's no reason for breast milk after solids are introduced. The World Health Organization advocates breastfeeding to two years or beyond, so it's not like this is some wacky New Age thing.

[Suicane75]

The kid is about to head off to war, let him have his nourishment.

[RomaGoth]

Right, high school, that's what people do. :rolleyes:

Clearly I was being a little over the top, or did you not pick up on that?

[Rizon]

Has anyone ever tried breastmilk? My friend ... Nozir ... tried it once out of curiosity. He said it kinda tasted like watered down fat free milk.

[Senator]

I consider any kid older than 3 competition.

[Autumn]

Clearly I was being a little over the top, or did you not pick up on that?

Well you called the idea absurd. So either you're calling my parenting practice absurd, and defending your point by suggesting it's equivalent to nursing my kid until high school, or you're calling a parenting practice absurd that nobody actually practices. So which is it?

[Autumn]

I think this thread points out the real problem our society has with kids breastfeeding beyond one. It's that most every guy here looking at that picture has a sexual reaction to it. In other words we're not able to separate our own sexual fixation on breasts with a child's interest in breasts. That's most of what it comes down to, I find.

[tarcone]

What other animal in creation breastfeeds that long? I know it is hard to compare, but dont most animals feed their young ones real food earlier than the toddler stage? Or am I wrong in that thought?
My point being, that if animals dont breastfeed that long, what is the real need? Is it just a nurturing thing? And wont that lead to long term issues with the child?
I dont know. I have never heard of this attachment stuff. My wife breastfed up until the girls were done. Both under a year.

[Lathum]

Do you really want your kid to be that attached to you? I find my son incredibly annoying when he goes into one of his mommy phases

[RomaGoth]

I think this thread points out the real problem our society has with kids breastfeeding beyond one. It's that most every guy here looking at that picture has a sexual reaction to it. In other words we're not able to separate our own sexual fixation on breasts with a child's interest in breasts. That's most of what it comes down to, I find.

No sexual reaction on my part. I look at that picture and wonder why that kid is sucking on his moms boob when he should be playing t-ball. I don't get the whole breastfeeding thing after about age 1 1/2-2 years old. Each to their own, it doesn't affect me or my life outside of the initial reaction when I see it happening (or on the cover of a magazine).

[RomaGoth]

What other animal in creation breastfeeds that long? I know it is hard to compare, but dont most animals feed their young ones real food earlier than the toddler stage? Or am I wrong in that thought?
My point being, that if animals dont breastfeed that long, what is the real need? Is it just a nurturing thing? And wont that lead to long term issues with the child?
I dont know. I have never heard of this attachment stuff. My wife breastfed up until the girls were done. Both under a year.

Most animals I am aware of stop breastfeeding much sooner than humans. My kids stopped around age 1 or 1 1/2, about the time serious teeth showed up.

[cartman]

I can't believe Time Magazine has a cover clearly showing sexual nerves (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showpost.php?p=1216813&postcount=3).

[Pyser]

my wife says if the kid is old enough to ask for it, it's time to stop. that always made me laugh...until this thread.

[Rizon]

I think this thread points out the real problem our society has with kids breastfeeding beyond one. It's that most every guy here looking at that picture has a sexual reaction to it. In other words we're not able to separate our own sexual fixation on breasts with a child's interest in breasts. That's most of what it comes down to, I find.

I stopped viewing it at sexual after I saw my daughter breastfeeding. Then it instantly became non-sexual.

[Autumn]

Well I think that's exactly part of it. Most of us are of an age where we were raised in a culture where children were bottlefed, and there wasn't public nursing, if much nursing at all going on. So it seems weird to us.

[Autumn]

. I have never heard of this attachment stuff. My wife breastfed up until the girls were done. Both under a year.

That's pretty much attachment parenting for most people. Breastfeed until they're done.

[PilotMan]

Has anyone ever tried breastmilk? My friend ... Nozir ... tried it once out of curiosity. He said it kinda tasted like watered down fat free milk.

Uh, yeah. Mrs PM's lactating breasts were great. It's pretty hard not to when you have little babies and you're having (lots of) sex.

[Autumn]

Most animals I am aware of stop breastfeeding much sooner than humans. My kids stopped around age 1 or 1 1/2, about the time serious teeth showed up.

How would you compare the age an animal breastfeeds to with a human? What is the equivalent? Elephants gestate for two years. Maybe we don't gestate long enough?

but to answer your question, I think chimpanzees nurse for 4 years or so.

[lungs]

I've got a Mexican lady working for me that brings her 3 year old daughter to work and she'll flop 'em right out and let the kid have at it like it's no big deal. Other than it not really being something I care to see, it isn't a big deal. Probably shouldn't be a big deal when my business is based on lactating females :)

[Scoobz0202]

That's pretty much attachment parenting for most people. Breastfeed until they're done.

Is that what happened with your kid(s)? Did your wife essentially leave it up to the kid(s) to decide when they were ready to "detach?"

Once the child reaches a certain age I assume the benefits of breast milk are fairly minimal, but certainly not harmful so what ever. I guess my interest in the matter stems from the reasoning. How much of it is the pure sense of "I'm doing this for my child," or, "I'm too attached to let go of this intimacy." The latter is kind of interesting. I wouldn't say that thought process weird's me out, because my reaction isn't nearly that strong. Just more odd, really. Can't explain why, I guess. I'm sure it stems from the cultural and societal views of breastfeeding past a certain age. Maybe the thought of having a child do something just because you can't let go? But then again, that is probably pure ignorance speaking as I'm sure most parents of this method do not have children that want to stop. Fascinating, I guess.

The cultural view is interesting. I guess my knee-jerk reaction would also be to stop before pre-school to avoid any potential negative treatment towards the child from fellow peers. But coming from a young guy, with no children, I would assume that a kid isn't sitting in the classroom latched on to his mother so that is probably ignorance as well. I would wonder if there is also any probability of developing dependency issues, and having attachment issues. Did you ever experience anything like that Autumn, or was it a fairly natural progression from breastfeeding to no more?

I'm asking this from pure curiosity. I can sense you are getting aggravated, so please don't take my questions as judgemental.

[Autumn]

It'd be pretty hard to make a kid nurse once they decide not to. Ever tried to make a two year old do anything? My wife was kind of bummed that our first child just stopped himself after one year, but it was certainly his decision. He wasn't interested any more.

To answer your question, we certainly--and most people I know--don't leave it up to the kids when to wean, not completely. It's a relationship. As the kid gets older the mother starts getting tired of it. There's usually a slow waning, instead of feeding regularly like an infant, a toddler might just nurse once at night, or just in private, or something like that. When they're that old they're taught to recognize that the mother has input in this too, that it's her body, and as the child is old enough to make that separation they do. Certainly the desire for the intimacy both from the child and the mother is part of it, and may be part of the reason they keep doing it. Nursing produces hormones in both the mother and child that increase relaxation and happpiness, so it's no surprise that many moms and kids keep doing it.

Any socio-psychological study shows that different cultures use different approaches to nursing and weaning to produce different effects. But the idea behind attachment theory is that psychology shows that secure attachment is extremely healthy for children, and that it comes from being sure as a young child that their parents are there to nurture and support them. If they grow up getting what they need they don't become spoiled and needy, they become secure and independent. Most kids I know that are overly attached to their parents actually didn't get enough love and attention from their parent, not too much.

[Suburban Rhythm]

From my experience-

My wife breastfed our daughter up until 8-9 months. A few years later, she breastfed our son just past his 2nd birthday. Both instances, the child decided when they were weaned.

My wife is also a group leader with the Le Leche League, so without reading the article, I'd guess she'd agree with the majority of it. I've witnessed at LLL related events, as has been referenced in this thread, the kid who is "old enough to ask for it" who is still breastfeeding.

I guess my stance is, there is a physical/nutritional value to it for the child still, and there is an emotional value for the child and mother. At what point does that progress from emotional attachment to emotionally creepy? I have no idea...not for me to judge. If the mom and child are both OK with it, so be it.

[Autumn]

The cultural view is interesting. I guess my knee-jerk reaction would also be to stop before pre-school to avoid any potential negative treatment towards the child from fellow peers. But coming from a young guy, with no children, I would assume that a kid isn't sitting in the classroom latched on to his mother so that is probably ignorance as well. I would wonder if there is also any probability of developing dependency issues, and having attachment issues. Did you ever experience anything like that Autumn, or was it a fairly natural progression from breastfeeding to no more?

I'm asking this from pure curiosity. I can sense you are getting aggravated, so please don't take my questions as judgemental.

As I mentioned before, if the kid is 3 or 4 and still breastfeeding it's probably just once in the morning or at night or somethign and so wouldn't interfere with schooling if they're going that young.

I didn't notice your question until here but think I addressed it somewhat above. I don't think breastfeeding really plays into the attachment issue. some kids have no trouble, like my first. Some kids, like my second who was colicky, had a pacifier, and was really needy as a baby, stick to it longer. Just like some kids stick to their pacifier longer. I don't think breastfeeding created or exacerbated that problem, I think it helped to solve it, if that makes sense. If a kid has a rough infancy and needs something extra, getting it helps him get over it.

I think the thing is this - attachment parenting is going to attract parents who have attachment issues, just like homeschooling attracts parents who have problems letting go of their kids. So yeah, there's definitely families with issues like that, and a lot of them probably do some kind of attachment parenting. But they're not the entire movement, and the movement isn't the cause of them. Does that make sense? If you're the kind of mom who is going to spoil and smother your kid, then this gives you a sort of rationale for your irratioanl behavior. But done right, no I don't think it creates any kind of dependency, any more than hugging your kid when they're upset does.

[Barkeep49]

I think the thing is this - attachment parenting is going to attract parents who have attachment issues, just like homeschooling attracts parents who have problems letting go of their kids. So yeah, there's definitely families with issues like that, and a lot of them probably do some kind of attachment parenting. But they're not the entire movement, and the movement isn't the cause of them. Does that make sense? If you're the kind of mom who is going to spoil and smother your kid, then this gives you a sort of rationale for your irratioanl behavior. But done right, no I don't think it creates any kind of dependency, any more than hugging your kid when they're upset does.

I think this makes a lot of sense.

[Subby]

Thanks Autumn. I really appreciate your views and information.

I have always been a proponent of breastfeedling for up to a year and I always get pissed at mothers who won't do it beyond a few months. But you can't really say anything about it when you are a man. Just stfu and vent on text sim sports enthusiast message boards. :)

[Ben E Lou]

I think the thing is this - attachment parenting is going to attract parents who have attachment issues, just like homeschooling attracts parents who have problems letting go of their kids. So yeah, there's definitely families with issues like that, and a lot of them probably do some kind of attachment parenting...This is precisely my take on both sides of the issue, and why my wife and I just avoid the battles over it here in Chucktown whenever possible. Both philosophies have the tendency to attract people who would overdo it, and those are the ones who get pointed to as "proof" that the other way of doing it sucks. *shurg*

[Galaxy]

TIME: We use to have higher standards, but now we are irrelevant, so we try to be relevant by provocative covers.

[Galaxy]

That's interesting, and something I'd never heard before. Also: I think my risk of penis cancer just increased. I'm going to have to seek out preventive services.

ROFL!

[Subby]

TIME: We use to have higher standards, but now we are irrelevant, so we try to be relevant by provocative covers.
OJ told me that Time has a long history of provocative covers.

[cartman]

Too bad Noddadrop isn't still around.

[Rizon]

Reminds me of:

[Suburban Rhythm]

Too bad Noddadrop isn't still around.

I went back to re-read the thread.

Since Face the Board and other features have fallen off, we should do a Sports Illustrated-esqe "Where Are They Now?" and gather up jbmagic, JimmyWint, and Noddadrop.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Noddadrop.

https://twitter.com/#!/franklinnoble

http://nobletimes.com/

[JeeberD]

I wonder if she'd consider adoption?

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but apparently she breastfeeds her adopted 5 year old as well...

[Subby]

Time Magazine breast-feeding cover: Its art historical origins, and what makes the image so sensational - The Style Blog - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/time-magazine-breast-feeding-cover-its-art-historical-origins-and-what-makes-the-image-so-sensational/2012/05/11/gIQAJtNZIU_blog.html#comments)

Schoeller’s decision to evoke the Madonna and Child brings to mind other paintings and sculptures of unusual situations in breast-feeding that go further back in history. In Roman mythology, the ancient founders of the city, Romulus and Remus (http://www.pantheon.org/articles/r/romulus.html), are often depicted suckling the teat of a she-wolf. According to another story from ancient Rome — this one by the historian Valerius Maximus — a daughter, Pero, saves her incarcerated father, Cimon, from starvation by secretly breast-feeding him. The image, often called “Roman Charity (http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=135448),” has been interpreted by painters including Caravaggio and Peter Paul Rubens, and the man breast-feeding in those paintings is much, much older than a three-year-old.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/arts-post/201205/Images/roman%20charity.jpg

[Rizon]

If I breast feed at 35 can I get that ripped??

[DaddyTorgo]

Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/franklinnoble)

The Noble Times &rsaquo; "The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil." (http://nobletimes.com/)

Holy crap - you mean we can still find out what FN thinks about things?!?!?!

AWESOME!!!

[Lathum]

So is there a point where this crosses into sexual abuse in the eyes of family services and other similar organizations?

[JonInMiddleGA]

So is there a point where this crosses into sexual abuse in the eyes of family services and other similar organizations?

I suspect we'll be finding out the answer to that one sooner rather than later.
I would think the publicity over this cover almost assures a case of being brought somewhere fairly soon (assuming there hasn't been some wave of them that have simply remained under the radar).

[Autumn]

I suspect we'll be finding out the answer to that one sooner rather than later.
I would think the publicity over this cover almost assures a case of being brought somewhere fairly soon (assuming there hasn't been some wave of them that have simply remained under the radar).

I can't imagine there's someone who works in family services or social work who would be surprised to hear about someone breastfeeding at age four or five, nevermind so shocked they wanted to have something done about it. It's one of those things that I guess is shocking to some people who don't interact with many parents, or at least not many outside of their own circle.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I can't imagine there's someone who works in family services or social work who would be surprised to hear about someone breastfeeding at age four or five, nevermind so shocked they wanted to have something done about it.

My prediction is not so much based on what social services workers know/don't know, it's more rooted in what will be demanded of them (or their bosses, or their funding source; i.e. government officials) as the profile of the subject is raised considerably.

It's one of those things that I guess is shocking to some people who don't interact with many parents, or at least not many outside of their own circle.

I'm pretty sure that after three schools, 2-3 cities and at least my fair share of kids around me over the past 20 years that my "circles" are reasonably large. (Remember, I spent years in the heart of Atlanta prior to moving to the middle of nowhere). I've dealt with urban, suburban, exurban and rural.

To date, you're easily the advocate I "know" best (and how little we "know" each other is the point) and one of maybe 3-4 people I've ever "known" who even attempted to defend the extended breast-feeding practice specifically. I'm not "shocked" simply because I knew of its existence long before now, but I suspect that's not going to be the case for the average person in many many places.

[Autumn]

Well, I think it depends on those places. In New England you couldn't throw a rock without hitting a La Leche League group. There's still plenty of people around here who I'm sure would be surprised to hear about extended breastfeeding, but it's a lot harder to remain unaware. I imagine it's similar in California.

EDIT: I should also say it's politically based too. If you're on the liberal progressive end and don't run into attachment parents a lot, I'd be rather shocked. If you're on the right, I'm not surprised at all. This whole Time article is out partly because of the parenting wars that go on between parents these days, at least on the left end of things. There's got to be plenty of people aware of it if they're feeling defensive about it enough to inspire a Time cover story.

[Autumn]

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/560744_10150754698287671_202794322670_10176829_1739199077_n.jpg

[Grover]

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/179546_10150814848613021_713873020_9513095_1575869072_n.jpg

Attachment indeed.

[stevew]

Just let your kids shit at a restaurant table. WTF is wrong with people?

Hey, America, Don't Let Your Children Shit At Restaurant Tables (www.deadspin.com/5942620?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_facebook&utm_source=deadspin_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow)

[Autumn]

That's super gross. Doesn't look much like attachment parenting though. More like crazy parenting.

[JeeberD]

I love me some DadSpin...