In my so far, short stint, as a mother (nine years and counting,) I've encountered too many stories of mothers being harassed for nursing in public. Luckily I never encountered such a thing, but I absolutely lived in fear of someone giving me a dirty look, or goodness, actually protesting the act of me innocently feeding my baby.

Well.. another story is hitting the newswire and its much like all the previous ones I've heard over the years, except this one, the company in question, Applebees and their parent company, Thomas & King, understand the Kentucky statute, but they don't want to necessarily adhere to the law.

After a second letter, a Thomas & King lawyer said the restaurant chain would consider keeping blankets in the restaurant so that breast-feeding women could cover themselves.

OK.. first, there are times at any restaurant, where I would question the cleanliness of the seat I'm sitting on, no matter what chain it is, never mind a blanket that has been stored god knows where, and washed god knows when. But thats not really the point. The Kentucky statute states:

that breastfeeding may not be considered an act of public indecency, indecent exposure, sexual conduct, lewd touching or obscenity

OK (again) if in Kentucky, breastfeeding is not to be considered, well, what I just quoted, then why cover it up?

You know, I get that some people are uncomfortable with it. I really do. But thats not my problem, or the problem of any other nursing mother. These things here on my chest? They are first and foremost, eating utensils for my young offspring. Not sexual. Not something to stare at. And lastly, not at all unnatural! If you can't sip your coffee, or eat your lunch because a woman a few tables away is feeding her infant, the way nature intended.. then you my friend, are the one with the problem.

Good Grief Applebees!

Anyway, Jennifer over at The Lactivist Blog is talking about this and documenting action that can be taken (letters, nurse ins, nurse outs. Check it out if you are as ticked off as I am and want to do something.

Also worth noting. Brooke Ryan was absolutely genius in carrying her state's breastfeeding statute on a card in her baby's diaper bag. This isn't about starting trouble, this was about protecting herself AND her baby's rights. Perhaps if I had thought about doing that when I was nursing, I wouldn't have been so afraid of nursing in public and being criticized for it.