I think I am the only person who is not shocked, horrified and otherwise offended by some aspect of the Time magazine cover. You know the one. If you’re not put off by the image of a preschooler breastfeeding, then you’re upset by the way the picture was staged. And if you don’t blame the mother for putting her son in the spotlight, then you definitely blame Time for setting them up for attacks.
But not me. My first reaction was, Damn, that chick can rock skinny jeans while she’s still breastfeeding! And then I marveled at how brilliant the cover is. It’s pure genius. The image of an older three-year-old breastfeeding (while standing on a chair, no less) is guaranteed to cause a stir. But the cover line “Are you mom enough?” is the icing on the cake.
I knew the question would get parents of every stripe fired up, but I didn’t quite expect the furor aimed at the magazine itself. There are accusations that Time is trying to pit mothers against each other, that it is exploiting the child model and sensationalizing (or sexualizing!) breastfeeding. Some claim that it amounts to a blatant attack on attachment parenting and nearly everyone agrees that it’s a low-down, shameless way to sell magazine copies.
They may have a point, but I’m going to withhold my judgment until the magazine hits the new stands and I can actually read the article. As of Sunday evening (in Canada at least) the only way to access the article is by online subscription which I’m unwilling to pay for. Neither is anyone else, it seems, since none of the reactions I’ve encountered so far can offer more than speculation about the actual content of the magazine. It’s not uncommon, after all, for a well-researched and fair article to be out done by sensationalist headlines.
And as for the righteous indignation about Time‘s attempt to stir up a new kind of mommy war? Puh-lease. We eat this shit up, don’t we? Those of us whose social media is teeming with all manner of parenting types were inundated with responses to the cover image by mid-morning on Friday. When has a cover ever generated that much interest? We love this stuff. It gives us something to get all worked up about.
And, besides, how we parent is now cover story material. That’s a good thing, if you ask me.
About Rebecca
Nice cover .. Thanks a lot for post …
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My biggest take away is that the mommy wars are only allowed to make (or try to make) money for mommy blogs, books, and seminars. Not a magazine. They aren’t one of us. And while neat that parenting is a cover story, I hope that the article is actually about he challenges and awesomeness of being a parent – and not just about how a study of 5 moms in Connecticut proves that your c-section, formula fed, stroller driven, tv-watching kid is going to lose every contest and entrance exam to the drug free, vaginal birth, breastfed, sling carried, organic block playing kid down the street. I’m really tired of bad studies trying to sell me things to ensure my kid has a desperate chance at success.
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Never mind all that… Who the hell is the God of Cricket and why didn’t HE make the cover?!?
I KNOW! I almost subscribed just for that.
Rebecca´s last [type] ..Off With Their Heads
I’m thrilled that parenting is on the cover, too. I’ve read the article, can’t wait to discuss avec vous. I felt It was a passive aggressive shove at Dr. Sears/attachment parenting and poorly researched. I think people might actually be disappointed once its “out”. Might not incite the way its hoped…
A lot of mothers/people were just so shocked including myself upon seeing Time’s breastfeeding cover. I’m also planning to buy a copy of it and see what’s really in it and if it can really help mothers to be the best mom that they can be. Thanks for sharing.
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Who else is wondering how the hell she’s STILL lactating???
I thought it was great. Finally a ‘mommy-topic’ is hitting the mainstream media. I am sick of breastfeeding being seen only as a mother’s issue, and a purely ‘personal-choice’ issue at that.
Breastfeeding rates have an impact on our national health and economic wellbeing. Women who breastfeed aren’t just ‘doing it for themselves’ or ‘doing it for their baby’ they are making a meaningful contribution to their country. Instead of being thanked for it they are marginalised and discriminated against on a regular basis. It’s just a shame the article won’t cover anything remotely relating to these issues. But at least it will introduce the topic of attachment parenting into a mainstream magazine not read exclusively by women.