Joined Nov 2004
King Sheep
Forum Thread
Mom pushes Applebee's on breast-feeding
August 30, 2007 at
10:13 AM
Original article from Lexington Herald Leader [kentucky.com]
Mom pushes Applebee's on breast-feeding
WANTS CHANGE IN POLICY AFTER BEING TOLD TO COVER HERSELF
By Linda B. Blackford
[email protected]
Brooke Ryan nursed her 10-month-old son, Michael, at her home. She says her goal is to teach, not to be provocative. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
David Stephenson | Staff
Brooke Ryan nursed her 10-month-old son, Michael, at her home. She says her goal is to teach, not to be provocative. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
In June, Brooke Ryan walked into a Nicholasville Road Applebee's restaurant to celebrate an anniversary lunch with her children.
She walked out humiliated, in tears and without the lunch.
But the incident over breast-feeding her 7-month-old son at Applebee's has spurred the soft-spoken 34-year-old to start a public awareness campaign on the rights of breast-feeding women in Kentucky.
"On a small scale, I want Applebee's to change its policy," Ryan said. "On a large scale ... I want breast-feeding to be accepted."
The dispute with Applebee's began June 14. Ryan chose a booth in the back of the restaurant away from other customers. When her baby, Michael, got hungry, she began to nurse him discreetly, she said.
But a waitress came over and said that if she wanted to breast-feed, she had to cover the baby with a blanket. Ryan said it was so hot that she didn't have a blanket. The waitress then repeated her request. Ryan said she then asked to see the manager and handed him a copy of the 2006 Kentucky law that prohibits interference with a woman breast-feeding her baby in public.
The manager said he knew about the law but a customer had complained about indecent exposure, so she had to cover the baby with a blanket.
Ryan left as her food came, to nurse her baby in the car.
Her lawyer wrote a letter to Thomas & King, the company that operates Applebee's in Central Kentucky. They got no response. 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.
"That's like telling Rosa Parks she still had to sit in the back of the bus, but we'll give her a blanket to make her more comfortable," Ryan said.
When contacted yesterday, Mike Scanlon, president of Thomas & King, said he didn't know about the incident. However, he called the Herald-Leader back to say that Applebee's had no policy against breast-feeding.
"It is perfectly legal to breast-feed in public and we support that," Scanlon said. "I'm not sure the manager said cover the baby's head, I think he said cover yourself modestly. This was by no means intended as interference, but a request to do it modestly, which I believe is an appropriate response."
Ryan says that as an experienced breast-feeder, she is extremely modest, and, in that instance, made sure that she was facing into the corner.
"Some women think it's fine to cover up with a blanket, but a woman shouldn't be forced to," said her husband, Michael Ryan.
Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, who sponsored the breast-feeding protection bill, agrees.
"She was not treated right under the new law," he said. "There should have been no comment made to her at all; the restaurant overstepped its boundaries. There's no way they can explain their way out of this."
Thirty-nine states, including Kentucky, allow women to breast-feed in any public or private location.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for about the first six months and support for breast-feeding for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by mother and child. But according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 11 percent of mothers meet the six-month mark. Thirty percent breast-feed exclusively for the first three months. Kentucky's rates are 7.5 percent and 25 percent, respectively, according to a 2007 report.
Scanlon suggested that Ryan had an "agenda."
"I note with interest that she had a copy of the statute with her," he said. "I'm glad to let this become a matter that we can all learn from."
But if all Ryan wanted going into Applebee's was an anniversary lunch, she may indeed have an agenda now.
August is World Breast-feeding Awareness Month, and Ryan has organized two related public events:
• A "Nurse-In" at the children's play area at Fayette Mall from 1-3 p.m. Saturday. Ryan says the mall is not a target, but has a place for kids to play.
• From noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 8, she is holding a "Nurse Out" with posters and breast-feeding in front of the Applebee's on Nicholasville Road.
She's also asking for a public apology from Applebee's and training for its employees about the rights of breast-feeding mothers. Some day, she says, she would like to see the international breast-feeding symbol of a mother and child in every restaurant that supports the practice.
"I'm not trying to be provocative," she said. "I want to teach."
Read comments from Kentucky.com [prospero.com]
Read comments from Fark.com [fark.com]
Reach Linda Blackford at (859) 231-1359 or [email protected].
EDIT: Added Polling Goodness!
Mom pushes Applebee's on breast-feeding
WANTS CHANGE IN POLICY AFTER BEING TOLD TO COVER HERSELF
By Linda B. Blackford
[email protected]
Brooke Ryan nursed her 10-month-old son, Michael, at her home. She says her goal is to teach, not to be provocative. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
David Stephenson | Staff
Brooke Ryan nursed her 10-month-old son, Michael, at her home. She says her goal is to teach, not to be provocative. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff
In June, Brooke Ryan walked into a Nicholasville Road Applebee's restaurant to celebrate an anniversary lunch with her children.
She walked out humiliated, in tears and without the lunch.
But the incident over breast-feeding her 7-month-old son at Applebee's has spurred the soft-spoken 34-year-old to start a public awareness campaign on the rights of breast-feeding women in Kentucky.
"On a small scale, I want Applebee's to change its policy," Ryan said. "On a large scale ... I want breast-feeding to be accepted."
The dispute with Applebee's began June 14. Ryan chose a booth in the back of the restaurant away from other customers. When her baby, Michael, got hungry, she began to nurse him discreetly, she said.
But a waitress came over and said that if she wanted to breast-feed, she had to cover the baby with a blanket. Ryan said it was so hot that she didn't have a blanket. The waitress then repeated her request. Ryan said she then asked to see the manager and handed him a copy of the 2006 Kentucky law that prohibits interference with a woman breast-feeding her baby in public.
The manager said he knew about the law but a customer had complained about indecent exposure, so she had to cover the baby with a blanket.
Ryan left as her food came, to nurse her baby in the car.
Her lawyer wrote a letter to Thomas & King, the company that operates Applebee's in Central Kentucky. They got no response. 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.
"That's like telling Rosa Parks she still had to sit in the back of the bus, but we'll give her a blanket to make her more comfortable," Ryan said.
When contacted yesterday, Mike Scanlon, president of Thomas & King, said he didn't know about the incident. However, he called the Herald-Leader back to say that Applebee's had no policy against breast-feeding.
"It is perfectly legal to breast-feed in public and we support that," Scanlon said. "I'm not sure the manager said cover the baby's head, I think he said cover yourself modestly. This was by no means intended as interference, but a request to do it modestly, which I believe is an appropriate response."
Ryan says that as an experienced breast-feeder, she is extremely modest, and, in that instance, made sure that she was facing into the corner.
"Some women think it's fine to cover up with a blanket, but a woman shouldn't be forced to," said her husband, Michael Ryan.
Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, who sponsored the breast-feeding protection bill, agrees.
"She was not treated right under the new law," he said. "There should have been no comment made to her at all; the restaurant overstepped its boundaries. There's no way they can explain their way out of this."
Thirty-nine states, including Kentucky, allow women to breast-feed in any public or private location.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for about the first six months and support for breast-feeding for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by mother and child. But according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 11 percent of mothers meet the six-month mark. Thirty percent breast-feed exclusively for the first three months. Kentucky's rates are 7.5 percent and 25 percent, respectively, according to a 2007 report.
Scanlon suggested that Ryan had an "agenda."
"I note with interest that she had a copy of the statute with her," he said. "I'm glad to let this become a matter that we can all learn from."
But if all Ryan wanted going into Applebee's was an anniversary lunch, she may indeed have an agenda now.
August is World Breast-feeding Awareness Month, and Ryan has organized two related public events:
• A "Nurse-In" at the children's play area at Fayette Mall from 1-3 p.m. Saturday. Ryan says the mall is not a target, but has a place for kids to play.
• From noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 8, she is holding a "Nurse Out" with posters and breast-feeding in front of the Applebee's on Nicholasville Road.
She's also asking for a public apology from Applebee's and training for its employees about the rights of breast-feeding mothers. Some day, she says, she would like to see the international breast-feeding symbol of a mother and child in every restaurant that supports the practice.
"I'm not trying to be provocative," she said. "I want to teach."
Read comments from Kentucky.com [prospero.com]
Read comments from Fark.com [fark.com]
Reach Linda Blackford at (859) 231-1359 or [email protected].
EDIT: Added Polling Goodness!
Community Wiki
Last Edited by JayVee7777
September 11, 2007
at
09:38 PM
MOST.BIASED.POLL.EVAH
hmmm, she prolly needed 2 or 3 blankets
http://media.heraldlea
hmmm, she prolly needed 2 or 3 blankets
http://media.heraldlea
525 Comments
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Overbearing personalitied mothers are the most narrow people on this earth, and that's the god's honest truth. If it involves kids, or otherwise motherly topics, they will bury opponents into the ground about it, even if they're obviously wrong, or skewed in their thoughts. Must be the hormones.
That's all for now!
I'm sort of curious though...how come a lot of the guys are going
Exactly.
Again, I completely understand that discretion goes a long way, and anytime I have to nurse in public, I'm sure to do all I can to help avoid anyone feeling uncomfortable... But there are those of you that are acting like if a woman can't cover up for whatever reason, then she basically should avoid feeding her child at all costs, because it's "gross."
And another, how focused should you be on another table entirely, and furthermore, on one person and their child, while you are supposed to be eating your meal and enjoying the time you have with family/friends? Sure, you say that you "can't help but notice," but I find that hard to believe. If that were the case, I don't think I could go out to eat very often, because there are people that catch my eye for whatever reason (whether it be that they are dressed inappropriately or some other thing), but it would take me purposefully focusing my energy and thoughts in order for me to let myself become distracted enough to make the whole time around that person be uncomfortable for me...
What I really don't understand is that so many people from that other forum who think breasts are the bombdiggety while exposed think having it exposed but with a child attached is absolutely horrible. I think that exemplifies why we in the U.S. don't expose our breasts in public as a rule. Too many people think of them as a sexual playtoy instead of for the purpose we are born with them.
I nursed. I was very discreet mostly because of my shyness at being exposed in public (LOL). Even if I weren't shy about exposing myself, I would still cover up so as not to make others feel uncomfortable. That's just my nature. I don't mind discreet public nursing. And I am not fond of those who are "in your face" about it either. But truly, what's most important in all of this is what's best for the baby. And what's best is nursing and bonding with its mother....and generally that means not covering up.
I nursed. I was very discreet mostly because of my shyness at being exposed in public (LOL). Even if I weren't shy about exposing myself, I would still cover up so as not to make others feel uncomfortable. That's just my nature. I don't mind discreet public nursing. And I am not fond of those who are "in your face" about it either. But truly, what's most important in all of this is what's best for the baby. And what's best is nursing and bonding with its mother....and generally that means not covering up.
Comparing breastfeeding to swinging a penis in public is just plain immature and silly. You're comparing apples and oranges. When did a penis begin nourishing anything (other than a man's ego?) A penis isn't needed to sustain life on a daily basis.
For all you suggesting that the woman cover herself while feeding her baby in a restaurant, how about YOU cover yourself with a blanket the next time you're in a restaurant to see how comfortable it is to eat under those conditions (and then you also won't notice the breastfeeding mother with that blanket over your head.)
Also, suggesting that the woman take her baby into the restroom to feed him/her is also just plain disgusting. Next time you're served your meal at Applebee's, how about you pick up your plate and carry it to the restroom to eat. I'm sure you'll find the toilet to be nice and comfy while eating (and hope and pray someone doesn't come in and shit in the stall next to you!)
Perhaps it's the people that have the problem with breastfeeding in public that have the real issue. They need to stop sexualizing breasts.
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Comparing breastfeeding to swinging a penis in public is just plain immature and silly. You're comparing apples and oranges. When did a penis begin nourishing anything (other than a man's ego?) A penis isn't needed to sustain life on a daily basis.
For all you suggesting that the woman cover herself while feeding her baby in a restaurant, how about YOU cover yourself with a blanket the next time you're in a restaurant to see how comfortable it is to eat under those conditions (and then you also won't notice the breastfeeding mother with that blanket over your head.)
Also, suggesting that the woman take her baby into the restroom to feed him/her is also just plain disgusting. Next time you're served your meal at Applebee's, how about you pick up your plate and carry it to the restroom to eat. I'm sure you'll find the toilet to be nice and comfy while eating (and hope and pray someone doesn't come in and shit in the stall next to you!)
Perhaps it's the people that have the problem with breastfeeding in public that have the real issue. They need to stop sexualizing breasts.
We are trying to say that BOTH would be wrong to do in full view. The intent or purpose of showing one's breast in a public place where ppl are eating is irrelevant. Some women here are trying to circumvent the clear etiquette aspect of it by saying it is due to feeding a child. However, they are unable to respond with validity to the comments that the same woman can pump and feed the breast milk with a bottle if needed. And, being in a restaurant or public area would be a PERFECT reason to pull that bottle out.
As stated, for a man's standpoint, the intent of the baring of his wife's breast for other's to see is (or should be) irrelevant. I don't care about the reasons. My wife is NOT going to bare her breast for other ppl to see. And, she would not want to due to modesty, clear conscience, and courtesy.
But, as I've said, women are trying to make breastfeeding out to be a sacred right. Yes, it's beautiful and natural. However, a lot of other things in life are too. Yet, we don't have to do those things in full view of other ppl.
Also, has anyone ever encountered a woman being asked to cover her breasts because she is simply wearing a revealing top? No? Really? IMAGINE THAT! Women show their breasts more with revealing tops than they usually do when breastfeeding, which is what breasts are intended for anyway.
Oi.
Considering how profoundly prudish and judgemental Peachy is on other topics, I am a bit taken aback on her stance here. I would have expected a more victorian outlook from her on public conduct.
The mom SHOULD have scheduled her meal around the baby's meal so that she should not have to breastfeed in public. (imagine this child going back to find out that his mother did this and was in the news for it)
And yes, it would have been polite to cover up if others were uncomfortable with breastfeeding. Not everyone is. Which is ok, we all have our own opinions.
But yes, the child would like to eat as well, which goes back to my first point. I never went out knowing my child would want a bottle while we were in public. I made sure they were fed, changed, and happy before going out. If they couldn't go long enough to make the whole trip without needing to eat, then we didn't go.
Yes, breasts are natural and made to feed children. But not everyone sees it that way. So we have to compromise once in a while. You can let them hang out all you want at home. But when around others, have the least bit of modesty.
And yes, my husband would have been really upset if I whipped my boob out in public too, even if it was to feed our child. He doesn't like other men seeing my breasts.
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Breast feeding is conventional, I will not dispute that. Indiscretion with it, however, is not.
I somehow doubt that in days of yore (although recent information provided to me implies that you are not quite as venerable as you often imply, and in actuality, you are not all that much older than me) women were whipping out their breasts, in full public view in the process of feeding their children.