Mom2Dara

You know what kind of annoys me? When people create user names like; "Momof2girls:)" or "iluvmykidz" or something else that implies their whole identity emerged once they had babies. It's true that being a mother is very special to me and at times can feel all-consuming of my energy, but if anything—having Dara has helped me clarify who I want to be as a woman.

Lately I've been thinking of weaning. I know Dara isn't ready to stop breast feeding and honestly—I'm not either. But, I think about having my body back to myself. She has gotten so brazen in her ownership of my breasts that she will crawl over to me, pull my shirt up and latch on. I used to be able to hang out naked if I wanted to—now I don't dare stop to kiss her on my way from the shower to the bedroom lest I set off cries of hunger. Which reminds me: our baby girl can eat! Adult sized portions of oatmeal and two hours later she has a bowl of mac-n-cheese, then some cherrios. Like mother, like daughter.

I wonder if other mother's encounter the same mentality in their babies (breast = mine) and that leads them to wean. I've always said I would let Dara wean herself. I figured she would start to become disinterested and it would be an easy, though probably gradual process. I love breast feeding. I think it's one of my most important duties as a mother and after all the struggle and pain in the beginning I'm proud of how easily she latches on now. So, I don't want to stop entirely, I just need to set some boundaries. Instead of her getting to eat on demand (like she did as an infant), she will nurse when I offer it. Seems like a nice compromise—right? We'll see how it goes...