I take great delight in reading each new Hathor the Cowgoddess comic. I don't agree entirely with the author's manifesto (my child will attend school, for example), but she really shines a light on how our society has made breastfeeding the exception rather than the rule. I, too, was pretty annoyed when I read that issue of Real Simple.

I didn't mean to become someone who is outspoken about breastfeeding, but here I am seven months into it and finding myself to be quite the advocate. It just seemed so natural and normal to me (thanks Mom!) that I never quite realized how many people don't do it, and choose not to for such poor reasons. I rail against our society for not teaching women that breastfeeding is the way to go. I proudly feed in public without shame. I participate in discussion forums to help encourage other new mommies to do it and stick with it.

Someone recently pointed out to me 101 reasons to Breastfeed. They are all good reasons, but they don't even touch on my most important reasons: milky smiles, the wonderful instant connection it fosters between me and my child, and the boobie trump card (ie, I get to claim my baby back whenever he wants to be fed or comforted!). It's all about the love (oh, and the extra sleep doesn't hurt either....).