I quit!

Around January 16th, Camm and I had this conversation:

• Me: Oh, Camm! Isn't everything just going so well right now? 
• Camm: Yeah, things are just fine.
• Me: No, I mean, really well. The girls are just doing everything right. Work is going perfectly, everything is just great.
• Camm: um, yeah, I guess so.
• Me: I mean, I can't believe how well things are going.
• Camm: You stopped nursing a week ago. That's the only difference.

It wasn't until he pointed it out to me that I realized he was right. Life actually wasn't going that much better - in fact Ivory had been growing her molars and hadn't slept all week. The only difference was me. I wasn't a hormonal basket-case of PPD anymore. It had only been a week since I'd quit giving Ivory the boob, and it had felt like the best week of my life. It's now been a month--and it feels like the best month of my life. I didn't realize I was in the trenches of PPD until I got out of it. Sure, I knew I was stressed. I knew I cried a lot. But I thought I was stressed because I have two little girls, two part time jobs, responsibilities at church, and blah blah blah. I didn't know that if you took the PPD out of it, my life would seem fabulous.

A few weeks ago that Similac commercial went viral with a message to stop the mommy wars.

Then there was a backlash from the lactation gurus saying that it was perpetuating a myth that bottles are as good as boobs and making people feel guilty for speaking their mind when they know that boobs are best.

I know breastmilk is healthier (why else would I have nursed her?).

That being said, I'm with the Similac commercial. Everyone needs to do what's best for their family.

Nursing is great for lots of women who love it. I know that many women love the extra bond with their breastfeeding child. I think that's great!

On the other hand, I don't think it's really necessary for me to be crying all the time. I don't even think that's best for my kids. With both kids I immediately felt better emotionally within days of quitting. I don't think that's a coincidence.

So rather than making everyone do what we think is best, stop the mommy wars!

"This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it! It’s that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children."--Dieter F. Uchtdorf

PS--Here are some other posts I've had on the topic:
This one was written a few months ago
This one is a humorous post from after I quit nursing Ruby