Breast feeding

Breast feeding is so natural and common here that one barely notices it.  You see it everywhere, in markets and parks, on the streets, I mean, everywhere.  So I was pleasantly surprised yesterday to see this statue celebrating it, which I had never noticed before.  It is in a little triangular park which was pretty much cut off by the rerouting of the major roads entering the city from the north.  I pass it every time I go into the city, but somehow had never noticed it before.  I shot this from the car and will have to go back and try to figure out how to dodge traffic and get a better shot.

With all the talk in El Norte of the "moochers and parasites sucking at the public teat," the story about Kate Middleton's exposed breasts and this wonderful post from BagNewNotes, one of my favorite blogs, I guess I was struck by the absurdity of it all.

I know that some women get arrested or shunned for breast feeding in the States and when you think about it, that sure says a mouthful about what a bizarre culture we have created.  I mean between our obsession with breasts, boob jobs, side boob shots, clothing malfunctions, etc., it is hard to comprehend why one of the most natural things in the world is somehow verboten.

What I love about this statue, besides it very existence, is the look on the mother's face, almost Pieta-like, and how her hand lovingly cups the butt of the other child.

 

I did go back for some additional shots.  It is sad, but it is almost impossible to get into the little park which I am sure used to be a popular and clean green space.  I had to jump a couple of small walls, but it was worth it just to be able to get up close and personal.