I agree with grace too that with a toddler most bodily functions are a whole lot less private then they might be at other times.

I think we really start running into problems when we describe something as sexual only if it makes you think about sex. I've even seen some evanglical resources that say sexuality should only be expressed in the context of marriage. Sexuality is a part of everything we are – just like we can't define spirituality as only what we do at church.

I think the media may start to follow the trends of people…if more people see more mothers breastfeeding then it'll start being "normal" enough that it'll be portrayed that way in movies.

Bear in mind, those of you who don't feel comfortable with breast feeding in public

- it's OK not to feel comfortable, but that's your issue, and something for you to deal with rather than require others to deal with – similar to lust, and men blaming women for their own lust, which is their own responsibility

- Usually there's only a brief moment when the breast is exposed, at the start of the feed, and then the breast is happily in baby's mouth

- tension and shame for the mother can mess up her let-down reflex and thus mess up the feed and thus create a baby and mother who are distressed; that's a lot of pressure to put on other people because as an onlooker you feel uncomfortable.

Happy breast-feeding world!!!!!!

I don't think peeing is the same as breastfeeding, I think it's just as natural as breastfeeding. And while peeing may not be a comparable metaphor for the parent/child (God/human) relationship, sex would be as comparable a metaphor for the groom/bride (Christ/church) and I wouldn't want that done in public either.

Great discussion!

My lovely and brilliant wife Megsie had to seriously adjust when we gave birth to our first daughter here in the U.S. Megs is from, and grew up in, Australia, where people are just not as … stupid about female breasts. At first she tried the whole cover up with a blanket or shawl or what have you–but it was just too difficult. Finally she kind of chucked that idea, and basically fed E when and where she needed to. She totally had to stand up for herself a couple times. (rock on, Megs!) I remember during that time there was this home group at a church we were starting to attend that was like "Well, you couldn't really feed her during our meetings." So we had to say "Well, I guess your meeting is going to have to make do without us."

It's *so* totally sexist, in my opinion, that woman are legally required to keep their breasts covered, but guys can totally go around shirtless. It totally reflects the massively sexist, male-dominated society that we live in.

This last summer at the beach I was noticing for the first time that all the very little girls have bikini tops on, and wondering what exactly that is all about. There is absolutely no physical difference between male and female breasts before puberty. So why do little 5 and 6 year old girls have to wear a bikini top, while little five and six year old boys can wear just shorts? The reason I was noticing was because my two young daughters would be totally happy to go swimming topless, and I don't get why they can't. (well, actually, they'd be totally happy to go swimming nude, and to be perfectly honest I don't really understand why small children have to wear swimsuits at all. But that's a whole nother story.)

Kester,

Did you seriously say that you exposing your penis while peeing is comparable to a mom exposing her breasts while feeding her child?

My friend and pastor John Ramey says that a mother breastfeeding is one of the most perfect pictures we have of what our relationship with God is meant to be like. I don't think a man pissing is anywhere in the same league. Sorry.

That's my 12 cents worth.

Oh, here's a really great resource: http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/BF_guide_9.pdf