What do you think of the cover of next issue of Time? **Image may offend**

[laundry_queen]

33. I knew many many women who did it

I'd say a few did it for themselves, as in 'who can be the MOST radical/attached parent'. I'd say MOST in our little group did not do it for themselves. But then we were all part of a parenting group that was very child centered and we were all there because we believed in putting our children's needs first, so perhaps our group skewed towards doing what was best for the kid instead of doing it for ourselves.

I did breastfeed my oldest until she was 4.5. She was a very very needy child who had sensory issues with food when she was younger and was underweight. Breastfeeding was also the only thing that would comfort her before she became verbal (she was late with that as well). For the last year of breastfeeding the only time she did it was when she was in full meltdown mode, so once every couple of weeks, if that. I sure as hell wasn't stuffing the boob in her mouth (at that time I had another baby to feed) because of some need I had, LOL. All of my kids breastfed past 2 years old. The other 3 stopped on their own between 2.5 and 3.5. The WHO recommends AT LEAST 2 years, so I guess I don't see the issue. I personally was very dedicated as I'm obese (and was the only formula fed child in the family, and the only obese one) and I have asthma and allergies as did their father. It was very important to keep my kids away from formula and cow's milk for a long time.

Anyhow, I hate talking about this because I really dislike being judged for it (although it cracks me up that no one where I live cares, just my American friends seem to have issues with it) but I feel like I need to put this out there to break the general consensus that women who do this have some kind of mental issue that means they can't detach from their child. When my last child weaned and I didn't have anymore babies on the way, I breathed a sigh of relief, lol.