How would you explain pumping to first graders?

sarahjared

I teach and have to go back to work in a week.  I am BF and 2 other teachers have offered to help with my class so I can pump.  I will also pump during my planning time but it is so late in the day so that is where the other teachers come in.  I will have to split my class while I pump.  My kids will want to know where I am going.  What do I say without giving too much or unnecessary information?

dawnc78

I wouldn't get into it. I would just say that you have something you need to do, or prepare for your child. Because it is daily, you could build it into their new routine as a fun time to work with other classes, with any luck they won't inquire as to your whereabouts.

JenniC1135

I think I'd just say you had a meeting or something that needed to be done at that time.  Not that you are doing anything wrong by a longshot, but I can totally see explaining this as something some parents would go apeshiit over.

Alibabs

JenniC1135:

I think I'd just say you had a meeting or something that needed to be done at that time.  Not that you are doing anything wrong by a longshot, but I can totally see explaining this as something some parents would go apeshiit over.

I agree. 

adri77

Alibabs:

JenniC1135:

I think I'd just say you had a meeting or something that needed to be done at that time.  Not that you are doing anything wrong by a longshot, but I can totally see explaining this as something some parents would go apeshiit over.

I agree. 

Yes, i think less info is better in this case!  They don't need to know what you are doing!

ridesbuttons

I agree that it really is none of their business what you are doing when you are gone.  But ask youself this: what if you were removing yourself for physio or chemo or dialysis (I know, not really the same thing due to time issues).  Would you hide it from the kids because it is too sensitive a subject?  Would explaining cancer be something parents would go apeshit over?

You actually have an opportunity to educate these kids about a normal bodily function that most mothers encounter.  "I had a baby.  My baby drinks milk.  My body makes the milk.  I need to pump milk from my body for my baby to eat."

The kids will get it in a heartbeat.  Shame that you think that some parents will lose it.

NewNameSameGame

Sure, in a perfect world, you should be able to go in and say "I feed my baby, my baby drinks milk, my body makes the milk, so I need to go pump."

But we are talking first graders, inquisitive first graders.  So here's what follows:

"Mrs. So and So, where does it come from?"

"Mrs. So and So, what do you pump it with?"
"Mrs. So and SO, can we see the pump?"

"Mrs So and So, Can we see the milk?"

"mrs So and So, is your baby here?"

"mrs So and SO, when will I get breasts."

"mrs So and SO, I want to make milk too!"

"Mrs So and So, is that were milk for my cereal comes from too?"

Followed by the kids going home with half the answers and new stories for their own mom and dad that are from the 6 year old perspective which causes Mom and Dad to raise their eyebrows.

Also---honestly, even with chemo or dialysis, I highly doubt you would go into details about that either because they are SIX and again, the questions would be too much.

"mrs so and so, are you going to die?"

"will I need chemo when I grow up?"

"why did you get cancer?"

"my grandpa had cancer and died too."

etc, etc, etc.  It just takes one Little Johnny to open that can of worms.

I think simply making it a part of the routine and saying you have a meeting is enough info. 

joy143dh

It is not necessary to explain to 1st graders why you are leaving the classroom - especially if it is going to be routine.   And while I agree that what you are doing is totally ok and natural, I disagree that it is a 'teaching opportunity'.  Not everything has to be a teaching opportunity.  It's ok to let some things in your life be private.

ridesbuttons

Yo, NewName:  what do you think goes on in a grade one classroom?  Yes!  Questions and answers.  All.Day.Long.  It's not a can of worms, it is a lesson in a natural human activity.

You wonder why breastfeeding is so controversial in the US: there's your answer.  Because people are afraid to talk about it with 6 year olds.

I brought up physio and cancer as a counterpoint.  Just to magnify the ridiculousness of shielding kids from something as simple and normal as a baby eating.

Andrewsgal

ridesbuttons:

Yo, NewName:  what do you think goes on in a grade one classroom?  Yes!  Questions and answers.  All.Day.Long.  It's not a can of worms, it is a lesson in a natural human activity.

You wonder why breastfeeding is so controversial in the US: there's your answer.  Because people are afraid to talk about it with 6 year olds.

I brought up physio and cancer as a counterpoint.  Just to magnify the ridiculousness of shielding kids from something as simple and normal as a baby eating.

I would guess you have never been a public school teacher. Not everything is a learning experience. I don't believe it is appropriate to explain pumping to a group of 6 year olds, it is not a teacher's place. And in no way is it going to change the attitudes of BFing, I am so sure that in 20 years these kids will be like "oh remember miss so and so BFd when i was in first grade then I should too"

I would not expect a first grade teacher to talk to her children about cancer either, once again not appropriate, that is a parents job.

 

SMHWife

I personally wouldn't say a word. 

When my neice walked in on my BFing my daughter she freaked out.  She asked me what I was doing... I told her I was feeding the baby.  She then looked at me like I had 4 heads and said "You get milk out of those things?" and then took off running and giggling. 

I then asked my sister if I could explain it to her better.  It is a perfectly natural thing and I wanted her to be fully informed.  But at 8 years old, she still thought it was more funny than natural.  So, imagine what a group of 6 year olds are going to think or say.  And quiet honestly, as a parent, if DD came home and told me that her 1st grade teacher was leaving the classroom to pump milk, I might think that the teacher over-shared just a little bit.

AnneUCSB

SMHWife:

I personally wouldn't say a word. 

When my neice walked in on my BFing my daughter she freaked out.  She asked me what I was doing... I told her I was feeding the baby.  She then looked at me like I had 4 heads and said "You get milk out of those things?" and then took off running and giggling. 

I then asked my sister if I could explain it to her better.  It is a perfectly natural thing and I wanted her to be fully informed.  But at 8 years old, she still thought it was more funny than natural.  So, imagine what a group of 6 year olds are going to think or say.  And quiet honestly, as a parent, if DD came home and told me that her 1st grade teacher was leaving the classroom to pump milk, I might think that the teacher over-shared just a little bit.

Really?!?  That is just sad that your EIGHT year old didn't know that baby are made to breastfeed. 

SMHWife

AnneUCSB:

SMHWife:

I personally wouldn't say a word. 

When my neice walked in on my BFing my daughter she freaked out.  She asked me what I was doing... I told her I was feeding the baby.  She then looked at me like I had 4 heads and said "You get milk out of those things?" and then took off running and giggling. 

I then asked my sister if I could explain it to her better.  It is a perfectly natural thing and I wanted her to be fully informed.  But at 8 years old, she still thought it was more funny than natural.  So, imagine what a group of 6 year olds are going to think or say.  And quiet honestly, as a parent, if DD came home and told me that her 1st grade teacher was leaving the classroom to pump milk, I might think that the teacher over-shared just a little bit.

Really?!?  That is just sad that your EIGHT year old didn't know that baby are made to breastfeed. 

I know... but all of my older sisters formula fed... they never had to explain breastfeeding to their children... EVER.

Andrewsgal

AnneUCSB:

SMHWife:

I personally wouldn't say a word. 

When my neice walked in on my BFing my daughter she freaked out.  She asked me what I was doing... I told her I was feeding the baby.  She then looked at me like I had 4 heads and said "You get milk out of those things?" and then took off running and giggling. 

I then asked my sister if I could explain it to her better.  It is a perfectly natural thing and I wanted her to be fully informed.  But at 8 years old, she still thought it was more funny than natural.  So, imagine what a group of 6 year olds are going to think or say.  And quiet honestly, as a parent, if DD came home and told me that her 1st grade teacher was leaving the classroom to pump milk, I might think that the teacher over-shared just a little bit.

Really?!?  That is just sad that your EIGHT year old didn't know that baby are made to breastfeed. 

But why would an 8 year old know that if they or their siblings were never BFd? My neice had no clue what BFing was at 5 years old she was FF and so was her brother, she thought it was so odd to see me BF DD, it was strange and scary to her. I am not going to turn this into a BF vs FF debate, but bottom line is it is not a teachers responsibility to educate children on this issue. 

AnneUCSB

Andrewsgal:

AnneUCSB:

SMHWife:

I personally wouldn't say a word. 

When my neice walked in on my BFing my daughter she freaked out.  She asked me what I was doing... I told her I was feeding the baby.  She then looked at me like I had 4 heads and said "You get milk out of those things?" and then took off running and giggling. 

I then asked my sister if I could explain it to her better.  It is a perfectly natural thing and I wanted her to be fully informed.  But at 8 years old, she still thought it was more funny than natural.  So, imagine what a group of 6 year olds are going to think or say.  And quiet honestly, as a parent, if DD came home and told me that her 1st grade teacher was leaving the classroom to pump milk, I might think that the teacher over-shared just a little bit.

Really?!?  That is just sad that your EIGHT year old didn't know that baby are made to breastfeed. 

But why would an 8 year old know that if they or their siblings were never BFd? My neice had no clue what BFing was at 5 years old she was FF and so was her brother, she thought it was so odd to see me BF DD, it was strange and scary to her. I am not going to turn this into a BF vs FF debate, but bottom line is it is not a teachers responsibility to educate children on this issue. 

I agree its not a teacher's place to educate on it, but I do think that by age 8, someone should have.  It seems odd to me that an 8 yr old has never seen anyone (a friend, relative, someone in public) breastfeed.  

ridesbuttons

^^^

But this is exactly why it is a shame that the opportunity is lost.  If kids are not exposed to something as healthy and natural as breastfeeding at home or within their family social circle, what better place than at school to learn about it?  And what better time than when the kids are young and don't have preconceived notions or prejudices?

The whole thing is bizzaro to me.  Within my peer group it is common, accepted, practised and observed by all: mothers, fathers, kids, friends, whatever.

No.big.deal.

It becomes a big deal when it is hidden, mystified and forbidden.

Want changes in attitude?  Give the facts to 6 year olds.  Maybe those kids will not have to fight the battles that so many have posted about: adequate times and places to feed/pump; dirty looks or comments when feeding in public, etc.

Andrewsgal

ridesbuttons:

^^^

But this is exactly why it is a shame that the opportunity is lost.  If kids are not exposed to something as healthy and natural as breastfeeding at home or within their family social circle, what better place than at school to learn about it?  And what better time than when the kids are young and don't have preconceived notions or prejudices?

The whole thing is bizzaro to me.  Within my peer group it is common, accepted, practised and observed by all: mothers, fathers, kids, friends, whatever.

No.big.deal.

It becomes a big deal when it is hidden, mystified and forbidden.

Want changes in attitude?  Give the facts to 6 year olds.  Maybe those kids will not have to fight the battles that so many have posted about: adequate times and places to feed/pump; dirty looks or comments when feeding in public, etc.

I am not arguing that a 6 year old should know what BFing is, heck my DD BFs her babies and loves to talk about it, however a lot of kids are not raised that way and it is not a teacher's place to teach about BFing to a bunch of 6 year olds. 

SMHWife

To my knowledge, my DD has never seen another child breastfeed.  She's never been exposed to it.  She's been around plenty of babies, but they always seem to have a bottle.  I have never had the need to explain it to her.  So therefore, I can understand why some 8 year olds don't get it or understand the whole BFing thing. 

Andrewsgal

I honestly think it is naive to assume that every child has seen or been around children who are BFd thinking of all my friends only two of us actually did BF our kids and they were all so young none of the older siblings really knew what was going on.

ridesbuttons

So kids who are not exposed to it at home should definitely not be exposed to it at school?  We are not talking about indoctrination vis a vis religion or political affiliation, we're talking about breastfeeding.

Think about how sad it is that out of all your friends only 2 actually breastfed.  Doesn't that suggest that exposing kids to the idea of it in school seem like a good thing?

SMHWife

I think that chosing to breasfeed is a very personal decision. 

I don't think talking about it with my 4 year old, or even my 8 year old neice is going to influence their decision about what they are going to do later in lfe with their own children.  Nobody told me about it when I was a child...

Andrewsgal

ridesbuttons:

So kids who are not exposed to it at home should definitely not be exposed to it at school?  We are not talking about indoctrination vis a vis religion or political affiliation, we're talking about breastfeeding.

Think about how sad it is that out of all your friends only 2 actually breastfed.  Doesn't that suggest that exposing kids to the idea of it in school seem like a good thing?

No I don't think it is sad that only two of my friends BFd it is a very personal decision and one that i don't judge on. I did it because it was right for me. They are amazing mothers and not BFing does not change this.

To me it is along the same lines as religion, we are religious, but a lot of my friends are not,  it is not my job to expose them to religion.

Like I said exposing a 6 year old to BFing does not mean they will BF it is just out of line for a Public School teacher.  

NewNameSameGame

And when the teacher has to use the bathroom to put a tampon in, again a natural thing, but it caught the teacher off guard, she definately NEEDS to make that a teachable moment too.

Seriously....what the teacher does at home, whatever, is NOT the classrooms business. And I'm pretty sure BFing is not a part of first grade curicullum, so I don't think the teacher needs to say a thing.

FWIW--I BF, my kids know what happens, and they don't care. 

adri77

NewNameSameGame:

And when the teacher has to use the bathroom to put a tampon in, again a natural thing, but it caught the teacher off guard, she definately NEEDS to make that a teachable moment too.

Seriously....what the teacher does at home, whatever, is NOT the classrooms business. And I'm pretty sure BFing is not a part of first grade curicullum, so I don't think the teacher needs to say a thing.

FWIW--I BF, my kids know what happens, and they don't care. 

OMG, this, that was GREAT!!!  Seriously, why on earth would a first grader need to know anything about pumping???Mind boggling to me!!!!

r9stedt

ridesbuttons:

^^^

But this is exactly why it is a shame that the opportunity is lost.  If kids are not exposed to something as healthy and natural as breastfeeding at home or within their family social circle, what better place than at school to learn about it?  And what better time than when the kids are young and don't have preconceived notions or prejudices?

The whole thing is bizzaro to me.  Within my peer group it is common, accepted, practised and observed by all: mothers, fathers, kids, friends, whatever.

No.big.deal.

It becomes a big deal when it is hidden, mystified and forbidden.

Want changes in attitude?  Give the facts to 6 year olds.  Maybe those kids will not have to fight the battles that so many have posted about: adequate times and places to feed/pump; dirty looks or comments when feeding in public, etc.

It is not a teacher's place, in first grade, to explain that.  Do you realize how much trouble the teacher could be in for that?  By the time they reach 3rd or 4th grade and begin to receive sexuality classes, they have to have a permission slip signed.  This goes along with sexuality, therefore it is the parents' choice whether or not to explain to them.  Not the teacher's choice. 

Lisa102304

Andrewsgal:

ridesbuttons:

Yo, NewName:  what do you think goes on in a grade one classroom?  Yes!  Questions and answers.  All.Day.Long.  It's not a can of worms, it is a lesson in a natural human activity.

You wonder why breastfeeding is so controversial in the US: there's your answer.  Because people are afraid to talk about it with 6 year olds.

I brought up physio and cancer as a counterpoint.  Just to magnify the ridiculousness of shielding kids from something as simple and normal as a baby eating.

I would guess you have never been a public school teacher. Not everything is a learning experience. I don't believe it is appropriate to explain pumping to a group of 6 year olds, it is not a teacher's place. And in no way is it going to change the attitudes of BFing, I am so sure that in 20 years these kids will be like "oh remember miss so and so BFd when i was in first grade then I should too"

I would not expect a first grade teacher to talk to her children about cancer either, once again not appropriate, that is a parents job.

 

 

This. I teach 1st grade also and there is NO WAY IN HELL I would explain pumping to them. It is not my place to explain it to them. 

Sex is natural, but should I teach sex ed to my first graders? NO. Does that make sex shameful or wrong? No, but at some ages, it is just not necessary for a non-parent to "teach" a child about certain things.

goodheartedmommy

I don't know how I feel about this whole issue, but there's a huge difference between sex and feeding your baby. Breastfeeding is the ideal, natural way to feed a child, and the US's breastfeeding rates are atrocious. Normalizing breastfeeding would be a good start to raise our rates, but of course, I don't see that happening. I do think you would get in a lot of trouble for teaching children about it, so I don't think you should.

wifeandmama

goodheartedmommy:

I don't know how I feel about this whole issue, but there's a huge difference between sex and feeding your baby. Breastfeeding is the ideal, natural way to feed a child, and the US's breastfeeding rates are atrocious. Normalizing breastfeeding would be a good start to raise our rates, but of course, I don't see that happening. I do think you would get in a lot of trouble for teaching children about it, so I don't think you should.

This.  It's a shame you can't explain it but people get sooo sensitive about silly things.

I am really shocked about children not knowing about BF.  For as long as I can remember, when I played dolls, I BF them.  My friends all did the same thing, too.  I just remember being around it... my sister, my mom's friends.. it was normal, which made BF a normal thing for me to choose when I had children, even after all those years. 

adri77

wifeandmama:

goodheartedmommy:

I don't know how I feel about this whole issue, but there's a huge difference between sex and feeding your baby. Breastfeeding is the ideal, natural way to feed a child, and the US's breastfeeding rates are atrocious. Normalizing breastfeeding would be a good start to raise our rates, but of course, I don't see that happening. I do think you would get in a lot of trouble for teaching children about it, so I don't think you should.

This.  It's a shame you can't explain it but people get sooo sensitive about silly things.

I am really shocked about children not knowing about BF.  For as long as I can remember, when I played dolls, I BF them.  My friends all did the same thing, too.  I just remember being around it... my sister, my mom's friends.. it was normal, which made BF a normal thing for me to choose when I had children, even after all those years. 

I breastfed my children, my mom breastfed me, all of my sisters breastfed all of their children, so that was our "normal" .  But lots of women chose not to bf and chose to FF.  So their children see this, and this is their normal.  You don't see a bfing woman everytime you are out and about at Target or the grocery store, so some of these children just aren't exposed to it, which isn't wrong, just their normal.  They will get the education at some point!

shopgirl78

I wouldn't say anythings but "Ms. X has something else to do, you will be doing XZY and I expect good behavior while Ms. Z is in charge."  

While BFing is natural, pumping isn't so much.  IDK.  I'd have an easier time explaining BFing rather than pumping.  

It would be nice is BFing was so vast that it was the norm though but I don't think its the teacher's place to teach that.

While my good friend BF, I was at her house and had to feed DS2 and her oldest (5) said what are you doing?  I said feeding the baby, your mom used to feed for brother this way.  She replied my mom does not feed my brother that way!  I guess she didn't remember.  He was 2...