The other day a full-sized container of formula randomly turned up in my mailbox. I happened to open the package in front of the Rainbow. She had never seen formula before and was intrigued. She deduced it was “baby-stuff” from the packaging and asked if I was going to give some to her little sister.
I explained to her in what I thought was a fairly rational tone that some mommies can’t make breast milk so they give this to their babies instead. But it’s not as good. Babies should have mommy milk. No, I’m not giving any to Rocket, I think its yucky stuff and I have plenty of mommy milk for her. However, I felt bad about throwing out a full tin and planned to donate it to the food bank, so I left it sitting on the coffee table.
The next morning Rainbow and I are heading downstairs to watch some TV. I had to grab a few things to carry down, so I told her to go ahead and I’d be right there.
I hear a piercing scream and I start racing for the basement while yelling out, “What’s wrong?” “There’s yucky stuff down here! Oh nonnononono!” followed by more shrill shrieking. I get downstairs and I can see nothing obviously wrong, so I ask her what kind of yucky stuff. “It’s baby poison! It’s going to hurt Rocket! You can’t bring her down here!”
Oh geesh. You’ve got to be kidding me. She had seen the can of formula still sitting on the table and flipped right out. I guess I over did it when trying to explain why formula was bad.
She also later told me that, “Some mommies hate their babies, because they are bad babies. So they give them the yucky stuff.” Which I swear is NOT what I had told her the day before. I do think she finally got it, after I explained it to her another half a dozen times. Sigh.
What about you folks? Ever have your kids flip out over something mundane?
Lol, it just goes to show you that children will hear what they want to hear.
Hee Hee! Kids are funny.I was a formula feeding Mom. I tried the BFing but had to stop because I had a severe allergic reaction to the epidural. I was forced really to give up BFing in order to take steroids. In all honesty though, BFing really wasn't for me. Not sure if postpartum depression had anything to do with it or not. I was pretty adament on BFing but meh, formula, it ain't that bad. I was formula fed and I turned out just fine…of course that statment it totally biased 😉
I didn't mean for that to come across that I am anti formula. I also was formula fed, and here I am. Breast feeding is hard work. I've been blessed that I've been able to make it work with both kids. Mostly I was bewildered and slightly amused by how upset G-Girl was about a can of formula. I wanted to impress upon her that I feel breast feeding is best and I guess I over did it. I certainly didn't mean to leave her in dread of formula. I'm constantly amazed at how things get twisted up in her head.