As a mother of two, I recently experienced a heartwarming moment at the mall that left me beaming with pride. My almost 6-year-old son Timmy and I were out with his baby sister Addie, who was just a month old. As we sat down to eat at the food court, Addie started to get hungry, and I naturally began to breastfeed her.
A lady sitting nearby caught sight of us and seemed visibly uncomfortable. She approached me and suggested that I should breastfeed my baby in the bathroom instead. I tried to respond, but before I could, Timmy jumped to my defense. He cleverly pointed out that her child was eating food in plain sight, just like his sister was being fed.
The lady was taken aback by Timmy’s quick wit and sharp tongue. She asked me if I allowed him to speak to everyone like that, and I replied that I encouraged him to speak the truth. The lady reiterated her suggestion that I should breastfeed in the bathroom, but Timmy was not having it.
In a bold move, Timmy got up and walked over to the lady’s table, offering to help her take her food to the bathroom as well. His logic was impeccable: if it was okay for his sister to eat in the bathroom, then it should be okay for the lady to eat there too.
The lady was clearly embarrassed and muttered something about Timmy being disrespectful. But I couldn’t help but feel proud of my little boy for standing up for what he believed in. As I told the lady, “My boy is just a well-educated 5-year-old.”
This encounter reminded me of the importance of empowering our children to speak up for themselves and others. By encouraging Timmy to express himself confidently and respectfully, I hope to have raised a compassionate and courageous individual who will continue to make me proud.
