UNLOCKED POST, OMG!!
Apr. 15th, 2007 12:21 am![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lizzieyThis is something I saw in a boob community. I want to share it. Obviously, this is not MY family.
Ronald McDonald House asks our family to leave for breastfeeding!
My sister and I are staying in the Ronald McDonald House in Houston because one of her 17 month old twins had to have brain surgery to remove a tumor last week. The RMH has been great and we have felt so blessed to find such a safe and homey place to take care of her other two children and my daughter while we are here for Tobin's recovery.
However yesterday my sister, who is nursing the twins, was asked to stop nursing in the communal area of the Ronald McDonald House and to take it up to her room. She was shocked! After his surgery her son will basically only drink breastmilk and it is the only thing that eases the constant pain and anxiety he feels. She told them that it was illegal, according the Texas state law, to ask a breastfeeding mother to stop nursing in any public or private place. She also tried to explain to them how inconvenient it would be for her to take all her children up 3 floors to their room every time her sick child needs to nurse.
Unfortunately after 30 minutes of arguing, and being threatened with being kicked out, she was in tears and they weren't backing down. So I headed down there to talk to the administrator because I am also nursing my three year old daughter. I even pulled up the state law on my laptop and after a lengthy discussion the administrator acted as if she was going to examine the law so she understood it and move on. I thought that was the end of it.
Today I find out they may be kicking us out of the RMH because we refused to comply with what they call their "interpretation of the law". Their interpretation is that if they provide somewhere else for us to nurse they don't have to let us nurse in public places. Since when do laws get to be personally tailored to an organizations needs?
This is a ridiculous and terrible situation for all of us, I am not sure what else we will do if we can't stay here but we can't just not nurse our children. The Ronald McDonald is such a great resource, why do they have to discriminate against nursing moms?
If you would like to send a letter we would appreciate it. Arlene Whatley is The Executive director of The Holcombe location of the RMH where we are staying and one of the people who Jessica spoke to about this. It is Arlene that seems to be making the decision here. Her email is awhatley@rmhhouston.org and her phone is (713) 795-3570.
This message may also be shared and reposted. Thank you all for your support.
Read the full thread @ Mothering: http://www.mothering.com/discussions/
Ronald McDonald House asks our family to leave for breastfeeding!
My sister and I are staying in the Ronald McDonald House in Houston because one of her 17 month old twins had to have brain surgery to remove a tumor last week. The RMH has been great and we have felt so blessed to find such a safe and homey place to take care of her other two children and my daughter while we are here for Tobin's recovery.
However yesterday my sister, who is nursing the twins, was asked to stop nursing in the communal area of the Ronald McDonald House and to take it up to her room. She was shocked! After his surgery her son will basically only drink breastmilk and it is the only thing that eases the constant pain and anxiety he feels. She told them that it was illegal, according the Texas state law, to ask a breastfeeding mother to stop nursing in any public or private place. She also tried to explain to them how inconvenient it would be for her to take all her children up 3 floors to their room every time her sick child needs to nurse.
Unfortunately after 30 minutes of arguing, and being threatened with being kicked out, she was in tears and they weren't backing down. So I headed down there to talk to the administrator because I am also nursing my three year old daughter. I even pulled up the state law on my laptop and after a lengthy discussion the administrator acted as if she was going to examine the law so she understood it and move on. I thought that was the end of it.
Today I find out they may be kicking us out of the RMH because we refused to comply with what they call their "interpretation of the law". Their interpretation is that if they provide somewhere else for us to nurse they don't have to let us nurse in public places. Since when do laws get to be personally tailored to an organizations needs?
This is a ridiculous and terrible situation for all of us, I am not sure what else we will do if we can't stay here but we can't just not nurse our children. The Ronald McDonald is such a great resource, why do they have to discriminate against nursing moms?
If you would like to send a letter we would appreciate it. Arlene Whatley is The Executive director of The Holcombe location of the RMH where we are staying and one of the people who Jessica spoke to about this. It is Arlene that seems to be making the decision here. Her email is awhatley@rmhhouston.org and her phone is (713) 795-3570.
This message may also be shared and reposted. Thank you all for your support.
Read the full thread @ Mothering: http://www.mothering.com/discussions/
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no subject
Date: 2007-04-25 02:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-28 04:35 pm (UTC)/snark
no subject
Date: 2007-06-11 04:03 pm (UTC)Texas law does state that you can breastfeed in any public, or private place. However, The RMH is a PRIVATE location. You don't have the right to just walk in there and start breastfeeding. You have to be invited to stay there. You might as well think of it as someone else's house. The fact that they provide somewhere else for you (collective) to breastfeed, means you have no right to make a fuss about not being allowed to nurse in the COMMUNAL area.
They have every right to remove you if you do not comply with their rules. You are not the only ones there, and you're not the only ones there with sick kids. I'm willing to bet there were children there worse off than your nephews.
They are not discriminating against nursing mothers, as they provide somewhere for women to breastfeed: Their own private rooms. Contrary to what you might think, your sister doesn't have the right to breastfeed where ever she wants, especially in a place like the RMH, where there are constantly sick kids, and the parents of sick kids around.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-11 04:29 pm (UTC)That was the very first line of my post, thank you.
And I live in NY. Why would I care what the laws in Texas are? Its about whats RIGHT, not what the law is. Why should a mother have to go however far away their room is, and be secluded because her sick baby was hungry? Are they making bottle-feeding mothers do that in private? I personally find bottles disgusting, and would be revolted if I saw a sick newborn being fed that way. Then again Texas created the
stupid fuck ass that is my military husband's bosspresident. I should have already known they were dumbasses.no subject
Date: 2008-05-26 05:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-26 05:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-26 05:29 pm (UTC)I've been nursing for 5 years straight, I'm pretty sure I have the discreet cover down pat, idiot.