An Interview with Author Mary Olsen
By Shel Franco
My 6-year-old gave his 3-year-old brother a lesson in breastfeeding education. The other night, I overheard them discussing an illustration in one of their storybooks. “What’s that mommy doing?” asked my middle child. “Something we don’t do,” said my oldest.
The mommy in question was bottle feeding, and I had to chuckle at my oldest son’s reprimanding tone. While my sons were weaned before they could retain much of what nursing was about, they have watched and learned during the nursing tenure of their sister, an experience that I am glad to give them, knowing all too well that seeing a mom breastfeed is still not the cultural norm.
Have you ever counted the number of bottle-fed babies portrayed in your child’s books?
Have you ever counted the number of bottle-fed babies portrayed in your child’s books? The lack of nursing mothers in children’s literature can be depressing. Fortunately, people like Mary Olsen, author of I’m Made of Mama’s Milk, are willing to jump through hoops to change that.
SF: Do you think the image of breastfeeding is lacking in children’s literature?
MO: Yes, definitely. I remember when my daughter was a baby, searching all over for children’s books to buy for her about her favorite subject: breastfeeding. I found hardly a handful, none of which contained true-to-life life images of breastfeeding, which was what I was most interested in presenting to her. I didn’t understand this. I remember thinking, “Is it just me, or aren’t mothers breastfeeding their children these days? … Where are all the breastfeeding board books for the nurslings?” Everywhere I went I saw mothers nursing their babies and toddlers, yet it seemed like every other book written for young children that I picked up featured babies drinking from bottles, as if bottle feeding was the norm. It felt very strange to be breastfeeding my baby in the new millennium with what seemed like a 1950s’ selection of children’s books to choose from.
SF: Why do you think it is important to feature breastfeeding in children’s literature?
MO: Featuring natural and positive images of breastfeeding in children’s literature is respectful of the fact that breastfeeding is a very important part of many children’s lives. Seeing pictures of babies nursing supports the reality of those who are breastfed. Many mothers today are making the conscious decision to nurse their babies because of growing awareness that breastfeeding is the best all-around choice for their children. These children deserve to have the way that they take nourishment, receive comfort and the special bond that they share with their mothers validated in the books that they look at and read regularly.
When children are raised with positive images of breastfeeding in their immediate environment, especially within their literature, the likelihood that they will see breastfeeding as normal as they mature is greatly increased. The images offered to us during our first most formative years have an uncanny way of staying with us. How many of us still know Dr. Suess’ illustrations like the back of our hands? The images we present our young children will matter, and it is important that we approach this consciously. If 95 percent of the books available to them contain only bottle-feeding images, this sends the message that bottle-feeding is the norm. This is not an honest portrayal, as breastfeeding is the most normal, natural and healthy way to nourish babies. It should be depicted as such in their literature.
It is still important for children’s literature to occasionally feature bottle feeding, as this supports families who are unable to breastfeed, as well as educates breastfed children in the different ways that babies are fed. But for all the children’s sake, there needs to be more literature available that openly portrays breastfeeding. Showing breastfeeding not only supports breastfed children in their way of life, but helps those who are not breastfed understand how other children feed and are comforted. Their awareness of this affects the next generations. Children who are raised bottle-fed, but regularly see images of breastfeeding in their literature will more likely grow to adulthood with the understanding that breastfeeding is normal and accepted, increasing the chances that they will choose to breastfeed their own children.
Society at large also benefits from seeing pictures of breastfeeding in children’s books. Positive images of breastfeeding in the culture in any form, be it in children’s books, on highway billboards or in Hollywood movies sends the message that breastfeeding is a normal and wonderful part of everyday life.
SF: What was your inspiration for writing I’m Made of Mama’s Milk?
MO: This is a good question because my motivation for creating I’m Made of Mama’s Milk came from an essentially different place than my inspiration. I was motivated to write this book because there were so few children’s books about breastfeeding available, and I wanted to fill this need, but my inspiration came from the pure bliss I found in breastfeeding my darling daughter. I was so blown away by the entire breastfeeding experience that I had to express it somehow. Creating a children’s book about breastfeeding turned out to be the perfect way for me to help fill the huge void in the children’s book market, as well as express my overwhelming love and appreciation for the incredible experience of sustaining my daughter’s life with breastfeeding.
SF: What do you hope to accomplish from publishing the book?
MO: I hope that all the children who read, look at or gnaw on I’m Made of Mama’s Milk absolutely love it! I hope that this book becomes a valued resource for those dedicated to the promotion of breastfeeding. I hope that I’m Made of Mama’s Milk becomes a children’s book classic and finds its way into the homes of every family on earth, positively influencing the future generations. I hope that the publication of my book inspires others to create many more breastfeeding books for children, as we have a lot of catching up to do. I hope that breastfeeding takes off at a rapid and exponential rate, and that the publication of I’m Made of Mama’s Milk helps in this process.
May all the children of the world receive a breastfed start to life!
