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Lots of folks are getting all bent out of shape over a photo posted by Elisha Beach Wilson that shows her sitting on the throne while nursing her little one. In the foreground, the contents of a bathroom cabinet are spilling out on the floor—the handiwork of the hungry toddler in question, we assume.
Wilson, the wife of Sons Of Anarchy actor Michael Beach, knew that the scene might be a little too real for some when she captioned it: "This is motherhood and it ain't always pretty. What's your #momtruth? #motherhood #motherhoodaintpretty #tmi #confessionsofamom #ididthat #iamnotsorry"
The photo was posted to Instagram and a parenting Facebook page, where it blew up. And it was too real. Some people—mostly women who said they breastfed their babies—were disgusted that she was nursing in a bathroom. They called it "unhygienic" and "gross" and "unsanitary." It's a little ironic given that women breastfeeding in public are often told to breastfeed in public restrooms.
But plenty of moms and others rallied to defend Beach Wilson: "Even if she WAS dumping, so what?! It's not like she'd wipe barehanded and use her turds as warrior face paint for her little daughter."
Good point. And let she among us who has not eaten cake on a toilet or pondered getting a wine glass holder installed in her bathtub cast the first stone.
Beach Wilson explained that yes, she is breastfeeding (it's hard to tell whether that's an elbow or breast pictured). And to the folks who think she's oversharing, she said that she wanted to show off the less glamorous side of motherhood: "I just see so many perfect pictures of motherhood, and frankly it’s a little frustrating. That’s not what it’s like."
