"Like a Cow"

Recently I've been put into the situation where I've had to explain breastfeeding to several children. Kids that come into my home, who come from homes that bottle feed. I have never been one to hide while Carter nurses, so I guess this moment was bound to happen more than once.

Obviously when a child see's Carter latched onto my boobs, they come running over, "What's he doing?" They always say with blank stares, and wonder. At first I was a little insecure. Was this something I should really be explaining to children that aren't mine? Yes. They are in my home, and asking a very natural question, about something just as natural.

Here are my two recent enounters and how I handled them:

1) Breanna is my 2nd cousin on my husbands side. She is 6 years old, and this was my first time meeting her. I had gone upstairs to nurse Carter, where the distractions were gone, so he could have a solid feed. When who should pop her head around the door frame? I invited Breanna in and she came right up to my breasts and looked at Carter suckling away.

"What is he doing to you Shannon?"
I was caught off guard. I wasn't sure how to explain. So I went about it very matter of fact.
"I am feeding Carter my own milk. He drinks from me instead of from a bottle. My breasts make milk special for him when he is hungry."
Breanna was satified with that answer, and seemed to understand. After a few minutes, she looked up from staring at Carter and said to me:
"Which side in Chocolate?" I smiled and told her "I think the right one." :)

2) My niece Brooklyn on my husbands side is 4. The same situation had come up, but she was not as satified with my "matter of fact" explantion of breastfeeding. I searched my brain for a way to explain it to her that might make some real sense to her. "I GOT IT!"

"Brooklyn you know how baby Calfs drink milk from the mommy Cows in your backyard?" -S
"Ya, then we drink that milk too." -B
"Well, Auntie Shannon is like a Mommy Cow and Carter is like a baby Calf." -S
"Oh, OK."
And that was that.

I wonder what it will be like explaining breastfeeding to a little boy?