Mindless Avenues April 22, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Kuwait, Life, Stories.trackback
Monday evening at the Avenues Wonder Mall, Kuwait.
A young man wears the following words: This T-shirt is Fucking Expensive
Should we care? Is that his way of rebelling? Of speaking out? Or of delighting in being offensive?
Arriving at the top of the escalator, a fair woman sits facing those coming up. She clutches a bundle to her breast. Ah, she is nursing in public but one cannot really tell, as she is covered with a swaddling blanket. (She could be nursing a kitten for all we know; sorry, I was reminded of a clip I saw not too long ago about Japanese women nursing cats).
The woman’s eyes are on me, daring me to look. I use my peripheral vision at this point to discern any further details. Her companion, a Phillipina, stands close to her, in a guarded position, her eyes also warding off any intruders.
I think of the innumerable times I have blatantly nursed in public, oblivious of all those around me, like a fat mother cat, breasts heavy with fresh milk, and ah the relief of feeling it streaming automatically into the hungry infant’s mouth. At moments like those, I felt most in touch with my primal role on this earth. To create life, to nurture, to feed, and to love.
I soon forget about breastfeeding and concentrate on finding my way through the maze of the Wonder Mall.
I heard about the flower exhibit at the Avenues. I looked down upon it from the second floor, thought of taking out my camera, then decided it was not worth it. Perhaps if I leaned over far enough, I would tip over, and then naturally take flight. Imagine me flying across the length and breadth of the Avenues, looking upon all the lost souls wandering aimlessly, some not so aimlessly, others with empty hearts, and plenty of time, who sit with ill-concealed intention in pseudo outdoor cafes that look out onto the centre of the Wonder Mall.
From up here, it looks like a painting full of people, a cage, an enclosure, to keep you all safe but not from each other.
I dont know why breast feeding is a big fuss, back home in Indiastan women feed the infant just about ‘anywhere’ ( just cover the baby with the saree ) and no one is botherd , may be because it is considered ’sacred’ …
But as for mans t-shirt , i recently saw a man wearing ‘ i know you want me’ … funny thing was he had a butt in his face and a penguin’s body.
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Yes if one is covered and nursing discreetly, then it is hardly a big deal.
Actually, I was really quite happy to see someone breastfeeding at the Avenues. But it was a first time for me to see that and that’s why I had to record it (for the sake of posterity)
I know you want me is….much softer on the eyes.
I do believe one should reserve profanities for more intense moments where the effect of the word will be more rewarding in nature
Jewaira
I wonder if you wound up in someone’s post talking about their perspective and what they saw yesterday at the Avenues… perhaps even someone you laid eyes on during your adventure yesterday
Oh and please give us the link to the clip you mentioned, I’ve been scouring youtube but to no avail !
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Now that would be an interesting post
With regards to the clip, I will send it to you on your gmail (and if anyone else wants it just write me)
Jewaira
Most of them wear those T-shirts for attention.
From your description I’m sure breastfeeding is a wonderful experience but I dont see how you can fully enjoy it when you’re in public. When I think of it I think of a quiet warm room at a cozy home.
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I guessed so; I just hope they know what it means.
With regards to public breastfeeding, what do you do when your baby needs milkie and wants it now? It’s not a matter of enjoyment but a thirsty /hungry baby.
Also, women who only breastfeed actually welcome the moment a baby needs to nurse; that is because breasts become full with milk and need to be emptied.. lol
And need I mention the amazing effect of leaking breasts when a mother hears baby crying?
It takes alot of effort to be a devoted milk supplier.
Jewaira
God bless the milk mommies hehe
It is the most natural thing in the world for a mother to feed her child, and there should be nothing remotely provocative about it. All that is needed is quiet corner and a shawl or abaya. This is a baby people, not a boobie peep show, so no one should have the audacity to make a fuss. I think places like the Avenues should consider making mother and child rooms where moms can go and sit quietly with their child for whatever reason they need to.
I wish I could say I enjoy being at The Avenues but I just don’t for some reason I can’t figure out. The only thing about it I like is the fact that I run into people I haven’t seen in a very long time. Always! It’s like a social congregational of saying hi and kissing cheeks every ten minutes LOL. The last time I was there, I ran into one of my best friends and schoolmates from childhood with her husband having coffee at Paul. I had not seen her in years. We made a scene with our girly shrieking, giggling and hugging. Lots of people watched us with amusement but we didnt give a fig and enjoyed our Avenues reunion
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It is funny that a humongous mall like that does not have more family friendly facilities.
How many places for children are there for entertainment? And are there any rooms for mothers to nurse babies or to change diapers etc..?
I think I might have seen something like that in IKEA there…but I am not sure
Jewaira
I agree with Ms. B. I always had to go to my car or find a quiet place. I couldn’t comfortably nurse in public.
As you described the Avenues, all I could think of was one of those Night of the Living Dead movies, the one that took place in a mall, all those people with their dead eyes, and their insatiable HUNGER, not food hunger, but like looking-for-something-to-happen hunger.
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Hehe yes sometimes it feels that way.
If you remove yourself from the scene and look down, it is a totally different perspective
I still have not seen a Avenues Mall Directory in the mall. Has anyone seen one?
Jewaira
Hello! I just wanted to say thanks for the comment you left on the post about the child brides in Yemen on the Female Impersonators blog. The corrected insight was very useful, as was the link.
I will make sure my other contributors read it. Thanks for the time and the comment!
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You’re welcome, Amelia.
Jewaira
Sounds like fun =)
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Hehe not really
J
A cage, an enclosure to keep the world safe from them.
I think nursing is a beautiful thing, and a woman nursing in public should be given all the privacy she needs. I think a dimly-lit room with soft classical music comfortable chairs should be available for nursing/pregnant women who’ve had too much.
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Now that is a refreshing male perspective. I like your ideas and your attitude.
I can see you as the kind of father who would change diapers in the future.
Jewaira
I don’t think breastfeeding is suitable to take place in public infront of everybody; just like going to the toilet is discrete, breastfeeding should be discrete too. Even if nobody sees the boobs, just it happening in front of everybody will make people think of the mom’s boobs and that’s embarrassing enough hehe!
Does it take long? why don’t moms do it in the public restrooms? Fitting rooms, perhaps? hahaha
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Public restrooms? Fitting rooms? Please have some mercy
That’s why we need more women to be actively involved in legislation and government: to make it compulsory for all malls and public areas to have adequate restrooms and mother and baby rooms (where a woman can comfortably tend to her child and have quiet time). Of course someone would have to be on the look out for those cleaning staff who would probably turn it into a store room for mops etc…
Women know about organizational needs and pay attention to these details more than men. Women’s and family needs are not well tended to.
In addition, a big reason for this is that some mothers are not involved with their children even when they go out to say the mall.
One of the most detested sights for me is a mother walking and the nanny pushing a stroller behind her or carrying her baby (unless of course she has twins or more..)
Jewaira
My mother fed all of us in public. But I’m a cat.
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Heheh good one
Jewaira
Jewaira, the best T-shirt I ever saw was one a very shapely woman was wearing as she walked with her husband/partner, who was a very handsome man. The T-shirt said: “I’m getting better.” (Think about it.) I smiled broadly at that one.
I don’t understand the big deal about public breastfeeding, but lots of self-righteous people love to express indignation at the mere thought of it, even though their own mothers probably breast fed them in public. I think they are subconsciously expressing hatred for their mothers.
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That sounds like an attractive couple.
Anytime one wears t-shirts with slogans or words, it portrays a message about the wearer. I agree.
With regards to the breastfeeding: that is an interesting take on the subject. Rather than hatred of their mothers, I would think it is just a general feeling that it is something best done in private and I feel some people see it as an intimate and sexual act (meaning it connotes one’s sexuality)
Jewaira
Seeing a mother breast-feeding would definitely be the most interesting sight so far at the Avenues. I try to run in and out as quickly as possible - just get what I need. But you are right about the facilities for families. That has to be the one of the only malls of it’s size I’ve seen that does not have an amusement center for the kids.
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As we drove by Avenues last night, I noted that it is still not really finished and perhaps there will be some gargantuan amusement center for kids in the offing not too long from now in the parts not yet finished.
J
I love the way you wrote it
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Thank you dear Flaming it is always a pleasure to have you here
Jewaira