My hero

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, of different backgrounds and color, and from different parts of the world. Heroes are ordinary people that accomplish something extraordinary. These can be the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces; Police or Sheriff Departments or State Troopers; Fire Departments; and many other jobs. These people may put their lives on the line everyday.


Than there are those who don't do such jobs but do something just as extraordinary in a different facet. These are people who may work in government offices, for the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, shelters for needy people, such as displaced families, and most importantly volunteers.


 This hero is a woman who has dome something extraordinary for today's women. She stood up for women in New Jersey by requesting the Mayor to proclaim August “Breastfeeding Awareness Month” according to NJ.com.


She is Roselle Park Councilwoman Larissa Chen-Hoerning. She is serving her term as Third Ward Councilwoman. With a Bachelor's Degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master's Degree from Yale University, Larissa works part-time as a therapist with autistic children, is a member of various family-oriented organizations, the founder of her local ICAN and DiaperFreeBaby chapters, is co-leader of the Northern NJ Babywearing group, and does independent consultations as well.

Pictured here is Larissa with her six-week-old-son attending a meeting debating an ordinance regulating overnight truck parking on borough streets. What you don't see is Larissa breastfeeding her son while the meeting is in order. “I want to help women say ‘Someone else is out there breastfeeding, and maybe it’s OK to do,’” [Larissa] said last week, according to NJ.com. [Larissa] said that she doesn’t think the act of nursing her baby, discreetly shielded from view by the desk in front of her, should be stigmatized as dirty or shameful.

According to La Leche League International spokeswoman Loretta McCallister, she has never heard of an elected official like Larissa breastfeeding her baby while conducting official business at a public meeting.

This is a huge step for breastfeeding mothers. I have read comments where people disagree with this or felt it was wrong for her to do while she was working. Do we not eat while we are at work? Are snacks not passed around during a meeting to help keep people from being bored and leaving early? Sometimes parents bring their toddlers to meetings and feed them there. How is this any different? 


Unfortunately, society views public breastfeeding to be stigmatic. No one has any right to tell a mother where, when and how she should feed her baby. Not to mention the article is getting hammered by people who don't understand the importance of what she is doing. It's not about bringing a baby to show off or say "look at me." This is about standing up for all women. This is about doing what is best for her child. This is someone who is advocating on behalf of all women saying that it is alright to care for your child's needs in public. People do it for their children everyday, what is so different if a woman breastfeeds her child?

I look forward to the day when we can bring our children with us everywhere we go. I look forward to the day when society will no longer view us as sexual creatures but as the women they will fall in love with, marry, have children and watch their wives breastfeed their children, openly in the public. Times have come so far, yet people pretend to be so modest as society finds its way around every little subject.

I hope the next time you see a breastfeeding mother you can go up to her and tell her thank you.