Vegma--Oh, child-led weaning! I don't know why I didn't get that. Duh. But that's what we do, I just didn't call it that. My 3yo was very attached to nursing (in a way that my 20mo doesn't seem to be) and I thought he'd go on for at least another year, but when I was 8 months pregnant with his brother he gave up, since I either had no milk or it was changing texture/flavor. We tried him on continuing nursing when my milk came in after the birth, and he did a few times (just enough to help with engorgement, thank you God), but mostly it seemed like he'd forgotten how. After the very last time he ever nursed, he told me that he was through nursing now and that he really thought we should save the milk for the new baby. I told him that he was wonderful and thoughtful but that it was okay to share the baby's milk. He told me that, no, he didn't need to nurse anymore. It broke my heart a little bit.
Feline01--What a great point, about the guilt of feeding them unhealthy, non-vegan foods, and what a great way to put it! You are absolutely right. I'd feel like every bit of egg or every drink of milk was poisoning their bodies. Now, I know that's irrational and I know that those things aren't poison, but we've been vegan long enough that that is exactly how I'd feel. Even though I don't always know for a fact that I'm doing everything right, I'm pretty sure I know what's *wrong*, and the idea of feeding them animal products just feels *wrong* to me. Not that I think it's wrong for everybody, but I just know what works for my family. Thanks for reminding me of that.
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