PERSONAL TESTIMONY

 

By: Cristiana, 39 years old

 

I was born in Porto, the most beautiful city in the world, and I have been an emigrant in Germany for 7 years.

 

At 36 years old, I became the mother of a boy who is my greatest blessing, Rodrigo.

Motherhood has always been one of my goals, I always dreamed of being a mother.

A dream that is often postponed because I wanted to have the necessary conditions to experience motherhood to the fullest, with all the pros and cons that come with it.

I wanted to be a present mother. I didn't want to have a child who spent more time with his grandparents than with his parents.

I believe that grandparents are essential in children's lives, but I wanted to be able to give my son what I consider most valuable: quality time, example and values.

 

In the hustle and bustle of our lives, we ended up in Germany and it was here that my son was born.

 

I am a very positive person, I always see the glass as half full, and although emigration is not an easy process, it was without a doubt the period of greatest learning in my life and it was because of this adventure that life allowed me to fulfill my dreams: getting married and being a mother.

 

Today I can be a present mother, who accompanies and cares.

Our only support network is the nursery, because we are far from our family, which allowed us to be parents without many “guesses” from others. We educate in the way we think is most correct, in every sense.

 

And speaking of guesses and/or judgments, at the moment, I find myself in a situation that is the subject of a lot of “ guesswork ”. My son is three and a half years old and I am still breastfeeding. Which, for me, is wonderful.

I once heard a Portuguese influencer (a very influential one, by the way) who was of the opinion that it made no sense to breastfeed a child who already had teeth. I also heard a doctor, with that judgmental tone, say that he would be 6 years old and would still be breastfeeding.
These are comments and opinions that don't affect me, because I'm very sure about what I want and my ideas, but what about those people who aren't?

Those people who let themselves be influenced? What happens to them? Probably, even though they want to continue breastfeeding, they cut off that bond based on what others think and what society thinks they should be. I can only feel sorry for them.

 For me, being a Mother is the role that makes me feel most complete as a Woman and being able to be food, supplement and now comfort for my son makes me even more fulfilled.

 Here is the answer I gave to the aforementioned doctor so that you can reflect:

'As long as it is comfortable for me and him, who are the people involved, I will continue to breastfeed.'

 May society stop using stereotypes and become informed. I believe that,  Even after 2 years, breast milk continues to have many benefits for the baby.

 

Be happy in your own way.