The Tears Flow
Jackie didn’t want to start drama and have a fight in the restaurant right then, but she just could not let it go away. She wanted badly to say something to her husband about it. Therefore, she demanded to see that note from the waitress.
The Tears Flow
Motherhood Is Rough
Jackie Johnson-Smith found out the hard way just how rough motherhood could be. She’d had many bad experiences in the past, but nothing seemed as negative as what had happened that night. All she wanted was to visit a popular Des Moines pizzeria and enjoy a night with her husband.
Motherhood Is Rough
Stirring the Pot of Drama
When Jackie left the table to visit the restroom, their waitress decided to leave her husband a note. She was sure that his wife couldn’t see it, but the plan backfired. Jackie couldn’t put up with this, and she was angry – rightfully so!
Stirring The Pot Of Drama
Don’t Mess with Jackie
Jackie had been in the US Army for a few years in the past. Therefore, no one wanted to mess with her, and she definitely didn’t take sneaking around lightly. Outside Army life, she was a devoted mother and wife to her family.
Don’t Mess With Jackie
War Hero Mom
Though Jackie tried to keep her “tough face” on at all times, she became hysterical when the waitress gave the note to her husband. What was on the note to make such a strong veteran start crying in a pizza restaurant? Her husband stared in disbelief at her reaction.
War Hero Mom
Not Very Glamorous
Hollywood gets a lot of real moments wrong because being a mom isn’t very glamorous. You’re constantly exhausted and rarely find time to put yourself together because your children come first. Jackie tried looking nice whenever they went out. She knew her husband was attractive, and women were always looking at him in public.
Not Very Glamorous
Very Handsome
Jackie understood that her husband was handsome and noticed that other ladies looked at him when they went out. This was normal, and she tried to brush it off because she knew deep down he only loved her. However, she couldn’t ignore the waitress’s looks throughout the night.
Very Handsome
The Blinders Are Off
Though the couple loved each other, Jackie had noticed that their relationship was different now. Having kids changes a woman’s body, and she didn’t have the same physical or mental capabilities as before. Her husband had noticed it, too.
The Blinders Are Off
The Uncertain Feeling
Lately, Jackie had been feeling unsure about their marriage. She wondered if she should say something and was now considering it even more because of the action of the waitress. Usually, she ignored the insecure feelings, but tonight, they were at the front of her mind.
The Uncertain Feeling
Taking the Family
Jackie and her husband, Tom, knew they were overdue to have a date night. Since she had just had their third child recently, they decided to take their growing family out to dinner to enjoy a family fun moment.
Taking The Family
The Newborn Lifestyle
When they got to the restaurant, the newborn baby immediately started crying. Jackie knew he was hungry and chose to feed him at the table instead of going to the car or restroom. People normally stared when she did this, but the waitress was actually looking at her strangely.
The Newborn Lifestyle
Public Breastfeeding
Once you become a mother, everyone judges each move you make and tells you the right way to raise a child. A mom who lifts up her shirt to feed her child often makes people upset, or they stare. They might not feel like it’s rude, but the mother gets very uncomfortable. Jackie was used to it because she had breastfed all three kids.
Public Breastfeeding
Proud Mom
None of the stares and comments made Jackie stop feeding her baby. However, the waitress was looking at her differently than anyone else had. Jackie could not let their waitress get away with it, so she felt the need to do something.
Proud Mom
Everyone Was Watching
In the past, Jackie heard people making comments or saw them staring as she breastfed in public. Therefore, this was nothing new for her third child. However, she ignored everyone and kept feeding, as she felt there was nothing unnatural about her actions.
Everyone Was Watching
Uneasy Feeling
Soon, Jackie noticed the waitress looking at her for a while and suddenly felt uncomfortable. Had this woman never witnessed a woman breastfeeding before? Even if she hadn’t, that’s no reason to stare. The mom thought the waitress was planning to do something but didn’t know how to handle it.
Uneasy Feeling
The Letter
When Jackie got up to use the bathroom, her husband motioned to the waitress to receive the bill. Therefore, as Jackie got up, the waitress started walking to their table. She handed Tom a note, but what did it say?!
The Letter
New Feelings
Tom started to read the note, and his facial expression was different than Jackie had ever seen before. He wasn’t aware that she could see him, and her own face was pale and cold when she saw that look. What could it have said?
New Feelings
His Reaction
Naturally, Jackie assumed that the note wasn’t important to them. He might toss it aside or crumple it up. However, he actually did something unthinkable when he took his phone out of his pocket. She felt that she was in a nightmare and could not believe he did that.
His Reaction
Their Love
At the time, Jackie was heartbroken and could not help how she felt. She was worried that her husband didn’t love her after the toll her body took to have three kids. Her heart was racing, and she was trying to figure out what was happening in front of her. What could she do?
Their Love
Jealousy Written on Her Face
Jackie was shocked that the waitress tried to put the moves on Tom when she walked away from the table for a short period. In fact, she was angry and aggressive. Her mind could not stop considering all the possibilities of what the note said.
Jealousy Written On Her Face
She Wanted Answers
The disheartening fact in all of this was that her husband grabbed his phone to put something in it. Was it the waitress’s phone number? Did he put it in the contact list? Jackie returned to the table, demanded to see the note, and started crying.
She Wanted Answers
Very Suspicious
It turned out that their waitress offered the couple a discount that wasn’t part of any promotion from the restaurant. Jackie’s mind was racing. Was this just a way for the waitress to flirt with Tom? She was shocked since she was only away from the table for a brief moment. Why was the waitress offering her hubby a discount?
Very Suspicious
Problem Central
On the note, the waitress talked about Jackie’s choice to breastfeed at the table. Though the mother was used to people whispering and pointing, she was shocked that someone could be as bold as to make comments like that in writing.
Problem Central
Very Emotional
Before composing herself, Jackie knew that there were tears in her eyes that were starting to fall. She just couldn’t help the strong feelings about what had happened. Her waitress did something that nobody could believe a person might do.
Very Emotional
The Note That Made Her Cry
Jackie sat low in her seat and was overcome by tears. She couldn’t help it after reading the letter. Even though she was now inspired and felt powerful, she just never believed something like this could happen to her.
The Note That Made Her Cry
Note Goes Viral
Jackie was feeling a very emotional response and decided to post on social media about the situation. She realized that the controversy of public breastfeeding was there, but she couldn’t believe the comments she received from her Facebook friends.
Note Goes Viral
The Note Said…
She started the post by explaining that she’d breastfed her three children in different places. Some were unpleasant, and others were better. Sometimes, she chose to do it discreetly. She claimed to have gotten many looks and stares, but tonight had erased the negativity from before.
The Note Said…
Experienced Waitress
The waitress was a young woman named Bodi. She’d been working in the foodservice industry for a while and noticed how people looked at women who chose public breastfeeding. Generally, strangers did it the most.
Experienced Waitress
Sharing Emotions
The social media post from Jackie said that it was her first time visiting the restaurant. She chose to nurse her fussy baby in the booth and then left the table so that they didn’t disrupt the restaurant. The waitress wrote on her receipt, leaving her speechless and emotional.
Sharing Emotions
What the Note Said
Though Bodi wasn’t a mother and didn’t have the experience of public breastfeeding, she was upset as she noticed strangers judging the woman for feeding her baby. She wrote a note on the bill saying she had paid for a pizza and for Tom to thank his wife for breastfeeding.
What The Note Said
She Expected the Worst
Jackie admits openly that her mind immediately went to the worst-case scenario. She believed her husband took his phone to put in the waitress’s phone number. What Jackie did next was unexpected!
She Expected The Worst
Going Public
Tom wanted to take a picture of the note to forever remember the moment. When Jackie found out what happened, she did, too. Everyone on her Facebook account was leaving comments for both women, and all of them were amazing and heartwarming.
Going Public
Raising Awareness to Breastfeed
With the efforts of Bodi and Jackie, they started a great conversation that ended up helping people talk about breastfeeding. Jackie wanted nothing more than to feed her infant in peace without strange looks or whispers. That’s what all breastfeeding moms crave!
Raising Awareness To Breastfeed
All She Wanted
Bodi is proof that everyone doesn’t have negative opinions about breastfeeding in public. Jackie found out that some people are uncomfortable in general about the subject. She was truly amazed that Bodi took such a bold step to stand up for the mother.
All She Wanted
Tons of Positive Responses
Though breastfeeding is normal and natural, people frown on it when it happens in public. Therefore, it’s uncommon for moms to get smiles or reassuring comments. Bodi commented later that she saw Jackie was nursing and was so happy she did it.
Tons Of Positive Responses
Creepy Stares or Something Worse
Bodi said she tried not to stare because she didn’t want the mom to be uncomfortable or think she was creepy. However, she really wanted to jump up and down. That’s why Jackie felt the waitress looking; she truly was! It just wasn’t for the reason Jackie thought.
Creepy Stares Or Something Worse
Women Stick Together
On Facebook, Jackie said she’d dealt with negativity from people for a long time. That situation made her feel like she got a pat on the back and was doing something right. She was too stunned to go back to the restaurant and thank the waitress.
Women Stick Together
Best Feeling
Not long after, Jackie returned to that pizza restaurant to thank Bodi. She didn’t have to be told that breastfeeding was right, but it felt good to hear it. It’s amazing how women can empower each other!
Best Feeling
An Unbreakable Family
The couple had a positive interaction with Bodi. From there, the family grew stronger and healthier. Jackie believed it was time to post more about public breastfeeding, and everyone liked it.
An Unbreakable Family
Kindness Is King
Bodi didn’t realize that one small kindness could mean so much to Jackie and Tom. She ended up changing Jackie’s life immensely that day and changed her own, as well. One small act of kindness can go a very long way!
Kindness Is King
