Jackie and her husband were experiencing a rocky patch in their relationship not long after she gave birth to their third child. They went out to dinner with their children hoping for a relaxing night out. Little did they know that their waitress would pull quite a big surprise on them…
Behind Her Back
Jackie returned from the restroom, and what she saw afterward would make her blood boil. She saw that there was something on the table left by the waitress. The thought made her insides turn in anger.
Behind Her Back
The Tears Came
She was trying hard to keep calm and not create a scene. But still, she felt like she shouldn’t hold back and let the matter rest. She wanted to do find out what it was. That is why she pressed her husband to show her what their waitress passed onto him. Suddenly, she had tears running down her face.
The Tears Came
Motherhood
Jackie Johnson-Smith discovered the hard way just how challenging being a mother really is. Still, no other experience as a mother of three would match the one she had in their local restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa.
Motherhood
Stirring Up Drama
Jackie thought the waitress was too daring to actually hand her husband a letter when she left to use the restroom. Once she read the note, she couldn’t believe the message she was reading.
Stirring Up Drama
Not Someone To Mess With
Jackie was in the U.S. Army for some time so you can be sure that she had a tough exterior. Her personality warned people to not take her lightly. Aside from serving in the army, Jackie is steadfast in becoming the best mother that she can be for her kids.
Not Someone To Mess With
A War Hero
Even with such a tough personality, the waitress slipping her husband a note still made Jackie break down. But what could have caused a war hero to dissolve in tears like this? Even her husband could not believe that it made Jackie cry.
A War Hero
Not So Glamorous
We all know that being a mother is one of the hardest jobs in the world especially when your children are very young and you feel as if you’re forever chasing after them. Moms have to battle with exhaustion and chaos that kids undoubtedly cause. Jackie puts effort to look her best but her husband’s good looks were extremely evident.
Not So Glamorous
He Got A Lot Of Attention
Of course, she thought her husband is good-looking, and she also knows that his looks attract attention from other women. She has often triumphed over the challenge to not think too much of it. This time, however, she found the waitress’ stares were getting under her skin.
He Got A Lot Of Attention
A Blind Eye
Jackie simply couldn’t overlook the years have changed her relationship with her husband. They now had three children and the mental and physical aptitude she possessed before were gone.
A Blind Eye
Feeling Uncertain
There were times when she felt apprehensive about the state of their marriage and thought about the need to confront her uncertainties. Normally though, she would ignore these kinds of feelings. However, she felt that her uneasiness that must have had a reason.
Feeling Uncertain
Bringing The Family Out
Jackie and her husband Tom were aware that it’s been too long since their last date night. But because they just had a baby, the couple chose to bring out their family to a pizza restaurant instead.
Bringing The Family Out
Life With A Newborn
Immediately after setting foot in the restaurant, the baby started to become agitated. Jackie turned to feed her baby at their table. She could feel the stares directed at her, but not in the way the waitress was looking at Tom.
Life With A Newborn
Needed Support
Once you become a mother, people will watch and criticize every move you make. When a mother lifts her shirt to feed her baby, people automatically stare and gawk at her. Jackie has gone through this too many times since she breastfed all three of her children.
Needed Support
A Proud Momma
Jackie didn’t let the stares bother her and make her feel like she had to stop breastfeeding. But something about how the waitress was gazing at them felt unfamiliar and unsettling. She needed to take action.
A Proud Momma
All Eyes On Them
She was now completely accustomed to people watching her whenever she breastfeeds and had stopped worrying about it a long time ago. Although she could sometimes hear people nearby whispering about, she simply disregarded them and minded her business.
All Eyes On Them
Feeling Uneasy
When Jackie noticed the keen gaze of the waitress on her, it made her feel uncomfortable. Is breastfeeding an entirely new phenomenon for her? Jackie was waiting for the waitress to do something but had no idea what it could be.
Feeling Uneasy
The Letter
When Jackie left their table to use the restroom, her husband then asked for their bill. As soon as Jackie got far enough, the waitress sprinted to their table and slid a note to Jackie’s husband. What was happening?
The Letter
A New Feeling
While Tom read the note, his face immediately reflected his reaction to the message. He did not notice that Jackie just witnessed the whole thing. Suddenly, Jackie felt something strange.
A New Feeling
How Did He React?
Jackie was expecting her husband to just ignore it and throw it away. It shocked her that Tom took out his phone instead. Was he saving the waitress’s number on his phone? Jackie watched her husband in disbelief.
How Did He React?
Had He Fallen In Love?
Several thoughts ran through her mind. Had Tom fell out of love? Did he no longer want a life with her and their kids? Jackie felt her heartbreak as she watched the events unfold. How was she supposed to react to this?
Had He Fallen In Love?
Her Jealousy Was Showing
A huge wave of fury took over Jackie after seeing the waitress try to steal her husband when she went away briefly. Her thoughts were in a jumble and she was growing more and more curious about what was in that note.
Her Jealousy Was Showing
Demanding Answers
What Jackie hated the most was that her husband chose to take his phone after he read the note. Did he actually save the waitress’s number? Jackie returned to the table and questioned her husband about the note. Right away, she broke down in tears.
Demanding Answers
Everything Was Suspicious
The waitress had apparently given Tom some kind of discount on their total bill. But why was he given a discount? Was the waitress really trying to flirt with her husband while she was there? Jackie couldn’t believe it.
Everything Was Suspicious
The Center Of Problems
The note talked about Jackie breastfeeding in a restaurant where many eyes could see her. Jackie was familiar with this kind of attitude, but it’s the first time someone had been so blunt about it.
The Center Of Problems
Getting Emotional
Then, without warning, tears started to stream down her face. Jackie couldn’t fight the tears anymore. She was left stunned by the note in her hand. She did not expect what the waitress wrote on it.
Getting Emotional
The Letter That Made Her Cry
Jackie continued reading the note as she slumped down on her seat and tears fell down her cheeks. She had never thought that she would ever receive something like this. But it was a surprise that turned into an inspiration for her!
The Letter That Made Her Cry
Her Note Went Viral
She was incredibly touched by what the waitress did for her. Jackie wanted to share the moment with many people and decided to post about it on her social media. Although she knew very well the challenges breastfeeding moms encounter in public and the conversation that revolves around it, she was still completely amazed at the number of responses to her post.
Her Note Went Viral
The Note Itself
She introduced her thoughts in her post with this: “I have breastfed three children… I have breastfed them in countless places both pleasant and unpleasant, discreetly and out in the open. I have gotten many looks and stares, but tonight erases any negativity I have ever received.”
The Note Itself
An Experienced Waitress
Bodi is the name of the waitress. She had been working as a waitress for many years and has witnessed all kinds of looks thrown at mothers who want to breastfeed their children in a public setting.
An Experienced Waitress
Sharing Her Emotions
In her post, Jackie explained “…I ate at Fong’s for the first time tonight. Having a fussy baby I nursed him for a while in the booth and eventually left the table early as to not disrupt the restaurant. The waitress gave this receipt to my husband. I was speechless and emotional.” But what exactly was written on that note?
Sharing Her Emotions
What Did The Note Say?
Even though Bodi had no experience breastfeeding in public, the fact that people would judge a woman just because she wanted to feed her child properly is still exasperating for her. That is why Bodi left a note on their bill: “I bought one of your pizzas… Please thank your wife for breastfeeding!!”
What Did The Note Say?
She Expected The Worst
Jackie responded equally to the act of kindness she received. She also admitted that she was thinking of the worst-case scenarios in the beginning. When Tom took out his phone, she thought he was typing in her phone number.
She Expected The Worst
Went Public
The truth is that he was taking a photo as a souvenir of the amazing surprise. Jackie proceeded to do the same. The reaction towards Jackie and Bondi was remarkable. And it’s amazing how one note from Bodi created a ripple of similar deeds!
Went Public
Raising Breastfeeding Awareness
With the message from Jackie and Bodi, people were getting highly interested in the discussion of breastfeeding. Every mother who breastfeeds and has breastfed a child was completely tired of being treated like a weird display.
Raising Breastfeeding Awareness
All She Wants
Bodi is proof that moms like Jackie have people who support them in their choices. Although breastfeeding still remains a complicated discussion, we can see that there are steps toward progress. And, really, that’s all that Jackie was hoping to do.
All She Wants
Amazing Responses
Moms who reveal that they chose to breastfeed will receive support and positive responses. However, breastfeeding should be a norm given that it’s an entirely normal part of having a child. Bodi revealed, “I noticed [Jackie] nursing and was so thrilled she did it!”
Amazing Responses
Deeply Staring
“…I tried not to stare because I didn’t want to seem creepy or make her feel uncomfortable, but I felt like doing jumping jacks!” Bodi was referring to the moment Jackie noticed that she caught the waitress’s attention.
Deeply Staring
Sticking Up For Other Women
Jackie described the event this way: “After dealing with people’s reactions for so long, it was like the universe was giving me a pat on the back. I was too stunned to go back inside and thank the waitress.”
Sticking Up For Other Women
Amazing Feeling
Jackie made another visit to the restaurant to give her thanks to Bodi personally. “Although I don’t need a pat on the back for feeding my child, it sure felt amazing. It is amazing how we women can make each other feel when we empower each other.”
Amazing Feeling
Unbreakable Family
Ever since the couple experienced this incredible interaction with Bodi, it seems like their relationship had become stronger. Jackie was also taking big steps to break the stigma against mothers who want to breastfeed in public.
Unbreakable Family
A Long Way
For sure, Bodi never expected her kindness and support to affect Jackie’s family in such a huge and positive way. What’s better is that people from all over the world are taking part to support the same cause that she was passionate about!
A Long Way