With their third child in tow and a good number of years together, Jackie and her husband were struggling to keep the spark in their relationship alive. A relaxing family dinner at a local restaurant was just what they needed to break the monotonousness of their routine a bit, but the actions of their waitress would mean that things would take a turn for the worse during the course of the evening. What could possibly ruin an otherwise pleasant evening out so terribly?
Bathroom Betrayal
Bathroom Betrayal
Returning from the restroom during the course of the meal, it wouldn’t take long for Jackie’s blood pressure to soar. It had all been going so well. Everyone was getting along, the food was delicious and the kids were behaving. But now she was angry, as the waitress had scribbled down a note and handed it to her husband in the split second she had decided to step away. She could not believe that the moment that she had looked away that someone would try something so shameless.
An Emotional Experience
Not one to cause a major fervor, and usually pretty good at taking things in her stride, this time she was aware that avoiding the situation would make things worse, Jackie realized that she couldn’t take a back seat on this one. It was now or never. She decided to speak up, asking her husband if she could see the note that had been handed to him. When she saw what it said, she started to cry.
An Emotional Experience
On Being a Mother
If being a mother wasn’t hard enough, Jackie Johnson-Smith was about to find out how there are always ways that can make it all feel even harder. She could cope with all the many challenges that came with looking after a child, but nothing could prepare her for the experience at the local pizza joint in Iowa when she felt insecure around her husband on the very night they were dedicating to their relationship and family.
On Being A Mother
Rattling and Shaking
Jackie felt rattled, thinking how much courage (or plain stupidity for that matter) did the waitress have, to slip a note to a customer, Jackie’s husband, but waited until his wife was not at the table, making it obvious that she didn’t want to do it in front of his wife. This was a cowardly act. Still, in the midst of this feeling, Jackie glanced over at the words again to soak up each one.
Rattling And Shaking
Don’t Mess With Me
Jackie is known to those who know her well as being someone with a tough and hardy personality. As someone who had served in the U.S Army, it was necessary to be tough-skinned and not sweat the little stuff. Since she had had children, Jackie’s central commitment to the world was being a mother, so some could argue that she was even tougher with anything related to her children or family. You had best think twice before you cross the line with this woman!
Do Not Mess With Me
Heroes and Villains
All that being true about her resilience and toughness, and despite her tough demeanor, the fact that the villainous waitress had tried to slip her husband a note while she had just gone to the toilet for a moment, still had the ability to hurt Jackie at her core, leaving her emotional and on the verge of tears. What was it that set her off? Her husband was also somewhat astonished by her reaction that night.
Heroes And Villains
The Anti-Glamour of Motherhood
Anyone who is a parent will know that it is hardly a glamorous job. It involves a lot of sleepless nights, a mess all around the house, and even at times sacrificing your own wellbeing for that of another. Jackie did what she could to look good and feel OK in spite of this, but it wasn’t always easy to keep it up and her self-esteem took its knocks. Her husband had two important characteristics: charm and good looks.
The Anti Glamour Of Motherhood
Attention Aplenty For Her Husband
Jackie knew her husband was good looking, and she was used to the fact that many others felt so too. He was charming and often smiling, and some women misunderstood this to be flirting. The way the waitress was looking at him during the course of the night really gave Jackie a bad feeling. And the fact that the waitress was also in great shape while she just felt exhausted didn’t help her confidence in the situation.
Attention Aplenty For Her Husband
Third Eye Blind
It was evident that their relationship had changed a lot during the course of the last few years, especially since the last baby. With three children to look after, it was hard to expend too much physical and emotional energy towards their romantic relationship. This is sadly how many relationships progress. They had both gotten into routine life, and it was hard to keep the spark alive in the day-to-day chaos of three young children, work, etc.
Third Eye Blind
A Lingering Uncertainty
As with any marriage, at times Jackie felt uncertain about whether she had made the right decision, and whether it was still working. But often when you have children, you tend to postpone these kinds of conversations, and you don’t entertain the thoughts either, and sometimes you just don’t have the time that both need to put into the relationship even after all the years together. Tonight, she was feeling extra sensitive to all of this for some reason.
A Lingering Uncertainty
A Night Out For The Family
Tom and Jackie both understood that they were due a date night, but as a result of having their third baby so recently, it just wasn’t practical to do so on their own at this point. But family-night was also important as with daily routines and work, sometimes they overlooked the importance of spending some quality time together as a family. This is why the decision was made to hit up the local pizza spot, where everyone was guaranteed a good time.
A Night Out For The Family
The Adventures of a Newborn
When they arrived at the restaurant, their newborn baby was a little cranky and started to cry. Being an experienced mom already, Jackie knew what the problem was – her baby was hungry and needed feeding – so she started to do so at the table. A couple of people were looking, but sadly she was used to that while breastfeeding. She felt like the waitress was staring at their table too quite a lot, and felt like her husband was the eye-candy.
The Adventures Of A Newborn
Feeling Isolated
Mothers often comment about the copious amount of judgment that goes with doing your job as a parent, and particularly a mother. Something as natural as breastfeeding your child, which means adjusting one’s shirt slightly in public results in stares aplenty. Jackie had gotten used to the judgment as this was her third baby, but there was still an unease lingering in the back of her mind when she breastfed in public because of the stares.
Feeling Isolated
Standing Tall as a Mother
When it came to her children, Jackie knew she would do anything to protect them and to provide the best she could for them, and that meant feeding them when they needed it, even if she was in public. The stares didn’t rattle her, as her primal instinct was to feed her baby. The waitress had given her somewhat more of an icy stare, and she was somehow more unsettled by this more than anything else.
Standing Tall As A Mother
Mumbling Patrons
Jackie could handle the stares, as she was used to them. It had been a long time since she had stopped being bothered by the judgemental eyes or opinions of others, especially when it came to breastfeeding; one of the most natural things mothers can do. You certainly grow a thick skin when you become a mother. And while there were some other patrons who mumbled their disapproval and some uncomfortable looks, she didn’t stop feeding her baby, who was very hungry.
Mumbling Patrons
A State of Unease
But something about the stare of this waitress made Jackie experience a wave of emotion, entering her into a state of relative unease. Feeling tired and insecure in herself at that moment anyway, allowed for so many unfiltered thoughts to enter her mind; and in her head, she snapped at her: had this woman never seen someone breastfeeding before? This is such a natural process after all. A voice in her head told Jackie that something was about to happen.
A State Of Unease
The Moment of Truth
As her husband was asking the bill, Jackie got up to use the restroom, leaving the kids with their father. As she was walking away, the waitress approached the table where Jackie’s husband was with the bill, took her chance, scribbled something on the bill, and slipped it to Jackie’s husband. This action would not go on unnoticed, as Jackie caught this out of the corner of her eye just before she went into the restroom. What did that note say?
The Moment Of Truth
The Husband’s Response
As he read over the note, Jackie’s husband’s face was definitely telling a story. Little did he know that his wife had seen the entire interaction from the door of the bathroom, and she was disappointed and upset because of what she assumed had just taken place, and she couldn’t quite figure out what story her husband’s face was telling. She felt confused. She wondered if he would be honest with her about the interaction when she got back from the restroom.
The Husband’s Response
A Man’s Reaction
Jackie hoped that her husband would make the right call after receiving the note. As she kept watching, she saw him take out his phone. This really shocked her. Was he really about to take down the waitress’ number, as she assumed that was what was on the note that the waitress had slipped him so casually? Was he trying to do it so quickly that it would be done before she got back, so he could get rid of the note?
A Mans Reaction
Love At First Sight?
Jackie went into the bathroom, fuming, feeling confused and upset. Jackie pondered if it really was just that simple to step out on a marriage, whether the temptation was just too strong when a young woman offered herself to you, and you are tired with your three children and everything else in life. Perhaps it wasn’t even to do with this waitress, maybe he had fallen out of love with her. Had he grown tired of family life? She didn’t know what she was going to do.
Love At First Sight
Jealousy Rears Its Ugly Head
Jackie was starting to get angry about what she had just witnessed, especially as the woman had the audacity to do it in front of her children. It wasn’t bad enough that some kind of immorality was happening, but the fact that it was unfolding before innocent eyes was especially disgraceful. Mind racing, she wondered about exactly what had been scribbled down. All manner of heartbreaking realities began running through Jackie’s head as paranoia began taking hold.
Jealousy Rears Its Ugly Head
The Truth Must Out
Jackie assumed the worst, as her husband had taken out his phone after seeing the note. What was happening here? Why would he possibly need to check his phone? Jackie could not help but think that he was quickly saving her number into his contacts, probably as some random name, such as ‘Mike – Electrician.’ Armed with all the courage she could muster up, Jackie demanded to read the letter at once. When she did, she cried.
The Truth Must Out
Suspicious Circumstances
The waitress had actually offered some sort of discount on the bill for the family. Why was this happening? Was this all part of an elaborate scheme for the woman to steal her husband? Jackie’s fury and hurt suddenly turned into intense confusion. She felt like the room was about to begin spinning as what felt like an episode of The Twilight Zone was unfolding before her very eyes, with her as the main character.
Suspicious Circumstances
The Root of the Problem
The note had mentioned Jackie’s choice to breastfeed while in a public place. Jackie was no stranger to this being a problem to others, but she had never been confronted about it directly like this. She could deal with people staring at her, and even backhanded comments, but criticizing her in such an underhanded way somehow made all the other awkward moments seem inconsequential. There would definitely be consequences for this action, and Jackie was not going to take this slight sitting down.
The Root Of The Problem
Everything Was Too Much
All that Jackie could do was stand there with almost every negative emotion imaginable swirling around her head and heart. It didn’t take long for Jackie to start sobbing about the situation. It was all just too much to bear for one person. She re-read it to make sure she was getting the message correct. Each word finally strung together to make sense for Jackie. How could the waitress write something like this, and not even do so straight to her face?
Everything Was Too Much
Crying For Different Reasons
As the tears were streaming down her face, Jackie couldn’t believe that she had expected and assumed the worst. She never expected this kind of message from a stranger, nevertheless one that would end up inspiring her too. What she had regarded as some kind of dark conspiracy against her had suddenly transformed into an unusual form of support that any mother would be touched to receive. She tried to catch her breath and steady her heartbeat.
Crying For Different Reasons
Taking Things Online
Jackie was overcome with what had just happened, that she decided to share the story on social media. This is one place where mothers find support and can discuss pressing matters of the maternal kind. Knowing all too well that breastfeeding was a “hot topic” among mothers, especially the discussion of doing so in public, she braced herself for some shocking reactions. Regardless of where you stand on the issue of breastfeeding in public, the following conversation is amazing.
Taking Things Online
Painting a Picture
Taking a deep breath, Jackie started her post. “I have breastfed three children in countless places, both pleasant and unpleasant, discreetly and out in the open”. She continued, stating that she had gotten many stares over time, but tonight erased any negativity she had ever received. It was the kind of gesture that reminds you that there are normal people out there who do not have a twisted understanding of the simple act of feeding your children. What was happening here?
Painting A Picture
The Mysterious Waitress
Her name was Bodi. She was a long-serving waitress at the pizza place, and often took note of how mothers who chose to breastfeed in public were shamed, stared at, and judged. She had made a point to do something about this whenever she could. She was not the type of person to stand back and allow her customers to be made to feel uncomfortable in the restaurant that she tried her best to make a happy and accepting space.
The Mysterious Waitress
Jackie Shares The Story
“I ate at Fong’s for the first time tonight”, she continued her Facebook post. “Having a fussy baby, I nursed him for a while in the booth, and eventually left the table early as to not disrupt anyone at the restaurant”. She would then explain the note to her husband, which left her speechless and emotional. This was an incredibly unusual story that left everyone shocked when they saw it. As it turned out, many people would appreciate Jackie’s tale.
Jackie Shares The Story
In Black and White: The Note
While she wasn’t someone who had ever experienced it herself, she still wanted to stand up for people who chose to breastfeed their children at the dinner table. Why should anyone be made to feel like they are doing something deviant when they are just trying to feed their children? This would not happen in this waitress’s restaurant! Bodi had written something sweet on the bill. “I bought one of your pizzas. Please thank your wife for breastfeeding!!”.
In Black And White The Note
Expecting The Worst, Receiving The Best
Jackie had assumed that the waitress was trying to flirt with her husband and that he had taken her number down while she went to the bathroom. She felt almost embarrassed for having allowed her paranoid side to take hold, but was overjoyed with the result of everything. Everything had turned out for the better at the end of this incredible situation. She acknowledges her mistake and cites society at its cynical self for her thought process there.
Expecting The Worst Receiving The Best
Why He Took Out His Phone
Jackie’s husband actually just wanted to take a shot of the amazing moment himself, so he could show her and also remember it for times to come. There was nothing sly about his motion, he was just trying to preserve the wholesome situation. He too shared it on social media. Responses on Facebook were overwhelmingly positive, which started a series of similar notes from across the country. Bodi’s brave compassion had inspired a whole movement!
Why He Took Out His Phone
Spreading a Positive Message
In collaboration, Bodi and Jackie were starting an open conversation about public breastfeeding across the country. They could no longer stay silent on this issue, as so many other mothers were continually forced to endure animosity for breastfeeding publicly. It was time for people to openly discuss this issue in a safe and inclusive manner. This would be the ultimate victory of the note; that it encouraged open dialogue, vulnerability, and understanding from people of all walks of life.
Spreading A Positive Message
At The End of The Day
Bodi wanted to show that at the end of the day, there are others who support mothers like Jackie, who are simply doing their best. That not everyone will judge you when you do your motherly thing, but will actually be there to care for you. Breastfeeding can be uncomfortable for people to talk about, but it is clear that progress is being made internationally. Hopefully one day, mothers will be able to get on with their duties free of discrimination. Stories like this do make a difference.
At The End Of The Day
Positive Responses
It’s hard for mothers to get positive feedback about sensitive topics like breastfeeding in public. Even though the process is normal and natural, judgment always follows and it depends inappropriate. Bodi added to this: “I was thrilled Jackie did it!”. This showcased that we can be supportive and excited, showing compassion to mothers who are doing the best they can. At the very least, people could just mind their own business and allow families to take care of themselves.
Positive Responses
Staring From Joy!
Bodi admitted that she was starting a bit much at Jackie while she was breastfeeding, but this was only because she was so excited and happy that someone had the guts to do so. It can be hard to judge the sincerity of a look, especially when you are so used to being regarded with disapproval. They had formed a connection at that very moment without realizing it. Finally, the real reason why she was staring so intently; she was happy!
Staring From Joy
Stand Up For One, Stand Up For All
Jackie said that the experience was like receiving a pat on the back from the universe, especially as she had faced much adversity in the past. If you have ever struggled for a long time with expressing something that you feel is completely healthy and normal, then you can empathize with how Jackie felt to be finally accepted. Admitting she was stunned, she said she wished she had gone back into the restaurant to thank the waitress.
Stand Up For One Stand Up For All
A Feeling of Mutual Amazement
Jackie later went back to the restaurant to thank Bodi in person. This was the most appropriate thing to do, given how much confidence and self-assurance Bodi had imparted to Jackie. Explaining that this was not just because of the pat on the back, she said that she did so as she wanted to acknowledge the women should be supportive of each other wherever possible. It remains empowering, regardless of the circumstances, and the future seems bright.
A Feeling Of Mutual Amazement
The Family Bond United Again
Since the interaction at the restaurant, the family relationship has grown from strength to strength. With both parents sharing the stories on social media, they reconnected in a deeper way, mindful of what brought them together in the first place. A simple note on a bill had transformed an entire family and reignited the passion between husband and wife. It is amazing how much we can do for each other with the smallest of efforts.
The Family Bond United Again
The Journey Continues
This goes to show that a small act of kindness can go a tremendously long way, sometimes even in ways that we don’t expect it. If a tiny act of compassion can spark an international conversation online, who knows what our actions of today can bring for tomorrow. Be mindful of how you speak or interact with people. You never know how much of an impact the most seemingly small opinion or action can have on a person or family.
The Journey Continues