Jackie and her husband were facing some post-childbirth difficulty in their marriage. After all, it is their third child. The parents decided to take their three children for a calming family dinner. The thought of what their waitress would do was unimaginable…
Behind Her Back
Jackie slipped off and returned from the ladies’ room fuming. Their waitress had left a surprise that made Jackie’s heart stop and put her in an absolute frenzy.
Behind Her Back
The Tears Came
She was sensitive enough after having recently giving birth and definitely did not want to make a large fuss. However, she could not sit back and simply watch what had just occurred- she pleaded with her husband to see what the waitress had dropped off. Tears began to stream down her face as she progressed through the letter.
The Tears Came
Motherhood
Jackie Johnson-Smith did not think she would face any experience harder than that of becoming a mother. However, the occurrence of events at her common pizza house in Des Moines, Iowa, was enough to scar her for life.
Motherhood
Stirring Up Drama
The waitress had written Jackie’s husband a note and passed it to him at the first moment she got when Jackie wasn’t present. The contents of the letter were shocking. This waitress was definitely not simply going to be a waitress.
Stirring Up Drama
Not Someone To Mess With
As an ex U.S militant Jackie is not the wife or mom to mess with. She was blessed with a strong personality and let nobody get in her way. Besides the army, Jackie was a fully devoted mother and wife.
Not Someone To Mess With
A War Hero
A strong woman, ex-military with a tightly build character was brought to tears by a waitress. Jackie’s husband was too taken aback by her response. How could something such as this have made such a strong woman cry?
A War Hero
Not So Glamorous
Her husband was undoubtedly a rather charming and handsome man. Jackie tried her best to look good, but the challenges of being a mom make fabulosity rather challenging. Being a mom is already super challenging- 3 kids and yourself to look after is definitely a handful to handle.
Not So Glamorous
He Got A Lot Of Attention
She undoubtedly found her husband easy on the eyes and knew women glanced here and there too. Jackie never really let it get to her after all, he was hers. Something about this waitress made Jackie feel extremely uneasy.
He Got A Lot Of Attention
A Blind Eye
She knew that marriage and parenthood had taken a toll on their marriage over the years. They had survived 3 healthy children and were still keeping it together. However, they both didn’t have the brainpower nor the active abilities they once had.
A Blind Eye
Feeling Uncertain
Jackie often felt a bit vulnerable and unsure within her relationship, the thought of confronting it was lingering. She often dismissed those ideas but after these events, she felt confident in her reasoning behind feeling insecure.
Feeling Uncertain
Bringing The Family Out
The couple were aware they needed to work on the sparkle and in need of some one-on-one time. Feeling it was too soon after their newborn, they resorted to a family pizza night. Date night with a twist.
Bringing The Family Out
Life With A Newborn
It wasn’t soon after arrival that the baby started crying. Jackie unashamed fed the newborn publicly although, she could feel the stares of individuals in the restaurant. However, not the stare of the waitress at her spouse.
Life With A Newborn
Needed Support
Becoming a mom is a challenging role- people always have something to say about anything and everything you do. The feeling of public scrutiny when breastfeeding is a well-known phenomenon. A feeling Jackie knows all too well.
Needed Support
A Proud Momma
She did not let the scrutiny affect her view on breastfeeding and never let the staring affect her negatively. The way this waitress was staring really did not sit well with Jackie, she felt so uncomfortable and had to act on it.
A Proud Momma
All Eyes On Them
After having three children the reaction upon breastfeeding was one she felt familiar with this, she did what she had to and ignored the stares. The same went with the whispers she simply got on with what she was doing.
All Eyes On Them
Feeling Uneasy
Once she realized the depth of the waitress’s stare immediately felt uncomfortable. Maybe this young woman had never seen breastfeeding before. Jackie felt the young woman might act and wondered what she would do.
Feeling Uneasy
The Letter
Jackie’s husband had asked for the cheque just as she slipped off to the restroom. The waitress ran straight to their table and gave the small letter to Jackie’s handsome husband. Almost as if she had been on standby for the first free moment.
The Letter
A New Feeling
Her husband had reacted simultaneously as he opened the note. He didn’t think his wife would be watching him and his expression. This caused Jackie to feel unlike she ever had. Her emotions were erupting.
A New Feeling
How Did He React?
Her initial thinking was that he would throw the note away as soon as possible. Instead, he took out his phone! Had the waitress just slipped her husband her phone number? Jackie was in absolute awe of the situation.
How Did He React?
Had He Fallen In Love?
Jackie’s mind skipped straight to conclusions. She thought maybe her husband was over their life of marriage and kids. She thought maybe he no longer felt any passion for her. She felt her heart wrench.
Had He Fallen In Love?
Her Jealousy Was Showing
She was immersed in rage as she watched the waitress swoon over her beloved husband. She was infuriated and her head was racing, she had to know what exactly was on the note and she had to know now.
Her Jealousy Was Showing
Demanding Answers
She was even more shocked that her husband had blatantly taken his phone out instantly after receiving the little letter. She stormed over there and requested he give her the note, followed by instantly crying.
Demanding Answers
Everything Was Suspicious
The young waitress had presented a deduction on their bill. She was completely confused as to why this waitress would blatantly flirt with a married man in front of his wife. She had no clue what the end game was.
Everything Was Suspicious
The Center Of Problems
The letter discussed Jackie’s breastfeeding choices and the matter if her doing so publicly. She had succumbed to the scrutiny and stares but had never had anyone actually confront her actions before. The letter was a first.
The Center Of Problems
Getting Emotional
Jackie couldn’t contain herself nor her emotions and so began the outpour of tears. She could not comprehend what she was seeing. She could not believe this young lady had written such a thing. She was shocked, amazed and at a loss for words.
Getting Emotional
The Letter That Made Her Cry
Jackie filled with so much emotion, crying profusely in confusion- was completely taken aback by such words. The waitress had actually left Jackie feeling encouraged. This young lady was almost somewhat inspirational. Jackie never would have thought such a thing.
The Letter That Made Her Cry
Her Note Went Viral
Jackie felt compelled to let social media know what had just happened. She felt a sense of urgency and relatability to what the waitress had said. Uploading the proceedings to social media she knew that the opinions on public breastfeeding had become of topical nature. Jackie was still taken aback by the feedback she received on Facebook.
Her Note Went Viral
The Note Itself
She started her post by encapsulating her experience over the years, “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, the young waitress, had been waitressing for a decent period of time. In her experiences as a waitress, she began to see just how judged and scrutinized mothers who breastfed in public were. As a woman, she clearly felt connected to the matter.
An Experienced Waitress
Sharing Her Emotions
Jackie wrote in her post: “…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,” What did the letter say?
Sharing Her Emotions
What Did The Note Say?
The waitress did not have children of her own but still felt connected to the cause. She did not like how people observed and scrutinized Jackie. Thus, she decided to write this 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 takes full responsibility for overreacting and jumping to conclusions. She thought her husband was saving the young woman’s phone number and assumed the worst out of the situation. Post-birth hormones and a strained marriage left her emotions heightened.
She Expected The Worst
Went Public
Thankfully, her husband simply aimed at snapping the incredible letter which his wife would soon do the same. The waitress, Bodi started a viral trend as people copied the idea. Jackie’s Facebook following reacted with immense support towards both her and Bodi.
Went Public
Raising Breastfeeding Awareness
Thanks to Bodi and Jackie the notion of breastfeeding was on the rise. Moms around the world were tired of being judged and feeling uncomfortable for simply performing a natural act. People were talking and this time in a good way.
Raising Breastfeeding Awareness
All She Wants
Bodi represented an idea and stance of support for an uncomfortable topic. Jackie simply aims for the topic to develop and aims for it to eventually be seen as the natural and human act it is. A natural mother’s way of providing.
All She Wants
Amazing Responses
Bodi expressed her excitement towards seeing Jackie publicly breastfeed, “I noticed [Jackie] nursing and was so thrilled she did it!” It is rather uncommon for a mother to get reassuring reactions to breastfeeding. Although, a natural act it is not usually publicly praised.
Amazing Responses
Deeply Staring
Bodi had an astounding explanation for 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 overly enthusiastic about a woman finally having the confidence many did not.
Deeply Staring
Sticking Up For Other Women
Jackie discussed her reasoning for feeling so emotional, “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
“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.” Jackie later returned to the pizza spot to tell Bodi.
Amazing Feeling
Unbreakable Family
This specific event between the family and Bodi truly strengthened Jackie and her husband’s relationship. Their relationship was at its peak and Jackie was simultaneously disrupting the notion of public breastfeeding on social media.
Unbreakable Family
A Long Way
Thanks to social media Bodi’s one act of kindness caused a ripple effect globally. Nevermind the incredible effect it had on Jackie and her family. One note Bodi never thought would have such a contagious effect.
A Long Way