Though plenty of mothers have stepped forward with stories of being shamed for breastfeeding in public, one Iowa woman is now sharing an incredibly *great * experience she recently had in a local pizza parlor.
Jackie Johnson-Smith was eating at a restaurant called Fongs with her family when she says her baby son started to get fussy. Having already breastfed two other kids in public and experienced the "many looks and stares" that it comes with, Johnson-Smith tried her best to be discreet. And you'll never believe what happened next …
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"I nursed him for a while in the booth and eventually left the table early so as to not disrupt the restaurant," she said in a Facebook post, written earlier this week.
But apparently, her efforts did not go unnoticed. Later on, the waitress serving the family handed Johnson-Smith's husband a receipt with the above note. "I bought one of your pizzas," the note reads. "Please thank your wife for breastfeeding!" Wow … amazing right?
Upon seeing the receipt, Johnson-Smith posted a picture of it to social media, where it has been shared over 2,000 times. Under the photo, she wrote a caption explaining the entire story and sharing her reaction. "I was speechless and emotional," she said in the post. "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."
I agree! How can anyone not love this story?! First of all, it's inspiring to see women supporting other women. But it also reminds us how powerful one seemingly simple gesture can be. With that act, that waitress sent an important and meaningful message not just to Johnson-Smith, but to moms all over the world. I applaud her for her actions and Johnson-Smith for being thoughtful enough to share it with the world. Hopefully, we will only continue to see more of this type of encouragement for breastfeeding mothers–which, quite frankly, is something that's long overdue.
Image via Facebook
