Jackie Johnson-Smith was having a family meal at a pizza shop in Iowa when she received an unexpected act of generosity.
She shared on Facebook, along with a photo of the dinner bill, that she has breastfed three children. Throughout this journey, she has nursed them in a variety of environments, both intimate and public, during moments of joy and difficulty. Despite having faced numerous glances and stares, the experience of the evening alleviated all that negativity. This was her inaugural visit to Fongs, where she breastfed her fussy infant in the booth for a period before deciding to leave the table early to minimize any disruption to the dining atmosphere.
My partner was handed this receipt by the waitress. I was overwhelmed with emotion and found myself at a loss for words. The experience was truly wonderful, despite my belief that I do not merit recognition for providing nourishment to my child. The message ended with the sentiment, “It is remarkable how women can uplift one another and foster feelings of support.”
Waitress Bodi Kinney wrote the statement, saying to Des Moines’ KCCI 8 News, “We need to come together and support each other when it comes to nursing our children.”
