Thanks for NIP!!

An Iowa woman received quite a surprise on her thirty-third birthday. Jackie Johnson-Smith was having pizza with her family at Fongs in DesMoines when her baby got fussy. She began to nurse him with a cover, but noticed that waitress Bodi Kenney was glancing her way.

Like many mothers, Jackie has received critical stares for nursing in public (NIP). Thinking that perhaps the waitress was judging her, Jackie headed out to the car while her husband paid the bill.  In an interview with radio station KCCI she said, "I instantly felt panicked. Like, 'What is she thinking? Is she not wanting me to do it here?'"

So when her husband came out to the car with the receipt shown to the left in his hand, Jackie couldn't believe her eyes! Bodi had written, "I bought one of your pizzas. Please thank your wife for breastfeeding!!"

In her thank you note which she sent to Bodi's husband via Facebook (and subsequently  shared with Michele Zipp at The Stir,) Jackie expressed her feelings this way:

Jackie Johnson-Smith with her 3 children.

I didn't come from a breastfeeding family. I myself was formula fed as was common place through my family. My breastfeeding journey has been deeply personal with endless woes and triumphs. Your wife touched me in a place in my heart that is so tender, so raw and rooted and so very proud. Unbeknownst to her at the time it was also my 33rd birthday. I felt an amazing sense of belonging and optimism that day because of your wife's beautiful sentiment that is still carrying me days later.

Bringing it to Huntsville

This story really touched me. I have often tried to encourage moms I see nursing in public, but my fear has always been making a mom feel uncomfortable, so sometimes I just smile and say nothing. I decided after reading this that I need to do more! So I have created a special thank you note that I am keeping in my purse. It was inspired by the note Marley posted in her last blog. I have modified it a bit to make it my own, and added a $10 gift certificate to A Nurturing Moment as a special way to honor any mom I happen to see NIP.

So wherever I go, I am keeping my eyes open. I'm looking for that mom nursing discreetly in a sling. I'm watching for the mom sitting with a cover in the restaurant booth. I'm searching for moms Nursing In Public so I can hand them our special new note to say THANK YOU!

Maybe if we all look for moms who NIP and take time to say THANK YOU, we will make NIP a commonplace site right here in the Tennessee Valley!