It’s always a gamble when you take your baby out to eat. While some of us may have been blessed with the most well behaved child around, but for everyone else, it’s tough to know whether a little baby is going to sleep through the entire meal, or have a complete meltdown before we can even get a bite of our food.
New mom Isabelle Ames had taken her 10-month-old baby Charlotte out to breakfast on her own, hoping for an easy morning. “ I was doing my usual thing- trying to wrangle a very active ten month old while trying get at least one sip of my coffee.” she wrote.
But, little Charlotte got hungry, as babies often do. “I started breastfeeding her. It went okay, but lately it's been extra difficult,” Isabelle recalled. “She has a total of 6 teeth now, and we have both been sick for a week.”
Breastfeeding in public can be a source of conflict for people, but when you have a hungry, teething baby on your hands, things are tough enough without scrutiny from strangers.
As Isabelle continued to balance a busy breakfast with a hungry baby, she noticed her waitress coming towards the table.
But instead of getting reprimanded or judged by the woman, she received a pancake instead!
“My server came over and said, "this pancake is from me, to you. Here is a little note to explain why." She then began to tell me how "us mommas gotta look out for each other".”
Isabelle’s server had noticed her multitasking at the table, and couldn’t help but share a little love. Not only did she give the breastfeeding mama a pancake on the house, she also left a sweet note that read: “Thank you for breastfeeding here! Much love and respect!!!”
Isabelle said she was brought to “instant tears” by the server’s (whose name is Erica) kindness.
She took to her Instagram account to share the incredible moment, and shed some light on her struggles with breastfeeding, which is why the encounter meant even more to her.
“Breastfeeding is one of the hardest things I have done, next to labor. No one prepares you for it, but everyone expects you to be excellent at it. You feel like a complete failure when it doesn't happen right away.”
Every mom goes through their own struggles as they become a parent, and for Isabelle, having another mom reach out to her and support her breastfeeding couldn’t have come at a better time.
“For a complete stranger to see me, and say "thank you". I felt like she was there on my journey the whole time, and she knew how many times I wanted to give up but I didn't. So often, before I feed Charlotte in public I get a twinge of fear.”
Not only was Isabelle dealing with her own insecurities regarding breastfeeding her child, but the worry of others “harassing” or “yelling at” her even doubled her worries.
Thanks to Erica, all of those doubts and fears faded away. It’s amazing to see how one small gesture of kindness can completely turn someone’s day around.
“Today I got love, respect and a free pancake.” How awesome is that?!
