Breastfeeding Mother Asked to Leave Olive Garden
In Michigan City, Indiana, the mother of a breastfed 11-month-old was asked to leave an Olive Garden restaurant after she refused to give her baby lunch in the bathroom.
Margaret Naas said her daughter Katie wanted to eat shortly after she’d ordered. She said she pulled half of her halter top down to feed the baby.
Soon, the manager (a woman) cited other customer complaints and offered her use of the restroom to feed her child.
A lactation consultant from the nearby WIC, Tammy Pray, who contacted the media regarding this situation, told The News-Dispatch,
That’s disgusting! Who would want to feed their children in a bathroom?
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So instead of feeding her child where people defecate, Naas left. The restaurant boxed up her lunch so she could take it to go.
Naas admitted that she didn’t bring a blanket with her. It was 80 degrees outside, and she didn’t think of it.
Mark Jaronski, spokesperson for the corporation which owns Olive Garden, said that the issue wasn’t with Naas feeding her child, but her lack of modesty. He said that the report to him was that she had taken down her halter top and was completely exposed.
Several guests asked the manager to speak to her. We had guests who had concerns about modesty and we have to be responsive to the comfort level of all our guests.
But Naas rightly argues that he wasn’t at the restaurant, so he wouldn’t know. While she says that the manager was polite, she was upset about the situation.
My baby just wanted to nurse.
Presumably the Olive Garden manager then also had conversations with teens with muffin tops and coin slots, women who show too much cleavage, men with sweating problems, and people with poor table manners. And we can only hope that the manager also asked interracial couples to eat their lunch in the bathroom so as not to offend their racist patrons. Oh wait–no.
The News-Dispatch reports that the Indiana law regarding public breastfeeding is as follows:
Not withstanding any other law, a woman may breast feed her child anywhere the woman has a right to be.
If you’d like to know your state laws, click here. Don’t forget your “Right to Breastfeed” card!
Image: daquella manera on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.
Jesus effing ef. Are you effing kidding me?!?!? What is with all this horseshit this week! All this proves is that we are NOWHERE in terms of the right to breastfeed in public. It’s only as good as the red tape it’s written on.
Personally, I just don’t understand why the mother didn’t stand her ground. I know this can be humiliating, but anytime I breastfeed in public, I am just half-waiting for someone to say something to me so I can shove IL state law up their tight ass. The minute I pull down my halter top, I’m looking around to see who could possibly fuck with me. I would quietly tell the manager that they are violating state law, and ask if they’d like to have the police come on down to the restaurant and explain my rights to them.
But then again, IL has an enforcement provision, and I can sue the franchise out from under those dickwads. Oh, nothing makes me wanna swear like some anti-breastfeeding jagweeds.
While it sounds like crap, we weren’t there and don’t really know how much she had exposed. I realize that she was just feeding her baby, yeah yeah…but as bf’ing moms we have to be aware of the people around us and respect them, just as we expect those same people to do to us. Taking down the top part of a halter top makes it seem like her entire chest was exposed…in any other situation, it would be public indecency.
I’m just not getting the vibe that the OG in question are “anti-breastfeeding jagweeds”…I just think they had a restaurant to run and people to please. They could either please one woman, or a few tables worth of people who were uncomfortable with her level of exposure.
Once again, I realize that it is within our rights as women to breastfeed our children anywhere/anytime but we do have to understand that there are other people around us who may not feel comfortable with it.
That being said, I bf my son whenever/wherever and haven’t ever had a problem. I use a cover for the most part, but have had times when I’ve forgotten it and instead of waiting until we were in a private place, just did what needed to be done. I was self conscious with my first child, but this time around I figure, it is nature and if you watch - you’re going to catch a glimpse of post baby belly…and good luck with that.
Breastfeeding isn’t “any other situation” and most state laws specifically exclude it from “indecency” regardless of how much chest she’s exposing.
When I’m wearing a tank top, I pull it down. If you’re eating next to me, I dare you… no, I double-dog-dare you to say something to me about it.
MY right to do that is protected. YOUR right to be offended is not. YOU can leave. Or better yet, mind your own business.
Militant much? Way to completely miss the entire point of my post.
The fact that breastfeeding in public is protected is not to ensure that you are able to just take your tits out wherever you damn well please. The spirit of the law is so that women are not prohibited from breastfeeding in public.
Here is an analogy that I’m sure you’re going to hate. Smoking is not prohibited in public, but you would still be a fucking asshole to go up to a baby and blow it in their face. God forbid you say something to that person though, because it’s protected! That is why smoking is being outlawed in so many places, because while it should be a personal right, so many people find it offensive.
I just don’t understand why breastfeeders can’t be respectful - why we, as breastfeeders, have to be either the meek one sitting in the bathroom or the lactivist, bitching up one end of the street and down the other until it is our right to go naked into a restaurant (because it would be more comfortable). Why can’t we, as humans, just co-exist with everyone. We expect everyone to be PC about everything. Homosexual rights, race rights, etc…but the minute that it is our self-serving issue, it is no-holds barred, bare your tits if you have ‘em and fuck anyone who says otherwise.
Grow up.
Lindsay,
Your analogy is just made of fail because, as I hope you understand, smoking is hazardous to MY health. Catching a sideways glance of someone’s breast may offend my delicate sensibilities, but it is in no way HARMFUL to anyone. Period.
Breastfeeders will probably be respectful when you quit trying to impose your morals and hang ups on them. When women can just breastfeed without getting harassed for it, I’m sure then most of the lactivist will shut up.
Until them, agree with their extremist tactics or not, they are unfortunately necessary. Who is going to stand up for the random, perfectly nice, respectable lady who forgot her hooter hider at home one day and then get’s kicked out of Target? Because THATS what we’re talking about here. These instances DO NOT stem from women slamming their tits on the table in front of everyone and screaming “LOOOOOK AT MAH BOOOOOOOOOBZ!!!!!!!!!”. These issues stem from women like you or me just trying to live their life and take care of their kids and some jerk, who can’t just be human and co-exist, has to come in and make their life harder by stepping on their legal rights.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again……..these amazon she-beasts who are running around flailing their DDDD bare breasts at everyone don’t exist. Look at this objectively. These stories are about normal women who probably aren’t trying to do anything other than feed their kid. Why don’t YOU just co-exist and turn your damn head? Why don’t YOU support the simple right a woman has to feed her damn kid? Why is THAT so hard?
Speaking of homosexual rights, if a gay couple has the right to be that Olive Garden restaurant but some patrons are offended and complain because they’re being “in your face” about it (holding hands, ewww), should that couple “respect” the other patron’s opinions and in an effort to ‘coexist’ with them, happily get up and leave?
Would they be too “no-holds barred” about their “self-serving issue” if they insisted that they should be allowed to stay?
Going further back in history, should Rosa Parks have been more “respectful” of the other bus patrons and not offended them so much with her “in your face” approach to her “self-serving issue”?
What about the suffragettes? Those whiny bitches, always complaining and protesting and getting themselves arrested and being all “in-your-face” about their “self-serving issue”. Why couldn’t they just “respect” the men in charge and just peacefully “coexist”?
Oh yeah, that whole “rights” thing. Hmm.
And, one more thing Lindsay…
No, I do not have to automatically put the comfort level of a stranger above me taking care of my kid. I do not have to respect strangers. I’m sorry, but I’ve gotten dirty looks for changing my kids diaper in the bathroom. I’ve gotten dirty looks for letting my 1 year old be loud in a restaurant (try telling a 1 year old to be quiet)…..if you are a mom, you know what I mean. People will be offended and annoyed by any number of parenting choices I make. That’s life. That’s why God gave us legs to walk away and necks that turn our heads. No parent should have to live in constant fear that she may offend someone with her parenting choices. It’s a fact, it’s gonna happen.
well breastfeeding and smoking only have one thing in common…and that is that they are both a serious public health concern. It ends there.
The reason that smoking in public places is prohibited is because it actually effects the health and well being of the people around them. Breastfeeding harms no one and violates no individual rights. There is no comparison there.
What I don’t understand is what the heck is so disrespectful about breastfeeding anyways? I am not infringing on anyone or bothering anyone by feeding my baby. So why are WE the ones who have to be ‘respectful’ of the hang ups of others…when the real disrespect is those who infringe their personal beliefs and body issues on innocent Mums and babies. Why can’t OTHERS coexist with the reality that tits are for tots and not for selling cars and beer? Why should others dictate that which has nothing to do with them?
Grow up? I say get a clue!
As far as NIP goes, I don’t know ANY breastfeeding woman who wants to do anything other than feed her child and make their child happy. Not a single one desires to show any more skin than necessary. I used a cover once and it was the most conspicuous thing so stopped after that. Not one single person ever said anything negative to me. Once my cousin’s wife asked if my daughter was sleeping and I said, no, she’s nursing.
Oh my god, the ignorance is palpable.
FIRST of all, smoking in public places IS ILLEGAL in many states now. It is a violation of law to smoke in ANY building other than a residence, or within 15 ft of a building, and illegal to smoke outdoors in parks or on public and government property in our great state of IL, as well as California, New York, and many others.
So, not only is it UNLAWFUL to smoke in public, there is NOT any protection for those who smoke in public, so yeah, your analogy is just stupid.
SECOND of all, I did not read anywhere that this woman shoved her tits in somebody’s face OR squirted milk on anywone - which is the only thing that would compare to your ridiculous “blowing smoke” analogy.
I rest my case.