Working hard and providing for your kids is something that’s on pretty much every parent‘s mind. And while it’s true that any parent would do anything for their kids, there are some things they probably shouldn’t have to do.
This photo of a woman at a gas station began circulating online a while back.
It was posted to Facebook, wherein a gas station attendant (whose face and identity have been blurred out) checks a customer out, all while holding and bottle feeding a baby.
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The caption on the original post commends the cashier.
“Some may scrunch their faces in meaningless annoyance, some may judge. But me, being the mom that I am, saw hope, inspiration and motivation. But more than anything, a LOVING mom willing to sacrifice,” it reads.
“I politely asked if she minded me taking her picture for motivation to other moms. She deserves recognition.”
The Facebook post was clearly framing this exchange as something other mothers should look up to.
But not everyone shared the original poster’s sentiments.
The post was recently reshared on the Reddit sub r/antiwork by user hypochloritesprite, who captioned their post, “This post is circulating around on Facebook and it makes me sick to my stomach.”
The comments were flooded with people who were horrified by the post.
“Nothing says motivational like framing the failures of capitalism as a feel good story. Hope the employee doesn’t get in trouble as this spreads,” wrote one Redditor.
It looks like this is an old post, though.
The user who shared the post to the sub clarified a few things, saying, “The post is from 2019. Doesn’t seem she got in trouble, but that baby is actually her grand daughter.” This doesn’t make matters any better, to be honest.
The fact remains, that baby should not have needed to be there in the first place.
“I’m thinking about how dirty the average gas station/convenience store is, and that baby is too young to have received all of their vaccines to protect them,” writes Reddit user Hectorguimard.
And they have a good point; gas stations and convenience stores a pretty gross. Definitely no place for a baby.
It all comes down to childcare, though.
If this cashier (or the baby’s parent) had proper access to childcare, she wouldn’t have to bring her grandchild to work with her. If parents got a proper amount of parental leave, an infant that young would be safe at home.
Reddit user clarissaswallowsall comments, “I worked at a doctors office and had to bring my baby to work with me. I was paid $12hr and it didn’t cover childcare.”
At the end of the day, this photo is far more terrifying than it is inspiring.
Whether this is a post from years ago, or something that happened yesterday, the fact that anyone had to do this at all is incredibly upsetting.
h/t: UpWorthy
