According to 2019 figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 70% of working mothers in the United States have children under 18. Melody Blackwell is one of the many tireless moms.
The chiropractic assistant from Tennessee took a three-month maternity leave after giving birth to her daughter Nora-Jo, now 5 months old. Back at work, Melody is allowed to bring her baby to work with her every Monday. She works from home most days, but comes in when her coworkers need some extra assistance.
“She’ll just sit up front with me while I do my work,” Melody told CBS affiliate WTVF. “Then I’ll usually either hold her when she sleeps or I have a carrier thing I put her in.”
Not only does having Nora-Jo at work cut back on hefty child care expenses, but it also allows Melody to continue breastfeeding her baby with convenience and ease.
Dr. Elizabeth Baker, Melody’s boss at Maryland Farms Chiropractic, noticed Melody taking a phone call, writing down some notes, and cradling Nora-Jo simultaneously. Dr. Baker was so touched by the visual that she quickly snapped a photo and posted it to Facebook. “She makes it look easy,” the caption stated.
The photo struck a nerve with working moms across the country and has been shared hundreds of times. Readers are praising those more flexible bosses like Dr. Baker and calling on more managers to make changes in the workplace.