Waffle House employee works in the kitchen while carrying a baby, sparks debate

A video of an employee at Waffle House carrying a baby while working in the kitchen has divided the internet. The video was posted on TikTok by @kizzle360 with the caption: “Aint’ know why she got her baby in here smh.” The 12-second video showed a woman carrying a baby on her hip while single-handedly preparing food in the kitchen. The video has already been viewed more than 4m times and garnered 715k likes and 37k comments. The tone of the caption suggested the person who posted the video was trying to shame the woman for working in the kitchen while holding a child, reported DailyDot. 

Some said she shouldn't be working in the kitchen while holding a baby. "Health department will close them down. That baby could be burned," wrote one person. Many rallied to support her in the comments. They said no one had any idea what her circumstances were and hence were not in a position to judge. Some speculated why she was working with a child in her arms, but many said she probably had no choice but to turn up at work with a baby. One person wrote, “So you telling me, she had to hold her baby at 25-30 pounds AND do her job and y’all have the audacity to shame her… she doing what she has to." Many seemed to agree and the comments were also filled with parents who live through similar times or children who watched their parents grind to put food on the table. "We as parents make it work the best way we can. If she was calling in due to no sitter y'all would be calling her lazy. Hats off to you Mom," one person wrote.

Many called out the TikToker saying they had no right to question her without any context or information. One person commented, "Only thing I see wrong is the person who posted this and shaming a mother. You don't know her situation. I see a strong queen!!!" Another person added, "Hella extra respect for her. You never know somebody's situation."

Some lauded the company for accommodating the child at the workplace. Many pointed out that it was a case of the system failing its people. One person said this video of an example of why "we need to get free childcare." Another user wrote, "Not everyone can afford child care and can't afford to not work. Welcome to America." TikToker @tiffanyclark842 commented on the video that she was the person featured in the video holding the child. She said the baby was actually her niece and the only choice she had was to let the baby be taken away by social services or take the baby herself. "This is me in the video. She is my niece. It was either I take her or DSS (Departments of Social Services) was, so she was brought to me at 2.30 am and I was already at work so I had to," wrote @tiffanyclark842, before adding that her "big boss" had found the video through TikTok and that she was waiting to find out if she would face any consequences as a result.

While many Americans may believe that a parent should be around their child, financial circumstances don't really allow for that kind of privilege to but a few. According to The New York Times, in two-thirds of American families, both parents work. Those who view women as primary caregivers, ignore the reality that 40% of women are their families’ breadwinners. It was also found that 93 percent of fathers and 72 percent of mothers with children at home are in the labor force, which many believe calls for free childcare.

Democrats have been pushing for free child care but it appears a long way from becoming a reality. President Joe Biden released his American Families Plan earlier this year proposing that the U.S. provide universal preschool and ensure no household spend more than 7% of its income on child care, reported CNBC. Biden's plan also proposes to allocate $225 billion to help families with children up to age 13 pay for child care. “President Biden has made it clear: The days of our nation failing to support and invest in the future of our babies and toddlers are over,” said Myra Jones-Taylor, chief policy officer for nonprofit Zero to Three.