A working mom was kicked out of a trade show for bringing her 10-day old baby. Kristin Osborne was asked to leave Chicago's National Restaurant Association's exhibition, which does not allow children for safety reasons.
According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, the 31-year-old winery owner left her two older children at home, but had hoped the organizers would make an exception for the sleeping infant strapped to her chest who required hourly feeding.
"As a working mother—and I have been working since I had my first one—this is a big surprise to me," said Osborne. " ... I understand not having kids run around or not having strollers—that I understand. A tiny breast-feeding infant, I hope would be an exception to this rule."
Organizers stood by their decision to exclude all children under 16 from the event, which involves knives and open cooking flames.
So how does that regulation sit with the Illinois state law that grants women the right to breastfeed anywhere?
Safety clearly comes first, yet Osborne feels robbed of a valuable career opportunity.
Spill it. Was the trade show right to kick out this working mom?
Think double standards no longer exist for working women? Think again.
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