Kristen Pence
Google
As someone who values kindness and community, I was genuinely hurt by what I experienced at The Inn today — enough to write this.
This morning, two mom friends and I — each with our babies — stopped by The Market for coffee. With no open seating in the café, we stepped into the adjoining lobby to sit for a few quiet moments. This space had always felt like a safe, welcoming spot for us — a joyful place to meet outside our homes, grab a quick coffee, and connect in the midst of new motherhood.
It had been a meeting ground for us on many winter days during the newborn stage — when getting out of the house, even just for a bit, was essential for our mental well-being. It was a place that always brought comfort and warmth.
But today, that sense of comfort was shattered. A manager, Christina Nicholson, approached us and said, without any warmth or basic courtesy: “This is extremely inappropriate. This isn’t your living room.” Her tone was harsh, dismissive, and completely uncalled for. One of us was visibly shaken, and all of us left feeling humiliated and discouraged.
Had we been kindly asked to move, we would’ve understood — no explanation needed. But instead of approaching the situation with grace or empathy, Christina chose to speak to us in a way that made us feel small and unwelcome in a place that presents itself as community-oriented.
When we expressed how her words had impacted us, the response was a flat, insincere: “Hope I didn’t ruin your day.” But by then, the damage was done. Watching us pack up our babies and walk out into one of the most humid days of the year — without a hint of apology or compassion — was incredibly disheartening.
If you’re a mama with a babe, looking to grab a quick coffee or snack between nap routines — which, if you’ve been there, you know is rarely more than a 45-minute window — this is not the place. The lack of kindness we experienced today made that abundantly clear.
We were simply three tired moms trying to find a moment of calm. Christina, you had the opportunity to lead with kindness. You chose not to. And for that, I truly hope The Inn reflects on the kind of culture and leadership it wants to stand behind.