I recently left my job at a dispensary in Colorado after working there for 2.5 years. I had a good relationship with my manager and HR, especially during my pregnancy, and they were supportive throughout. Before I went on maternity leave, we agreed I would return to work two days a week. However, after taking a four-month maternity leave, I found myself scheduled for only three shifts in my first month back. Despite my repeated requests for more hours, I only worked 12 shifts over the next three months. Frustrated, I decided to become a stay-at-home mom and gave a three-week notice, leaving on good terms. My manager even said I was a great employee and would be considered for rehire, promising a good reference. Fast forward six months, I started job hunting and reached out to my former employer to see if they had any openings, but they didn’t. When I began applying elsewhere, I learned that my former manager was giving negative references, claiming I had attendance issues. This was shocking because I never received any attendance points while employed there. I was only late once due to a train delay, and I even worked through illness. The manager failed to mention that my attendance issues were due to my son being born early. Now, I've lost job opportunities because of her comments, including an interview at another dispensary where the CEOs are friends. I'm worried about my future in this industry and feel stuck. I don't understand why they are sabotaging my job search after I left on good terms. I'm seeking advice on how to handle this situation and prevent it from affecting my family's livelihood.