Waitress said 'No' when mom struggling with screaming toddler asked for a to-go box — the server had a better idea
Dealing with toddlers’ tantrums in public places is something no parent wants to do. The last thing they want is to have to trouble outsiders and strangers or leave the place due to fussy tantrums. Courtney Pedigo, a single mom, was worried when her then 18-month-old, Harlynn, refused to sit quietly at Olive Garden, per TODAY. Instead of enjoying a hot meal, she was forced to change plans and ask the server, Nianni Rudder, to pack it instead. However, Rudder refused and offered another solution instead.
Katherine Dahlsgaard, PhD, ABPP and clinical director of the Anxiety Behaviors Clinic and the Picky Eaters Clinic in CHOP’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, shared her insight on fussy kids and picky eaters, per Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She mentioned that, although the habit is normal, it does worry parents a great deal. “It is heartbreaking for parents when their kids don’t enjoy family meals, eat like all the other kids at birthday parties, or participate in big celebrations like Thanksgiving,” she said.
There are a few things she suggested, such as ensuring kids come to the table hungry or not giving up on new foods when it happens. However, it can be tedious when you’re out in public and trying not to create a scene. In a Facebook post, Pedigo shared how worrisome she was. She explained that she thought her daughter would sit and eat in her chair as usual, but the 18-month-old had other plans. “She had me so overwhelmed from letting all of Olive Garden know she was in the house and trying her best to wiggle her way down me to run the restaurant,” Pedigo said.
The frantic mom thought it was best to ask for a to-go, so she requested Rudder to pack it for her. “She (the waitress) said, ‘No,’” the stunned mom said. Wondering what the reason could be, she was met with a wholesome solution from the waitress. “You’re going to go sit down and enjoy your dinner and I will be there to sit with her!” Rudder told Pedigo. The server decided to take over for a few minutes so the mom could enjoy a well-deserved meal. “She brought Harlynn a bowl of ice cream with caramel syrup and even though Harlynn wouldn’t let her hold her, she sat there in my lap and let Nianni Nani Rudder feed her while I got to eat my food while it was still hot!” Pedigo exclaimed.
"I just didn't want her to leave. She came out to enjoy a meal with her family and she should be able to do that," Rudder said. It might seem like a little gesture, but to the mom, it was everything at that moment. “Girl, you will never truly know how appreciative I am for tonight," she wrote. The mom added that she “admired” Rudder “not only because you took the time to bribe my bratty little human with sweets so I could eat but because you are so strong!” "Our motto at Olive Garden is, 'When you're here, you're family.' If all I had to do was sit down and take a couple of moments to help this young lady with her baby, I'd do it every day if I could," the server remarked.
When Pedigo learned that the server’s mom had passed away, she added, “I know your mom is looking down from heaven with the biggest smile and so incredibly proud of the woman you are,” she remarked. The mom also mentioned how she told her dad about the incident and praised her. “I aspire to be the go-getter you are. It has to take someone with a strong heart and mind to do what you do because I know I couldn’t!” she concluded. Rudder humbly accepted the gratitude and commented, “It was my pleasure to help. Your family was the sweetest ever. Thank you, guys, for blessing my day with your presence.”