Courtney Pedigo, a mom from Greensboro, NC, knows that taking a toddler out to a sit-down meal [1] is always a gamble. But after her 18-month-old daughter [2], Harlynn, started to get restless, the mom immediately asked for her food in a takeout container so she could bring Harlynn to the car. In a now-viral Facebook post [3], Courtney explained how her waitress, Nianni Rudder, went above and beyond to ensure Courtney ate her meal in peace within the restaurant's four walls.
"Per Harlynn's usual [routine], she did everything but sit in her high chair and eat her dinner like I picture in my dreams," wrote Courtney. "She had me so overwhelmed [4] 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, I had went to find our waitress to ask if she could please bring my food out in a to-go box because we were going out to sit in the car."
"You will never truly know how appreciative I am for tonight."
But Nianni wouldn't hear of that. Rather than letting her wait in the car, she did Courtney a solid by feeding Harlynn some ice cream while Courtney ate her meal.
"[Nianni] really said, 'No you're going to go sit down and enjoy your dinner and I will be there to sit with her,'" explained Courtney. "And that's exactly what she did! She brought Harlynn a bowl of ice cream with caramel syrup. Even though Harlynn wouldn't let her hold her, she sat there in my lap and let Nianni Rudder feed her while I ACTUALLY GOT TO EAT MY FOOD WHILE IT WAS STILL HOT!"
Obviously, Courtney was beyond grateful for the help.
"You will never truly know how appreciative I am for tonight," said Courtney. "I seriously admire you, Not only because you took the time to bribe my bratty little human with sweets so I could eat but because you are so so strong . . . Thank you for your amazing service and for being so kind to us all!"