Mom gets to enjoy a hot dinner thanks to an Olive Garden waitress who took 'when you're here, you're family' to the next level

Hope Schreiber
·Writer
A mother publicly thanked Nianni Rudder, an Olive Garden waitress, on Facebook for her act of kindness. (Photo: Courtney Pedigo via Facebook)
A mother publicly thanked Nianni Rudder, an Olive Garden waitress, on Facebook for her act of kindness. (Photo: Courtney Pedigo via Facebook)

Parents of young children probably have to think hard to remember the last meal they got to enjoy while it was still hot — and free of an unruly babe by their side.

Courtney Pedigo, a mother of an 18-month-old daughter in Greensboro, N.C., was ready to resign herself to the fact that she just was not destined to enjoy a meal out at a restaurant just yet when her daughter, Harlynn, was a bit unruly at an Olive Garden.

“[Harlynn] did everything but sit in her high chair and eat her dinner like I picture in my dreams,” the 24-year-old mother shared on Facebook. Harlynn was introducing herself to other patrons of the restaurant through the ever-charming way 18-month-old children do — trying to wiggle her way down to run around the restaurant.

Pedigo was ready to throw in the towel and tracked down her waitress to ask her to bring her food out in a to-go box so they could sit in the car to eat their meal.

To her surprise, the waitress, Nianni Rudder, told her no.

Instead, Pedigo said Rudder told her, “You’re going to go sit down and enjoy your dinner, and I will be there to sit with [Harlynn].”

Rudder brought out a bowl of ice cream with caramel syrup and fed Harlynn, wiping the little one’s mouth and hands as she went. “She was taking care of her,” Pedigo told local Fox News.

The mother was overjoyed by Rudder’s act and shared the experience on Facebook, adding, “I ACTUALLY GOT TO EAT MY FOOD WHILE IT WAS STILL HOTT!!!!!”

Pedigo went on to write, “Girl, you will never truly know how appreciative I am for tonight. I seriously admire you … I told my dad on our way home it has to take someone with a strong heart and mind to do what you do … Thank you for your amazing service and for being so kind to us all!”

Rudder shared her own status about the Pedigo post, which currently has nearly 3,000 likes. She said she never intended for herself or her actions to go “viral.”

“I did what I would want for someone to do for me if I was in that situation. People need to be more compassionate with one another,” Rudder shared. “Anyone with a heart would have done the same.”

Courtney Pedigo and Nianni Rudder did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s requests for further comment.

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