Let me just start off by saying that waitressing or waitering is a great job that pays extremely well. BUT (isn't there always a but?), it is not an easy job. Pretending to be nice to strangers and catering to their every need for 6 or 8 hours is mentally exhausting, let me tell you. Here are 27 instances that your waiter or waitress goes through every day (if not more):

1. When a customer tells you something that happened to him/her that day.

2. When you get triple sat for no reason.

3. When your order comes out looking picture perfect (thanks chefs).

4. Talking with your co-workers and realizing how strange you all are.

5. When a customer says “don’t judge me” for getting a lot of food.

6. When you can’t find your comfortable sneakers so you have to settle for shoes that make your feet hurt after an hour (good thing shifts are 8 hours).

7. When you have word vomit at your table because you have a lot of thoughts and not a lot of time.

8. When a table is mean to you.

9. When a customer orders something really strange.

10. When you carry a plate that is a thousand degrees to a table across the restaurant.

11. When people come in 10 minutes before closing and sit in your section.

12. When they say no to dessert.

13. When you got sat a table for 12 and 6 of them are screaming children with no self control.

14. When you get a ridiculously good tip for no reason.

15. When you screw up a table’s order and don’t want to go deal with their wrath so you hide in the back.

16. When a customer says they didn’t like their food and all you can think is…

17. When you screw up a simple order.

18. When a customer asks you what your favorite item on the menu is, but you don't want to recommend the wrong thing.

19. When you get a couple days off of work.

20. When it’s slow and the manager sends a co-worker home early.

21. When it’s slow and the manager sends you home early.

22. When you get an evil, evil customer.

23. When you have a nice customer eating alone.

24. When a customer asks you a personal question and then they continue to question you even though you have 5 other tables to tend to.

25. When your manager says your shift is over (finally).

26. When someone asks a really specific and complicated question about something on the menu.

27. When you realize all you do is waitress.