Being a waitress is a lot harder than people think it is. It is a test of character and patience, and forces an individual to work with all kinds of people. Multitasking, communication, and a good attitude are all parts of being able to serve others their food. In a way, serving as a part-time job prepares you for the most amazing situations, as well as the most frustrating. Either way, we all can agree that the smile on the outside doesn’t always match the thoughts being repeated on the inside.

1. "Why Did I Agree to Cover This Shift?"

We all know that feeling. You wanted to be nice and said, “Yeah! Sure, I’ll cover you; No big deal!” until the day arrives when you knew you had originally had off, but now you don’t. While your sifting through Snapchats of your friend going on a bike ride with her boyfriend, you’re stuck inside watching a man eat food with his mouth open and call you over for more water refills.

2. "This Isn't Even My Table!"

You’re in the groove! All of your tables have been taken care of and everyone is happy until you see that horrible hand waving in the air. Oh, crap! Your coworker’s table is trying to get your attention. You avert your gaze, but you can’t pretend like you don’t see them forever, so you eventually have to go see what they want.

3. "I'm Laughing, But It Isn't Funny."

Here he comes… Your regular. He’s hungry and ready to tell you some of his famous cheesy jokes again. You laugh, hoping he’ll give you a bigger tip if you do.

4. "I Didn't Even Make the Food!"

You hear, “This is terrible,” from a customer and all hell breaks loose. Not only is the customer upset, but the chef is even more upset when you bring a plate of food back to the kitchen. You’re just the middle-man, but for some reason this is all of your fault!

5. "My Feet Hurt So Bad!"

Long shifts make for sore feet. It doesn’t matter how many insoles you buy or what kind of shoes you’re wearing, your feet always hurt.

6. "I Just Broke a Plate."

Slow claps begin from your coworkers as you grab the broom to sweep up the broken glass. This is going to be a good day.

7. "Is He Done? I Think He's Done."

That awkward moment when a customer looks like he’s done, but then you walk up to him and he takes another bite from his plate. When this happens, you’re forced to turn around mid-walk and shuffle back to standing position while trying not to be obvious about this unfortunate moment.

8. "Time to Reset Again."

Your customers have finished eating finally, but now you’ve got to wash and reset the table for the next people waiting in line to dirty it up. Serving is a never-ending cycle.

9. "Someone Better Not Take My Silverware!"

Whether it’s your pesky coworkers, or a customer from another table, as soon as you reset, someone steals your silverware. Now you have to go back into the kitchen to get another set... And your feet are still so sore!

10. "Eh, I Guess it Could Be Worse."

At the end of the day, the job isn’t that bad. You meet some interesting people, and form close relationships with your coworkers, so I guess it isn’t a terrible job. Sure, it’s sometimes stressful and annoying, but at the end of the day you’re happy to be a part of this family. In a way, serving really isn’t that bad; in fact, it’s kind of awesome.