Between Tables & Stitches

Last night at the diner, I met a man named Dave.

He was just another customer when he sat down, but it didn’t take long to realize he was carrying the weight of a really hard day. We chatted a little while I took care of him, and all I did was what I try to do for every table: be kind, be attentive, and make sure he felt seen.

By the time he left, his whole demeanor had changed.

Before walking out the door, Dave smiled and told me he’d be back on Saturday to see me again.

That stuck with me.

It made me wonder how many hours he’d gone without someone showing him even the smallest act of kindness. Imagine going through an entire day without feeling noticed, appreciated, or cared for. It shouldn’t be that way.

Kindness doesn’t have to be grand. It can be a warm smile, remembering someone’s name, listening for a few extra minutes, or simply treating another person like they matter.

As a server, I’m bringing people pancakes, coffee, burgers, and refills. But sometimes, without realizing it, we’re serving something much bigger than food. Sometimes people just need another human being to remind them that the world still has good people in it.

I’m looking forward to seeing Dave again on Saturday. Not because he’s another customer, but because he’s a reminder that the smallest interactions can leave the biggest impact.

So today, if you have the chance, choose kindness.

You never know whose rough day you might help turn around.

Every morning my youngest, B (6), wakes me up in the sweetest way. He crawls under the covers, finds my face, kisses my forehead, and gently holds my cheeks in his little hands. Then he just lays there. No words. He doesn’t need them to tell me how he feels.

His actions say, I’m here. I love you. You’re my world.

When I finally open my eyes, he gives me the cheekiest grin, wraps me in the biggest hug he can manage, pats my arm with his tiny hand, and asks, “How are you?”

Those quiet moments are my favorite part of the day.

I work another late shift at the diner tonight, but first there’s breakfast, a little tidying around the house, some crochet, and a handful of toy dinosaurs scattered across the living room.

It’s not a lavish or grand life, but it’s mine—and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

There’s something satisfying about the end of a shift. Tonight wasn’t our busiest night at the diner, but it definitely wasn’t slow either. Between pouring coffee, refilling syrups, carrying stacks of pancakes, steaks, eggs, and making sure every table felt welcome, the hours flew by.

The best part? I made enough in tips tonight to cover a bill.

It may not sound like a huge milestone to everyone, but those little wins matter. Every shift, every smile, every refill, and every table I serve helps keep our family moving forward. Some days are exhausting, but it’s a good reminder that hard work adds up one shift at a time.

Now it’s time to head home, eat something, get some sleep, and do it all again tomorrow.

Sometimes success isn’t something big and flashy. Sometimes it’s simply ending the night knowing one more bill is taken care of.

💛 Here’s to the little wins.

When I created Between Tables & Stitches, I wanted a place to share all the different pieces of my life. Some days you’ll find crochet projects fresh off my hook. Other days I’ll be sharing recipes, stories from serving at the diner, budgeting wins, and the beautiful chaos of raising two amazing boys.

Today, I want to introduce you to my youngest son, B.

B is six years old and one of the strongest, most determined kids I know. He attends both speech therapy and occupational therapy, where he works hard every week to build new skills and gain confidence.

B is on the autism spectrum, and we’re currently on a two-year waiting list for his formal evaluation to determine his specific diagnosis. We’ve now reached the halfway point in that journey—one year down, one year to go. The waiting hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve learned that progress doesn’t wait for paperwork. We celebrate every milestone as it comes.

Recently, B’s speech therapist shared some wonderful news. She’s seeing improvements in his communication and has noticed he’s becoming more thoughtful during play with other children. We still have goals we’re working toward, especially using past and future tense in conversations, but hearing about his growth reminded me how important it is to pause and celebrate how far he’s come.

As parents, it’s so easy to focus on the next appointment, the next goal, or the next challenge. This journey has taught me that some of the biggest victories are the quiet ones—a clearer sentence, a new friendship, a moment of confidence, or a skill that once seemed impossible.

Those are the moments worth celebrating.

If you’re a parent navigating therapy appointments, long waiting lists, or simply cheering on your child through their own unique journey, I hope you know you’re not alone.

Thank you for stopping by Between Tables & Stitches. Whether you’re here for crochet, comfort food, life as a diner server, or stories about our family, I’m so glad you’re here. I hope you’ll follow along as I share the little moments that make up this wonderfully imperfect life—one stitch, one story, and one small victory at a time.

-Sam

I wasn’t sure what my first post should be about.

Should I write about motherhood? About working in a diner? About crochet?

The truth is, this blog exists because all three are woven together.

I’m a mom to two amazing boys. Some days are filled with laughter, some with challenges, and most with a little bit of both. Parenting has taught me that progress doesn’t always look the way people expect it to, and that even the smallest victories are worth celebrating.

When I’m not at home, you’ll probably find me serving coffee, taking orders, and navigating the chaos of diner life. Working with the public means every day comes with new stories, new lessons, and occasionally a few moments that make me laugh long after my shift ends.

And somewhere in between all of that, I crochet.

Crochet is my creative outlet, my quiet time, and my reminder that beautiful things are built one stitch at a time. Whether I’m working on a wearable piece, trying a new pattern, or finishing a project late at night after everyone else is asleep, it’s a part of who I am.

This blog is a place for all of it.

The parenting wins. The hard days. The funny customer stories. The crochet projects. The moments of growth, frustration, joy, and everything in between.

If you’re a parent, a maker, a service worker, or just someone trying to balance all the different pieces of life, welcome. I’m glad you’re here.

— Sam

A small snapshot of my world: crochet hooks, handmade projects, dinosaurs, and a little bit of chaos