American mom shares server's kind gesture and highlights how family-friendly Portugal is

As dreamy as traveling to a foreign destination is, the culture shock we face in a new country makes it hard to get accustomed to. Sometimes, the unreasonable expense and unfriendly nature might dull the enthusiasm of travelers. But some countries make the tourists feel so welcome that people can't help but share it on the internet. That was the case for an American Mom and a popular TikTok fashion influencer, Hunter Premo, who recently visited Portugal. For Premo, the culture shock came in the most wholesome way when a waitress made a sweet gesture to help her sleeping toddler.

In this video, the mom of two shared the scenes from a Portugal restaurant where she and her family were having their meal. On her side was her one-year-old son Radnor sleeping peacefully on a makeshift bed amidst the bustling vibes of the restaurant. Premo mentioned in the caption, "I could talk all day about how family-friendly Portugal is, but here's the perfect example," and added what a restaurant staff did to make her toddler comfortable. "Our waitress saw Rad sleeping in my arms and they made him a bed next to us," she wrote. Premo was deeply touched by this simple yet thoughtful gesture and mentioned, "Kids are not only welcomed but also treated with so much kindness in this culture." 

With nearly 86,000 views in just a day, this video garnered huge attention. While appreciating Portugal's amiable culture, Americans were keen on pointing out the lack of such family-friendly ways in their homeland. "I was in Portugal at a Michelin-star restaurant and a waitress came and held my baby (staying close) so I could finish eating," commented @hcob123. "I hope this encourages USians to do these things in their country too. I feel like you’re all open to different things elsewhere but 'not in my yard' once you’re back in the U.S. Be a part of the change," wrote @_lolaili_. "Meanwhile in America, you would just get looks from everyone and be told you’re being disruptive for your child acting completely normal developmentally," commented @addystiltner.

You can follow Hunter Premo (@hunter.premo) on TikTok for more motherhood, fashion and lifestyle content.

Speaking of family-friendly foreign destinations, another American mom who resides in Japan shared about how great the country is for kids. Nickelle Tilley Mickelsen - who goes by @nickellemick on TikTok - shared a glimpse of a Japanese playground and it seemed to be so full of fun that even adults would want to play in it. With huge slides, rock climbing structures, rope courses and also a bouncing area on top, this playground in Okinawa would be a dream for many kids.

The play area was filled with so many slides that it could accommodate a lot of kids without causing chaos. Adding to the brimming entertainment, there was also a zip line suitable and safe enough for kids. But, Mickelsen showed us another interesting part of the playground that most American parks lack. It was a vending machine that served both cold and hot drinks. So, Japanese parks have got both kids and parents covered. "One of the most kid-friendly cultures I've ever experienced," Mickelsen lauded. 

You can follow Nickelle Tilley Mickelsen (@nickellemick) on TikTok for more family and travel content.