I'm on a west bound Continental flight to SFO. I didn't get my customary upgrade or even an exit row, which always sets the tone for an interesting flight.
I was overjoyed to have a 3 and a half year old sitting next to me. The poor boy's mother was on leg 2 of three (from West Palm Beach to Houston to San Fran to Australia). I have found that since I have begun traveling with a child, I am much more tolerant of children on the plane, and their attendant needs.
That said, this little boy had some issues. The woman was literally dragging him on his stomach back to where she wanted him. He was hitting and pinching her, screaming, demanding things...basically a camera crew away from a Super Nanny special.
Even when he reached into my drink and grabbed an ice cube I remained cool. Frankly, it didn't bother me. Somewhere, deep inside me, I have definitely achieved a calm and sense of peace when dealing with little people issues and travel. Perhaps I believe that I am saving travel karma in a bank for when my little Chickpea, or soon my LittleCannon, decide to act up when we go on one of our trips.
The hardest part was not trying to control any form of anger or frustration directed at the child, but restraining from offering up parenting tips to this woman. Let's just say she did a lot of things I would not have done, and did not do many things I might have tried. Not to say that what I would have tried would have worked, but what was doing wasn't, and it was clear she wasn't getting creative.
Oh well, here's to hoping my future travel days are somehow made easier that hers.
I was overjoyed to have a 3 and a half year old sitting next to me. The poor boy's mother was on leg 2 of three (from West Palm Beach to Houston to San Fran to Australia). I have found that since I have begun traveling with a child, I am much more tolerant of children on the plane, and their attendant needs.
That said, this little boy had some issues. The woman was literally dragging him on his stomach back to where she wanted him. He was hitting and pinching her, screaming, demanding things...basically a camera crew away from a Super Nanny special.
Even when he reached into my drink and grabbed an ice cube I remained cool. Frankly, it didn't bother me. Somewhere, deep inside me, I have definitely achieved a calm and sense of peace when dealing with little people issues and travel. Perhaps I believe that I am saving travel karma in a bank for when my little Chickpea, or soon my LittleCannon, decide to act up when we go on one of our trips.
The hardest part was not trying to control any form of anger or frustration directed at the child, but restraining from offering up parenting tips to this woman. Let's just say she did a lot of things I would not have done, and did not do many things I might have tried. Not to say that what I would have tried would have worked, but what was doing wasn't, and it was clear she wasn't getting creative.
Oh well, here's to hoping my future travel days are somehow made easier that hers.
Advice from your Dad..1 teaspoon of Benadryl before the flight..it makes them sleepy, much easier for you and the other passengers...and have a bottle for the babies to suck on during landing and takoff for their earpain - the swallowing helps the ears adjust to the pressure change.
Brian always threw up - poor guy! As he got older we used Dramamine. I became a believer after he threw up green jello in the Chicago Red Carpet room..like a scene from the Exorcist! Marlin was with us that time - he disappeared to the other side of the venue, can't say I blame him! He was only 10.Another time he managed to project onto the pilots lunch tray who was sitting next to us in the business class section - very embarrasing. One does become very tolerant!
Posted by: Robyn | February 23, 2007 at 04:09 PM