Kids treated like smokers on planes

What could have been an interesting discussing has turned into a ridiculous one. Two wrongs don't make a right. I too have had bad experiences from children and adults on and off planes. Not worth my time or energy to live them again.

Now, back to the topic. Read today that numerous airlines are doing away with pre-board. Now things are really going to get interesting for folks with children. Altough boarding last (with an assigned seat) might be easier for kids who get ancy...less time before take off.

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My kids would love to fly. But I would NEVER put them, myself or other people in a situation that can be explosive! They are young and therefore the chances that my little Johnny or Little Suzy will throw a temper tantrum miles in the sky is high! Where can anyone go to get away from that? Nowhere so we--parents, children and other passengers--are STUCK which leads to a stressful environment! I can't expect people to understand my position as a parent should my children have a meltdown in a plane, and I would never want to put my children in a situation where someone--who should have some control over their temper--makes them feel like a horrible person because they were bothered by my child's action! I would rather wait until they were all old enough to understand that they MUST behave like, well adults, in an airplane because others won't tolerate anything else! As much as possible, we will take road trips to get to our family vacations because at least if they get cranky, it's my husband and I who will deal with it--not anyone else.

As for those who have had the unfortunate luck of getting stuck with kids and parents who were horrible flyers, I feel for you. No one wants to be stuck 10,000 miles in the air with nowhere to hide or get away. I understand that you spent money to get to where you want to go--maybe it's the first real vacation you had--and instead of being able to enjoy it, you'd have to deal with a screaming or kicking child. But, before you explode, it would be nice to remember that these are kids. And the one you need to talk to are the parents in their lives--please don't take out your irritation on them because they were allowed to misbehave. If it happened to me, I'd be irritated, but I'm a parent so I can only empathize and pray that I packed earplugs to drown out the noise. Honestly, I'd be more pissed at the adult who was being a jerk because they feel they need special treatment--because HELLO you're an adult and therefore have the brains to restrain yourself!

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Wow back to you Karenjean...I think your comprehension skills are the ones that need a little fixing...you yourself in your own mindless blog stated that your special needs child "knows to shut up"...that is what I quoted back to you...learn to read. Forgive the misuse of the number "four", perhaps I was distracted by your blatant lack of tact...it's not everyday that grown women brag about corrupting minors. Also, you have a little typo in your blog..."the the proud"...there's some "muddle" corrected for you. As for my child, I am a teacher, and I do indeed help my straight A student with her homework...I further try to teach her to treat others with RESPECT and not have a mouth like a sewer...I think you are familiar with that. Further, I never commented on the diaper in the purse situation...you were correct to be upset about that. I simply find bragging about teaching a toddler to cuss like a drunken sailor pretty much disgusting...don't punish the child for the mistakes of the parents. If your "lambs" sleep at night with a mother like you, I hope they sleep with one eye open.

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An interesting thread ... too bad it detiorated like this. But I guess that is bound to happen from time to time.

I have only flown with my children twice (alone both times) ... once (10 years ago) with a tot, and 6 months pregnant. Not pleasant; I recall holding my hand over my son's mouth at several points because he just couldn't handle being so confined without shrieking. In retrospect it was a poor choice to go on a leisure airplane trip under those circumstances (to visit a college friend in Fla). Live and learn.

The next time was only 6 months later, when my grandfather died and I was making a 4 hr. flight to the funeral. The kids were fine on that flight, but I was pretty upset at some of my fellow passengers. The flight was booked at the last minute for obvious reasons, and I got the evil eye from many because we weren't seated together on the way home. On the way there, the gentleman who was seated next to me graciously switched seats with my toddler son so we could be together.

However, on the next flight, the flight attendant could not get cooperation from our seatmates (even after offering them free cocktails!) and my son had to sit next to a stranger. What really burned me was the elderly woman who claimed to be sitting next to a traveling companion (and didn't therefore want to change her seat). It was an outright lie, and she proceeded to drink through the entire flight to boot. A couple of people made snippy comments to me: "Why didn't you book your seats together?" Needless to say, they shut up pretty quickly when I said, "Well when my grandfather died on Tuesday and I called for a flight to his funeral, this was the best the airline could come up with. It's too bad that my fellow passengers wouldn't help out in a pinch."

So yes, my answer is that I would've enjoyed the option of a child-friendly seating arrangement. I am just so sad sometimes over how little we're willing to help each other out. I think Rachel hit the nail on the head with her comment about how we don't know what our fellow passengers are going through -- not everyone is traveling for pleasure (or business) and we should try to help one another out.

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Being separated is better for everyone. This isn't an issue like smoking in public or a race issue - it's a very simple problem that really needs to be addressed. I've been on flights where children screamed the entire time, refused to sit in their seats, and where parents changed diapers and left them on the floor or in the seat... If I'm going to pay a lot for air travel then I don't want to have little Johnny kicking my seat during my 20 hour flight to Hawaii.

If children were separated then they could scream, yell, kick, and refuse all they wanted without having to deal with anyone else. Society today believes in indulging children way too much. Instead of telling kids "no" most parents just give, give, give and allow them to run the show. Society needs to stand up and stop giving in to every whim. Kids should be separated for sure unless they can sit still and talk quietly. Would this have been an issues on the trains in the late 1800s/early 1900s? No... because children weren't spoiled little brats back then.

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Wow Steve, I wasn't aware that you were perfect! You forgot to mention that people who complain all the time about everything should be kept off of airplanes! Civilize yourself and leave that poor woman alone. Did anyone think of how difficult it must have been for this mother to travel alone with four kids and two of them with special needs?! She was probably embarrassed by the behavior. Someone should have helped her with those children, not barred her from a flight.

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Rachel,
You did an excellent job voicing your political views on CNN, even with all the interruptions from the host. My husband and I whole heartily agree with your opinions. It's wonderful to see young mothers so active in the political arena. I believe political awareness and involvement is on the rise. Thank you for your time. God bless you and your family.
Janeen Lawson

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I was flying with my husband and 15 month old son from Greece to New York. It was a 10 hour flight and he cried on and off for about 8 hours. I was in the back of the plane the whole time, sitting on the floor and trying to keep him as quiet as possible. We played with blocks, colored, I sang to him- anything...just so he wouldn't bother anyone. And I think that everyone was grateful. When he finally went to sleep during the last 2 hours I brought him back to our seats and let him sleep. I think people understand that children will cry and act out but it's up to the parents to remove them from the situation. I personally didn't enjoy sitting on the floor by the bathrooms but it's what had to be done. My son is now 4 years old and is a model flyer. He doesn't kick, yell, cry or even move from his seat unless it's to use the potty. People need to teach their children how to behave in EVERY situation.

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Personally, I deal with little children on a daily basis with my job. I think there are a few things to be said. 1. It is the parent's responsibility to teach their children the right way to behave. 2. If they do become out of control....take them to the tiny bathroom and have a talk with them. I have never understood why parents let the children run crazy. When you are firm but still loving with your children, they are more apt to do what needs to be done. I have a sister-in-law who never took her kids anywhere in public, and she can't figure out why they don't know how to behave now that she does. HELLO!!!!!!You can't just tell them no. You have to show them the right way to behave. They won't know unless you teach them. It is just like the alphabet. They don't know it until it is taught to them.

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