On a packed flight, one youngster’s cognitive development doesn’t take precedence over 200 strangers’ sanity. In this situation, you throw your child’s prefrontal cortex under the bus for the good of the many. Give him the iPad.
Once on a trans-Atlantic flight from Amsterdam to San Francisco there was a couple with 3 small children - an infant (say 4 months) a toddler (2.5-3ish) and a child (4.5-5ish). Right after take off the infant started screaming mostly likely from plugged ears. Parents tried everything, flight attendants helped, other passengers helped. Baby wasn’t having any of it and continued to scream. Not much could be done and mostly the passengers were sympathetic. However, the other two children became the most unruly, loud obnoxious, crazed lunatics I’d ever seen. They were actually chasing each other up and down the aisles yelling and sword fighting with plastic swords, spilling juice and dropping snacks everywhere. Neither parent addressed this. Flight attendants had to keep picking up the kids and putting them back in their seats.
No one was angry about the infant. But, everyone was rattled and angry about the other two. It was the worst 11 hours I’ve ever spent on a plane.
As a parent who has made multiple cross country trips with a toddler (and allowed next to no screen time at home), 100% agree with your take. Selfish parenting indeed.
Can I suggest that parents of toddlers opt for Amtrak, with a nice sleeper room (bathroom included)? No ear pain, no annoyed other travelers, and you can lie down and sleep anytime you want.
That’s why you ration screen time at home. So when you get on a plane and hand your kid the iPad, they are absolutely starved for screen time and can’t look away.
This worked for me 30-some years ago. No iPads back in the 1990s? No problem! I rigged up a TV and a VCR borrowed from the living room to play in my van. After that my kids wouldn’t have even thought of taking a bathroom stop had we driven to Mars!
This is a long-winded way of saying you hate parents and kids. Most white males do which is why your demographic rapes children globally. Nice to see you connecting the dots of your own behavior in a profoundly self-aware way. 🙄
I have an idea: don’t have children at all. Research shows that single, childless women are the happiest people on the planet. And we all know how great sons, in particular are. 🙄 I’m sure most of your parents are profoundly disappointed with you in a multitude of ways that they will maybe never even let you know about because “biological love.” Most of you were royal pains in the asses from birth and some of you almost killed your mothers getting here. And that “father,” well he’s likely to bail on the mother and leave her raising the kid and going broke doing it. And that bratty kid? He will never love or respect you for your sacrifices. Worst case scenario, he could end up a male that rapes or murders people, including his parents. “Happy” parenting. 🙄
Parenting is a shit, thankless job, particularly if you get white sons in AmeriKKKa. Your piece further reinforces child hatred, of which there is already so much on the part of your demographic. Maybe look in the mirror or read a few headlines.
Our rule is: on a plane, the kiddo gets unlimited screens and unlimited snacks!
There’s not enough agreement possible to attach to this one so one million percent agree!!!! Absolutely NO NOTES!
thank you - pls share with all your friends!
A friend, a nurse, uses baby benadryl OTC for her toddlers. One dose before boarding, it's nap time at 32000 feet.
Also, if the kid keeps kicking another passengers seat, try removing their shoes. Less likely to kick if it hurts themselves to do it.
Pro-level parenting right there.
Once on a trans-Atlantic flight from Amsterdam to San Francisco there was a couple with 3 small children - an infant (say 4 months) a toddler (2.5-3ish) and a child (4.5-5ish). Right after take off the infant started screaming mostly likely from plugged ears. Parents tried everything, flight attendants helped, other passengers helped. Baby wasn’t having any of it and continued to scream. Not much could be done and mostly the passengers were sympathetic. However, the other two children became the most unruly, loud obnoxious, crazed lunatics I’d ever seen. They were actually chasing each other up and down the aisles yelling and sword fighting with plastic swords, spilling juice and dropping snacks everywhere. Neither parent addressed this. Flight attendants had to keep picking up the kids and putting them back in their seats.
No one was angry about the infant. But, everyone was rattled and angry about the other two. It was the worst 11 hours I’ve ever spent on a plane.
Oh wow, that's a looooooong flight for that to go down.
As a parent who has made multiple cross country trips with a toddler (and allowed next to no screen time at home), 100% agree with your take. Selfish parenting indeed.
At the very least, let the kids watch the movies, right?
Can I suggest that parents of toddlers opt for Amtrak, with a nice sleeper room (bathroom included)? No ear pain, no annoyed other travelers, and you can lie down and sleep anytime you want.
Yes! Take the train, parents!
That’s why you ration screen time at home. So when you get on a plane and hand your kid the iPad, they are absolutely starved for screen time and can’t look away.
That’s correct!
This worked for me 30-some years ago. No iPads back in the 1990s? No problem! I rigged up a TV and a VCR borrowed from the living room to play in my van. After that my kids wouldn’t have even thought of taking a bathroom stop had we driven to Mars!
Old school! I love it.
12D? This is the problem! 😝
I'm a man of the people!
Amen.
This is a long-winded way of saying you hate parents and kids. Most white males do which is why your demographic rapes children globally. Nice to see you connecting the dots of your own behavior in a profoundly self-aware way. 🙄
Get some help, you freak.
“Get some help.” Honey, it’s your mentally ill demographic, not mine, who rapes children and thinks all of this is funny: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/27/lawrence-hecker-priest-child-rapist-dies
I have an idea: don’t have children at all. Research shows that single, childless women are the happiest people on the planet. And we all know how great sons, in particular are. 🙄 I’m sure most of your parents are profoundly disappointed with you in a multitude of ways that they will maybe never even let you know about because “biological love.” Most of you were royal pains in the asses from birth and some of you almost killed your mothers getting here. And that “father,” well he’s likely to bail on the mother and leave her raising the kid and going broke doing it. And that bratty kid? He will never love or respect you for your sacrifices. Worst case scenario, he could end up a male that rapes or murders people, including his parents. “Happy” parenting. 🙄
you seem fun.
Parenting is a shit, thankless job, particularly if you get white sons in AmeriKKKa. Your piece further reinforces child hatred, of which there is already so much on the part of your demographic. Maybe look in the mirror or read a few headlines.