Entitled Mom Demands A Fellow Airplane Passenger Entertain Her 7-Year-Old Boy, But She Is Having None Of It
Flying is just as big of a test for children as it is for the people around them. After all, it takes time to get used to sitting quietly for hours on end and the ear-popping changes in air pressure. And it’s not like you can blame the parents too. They’re usually doing their best to sedate their kids in one way or the other. Usually. But not always.
Recently, Reddit user u/WitchesCoven99 uploaded a story to r/EntitledParents about the time she met a particularly obnoxious woman on a plane to London. When her 7-year-old son got bored, she couldn’t be bothered to do anything about it. Instead, the mother thought it was OK to outsource the task of calming down her child to a complete stranger.
She saw the Redditor watching a movie on her phone and immediately demanded she use it for entertaining the boy. And that’s not even the worst part. The woman wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Image credits: notso (not the actual photo)
Image credits: WitchesCoven99
Honest Mum’s Vicki Broadbent said there are many ways in which parents can prepare for flights with children
Image credits: Vicki Broadbent / Honest Mum
Vicki Broadbent, an award-winning lifestyle blogger, parenting expert, and bestselling author of Mumboss (UK) and The Working Mom (the US and Canada), told Bored Panda that flying with kids doesn’t have to be a drag. “In my hand luggage, for example, I take snacks, drinks, a blanket, card games, small toys, and some items of tech where I’ve already downloaded films, games, and meditations that can help them relax and sleep,” Vicki explained. “Of course, last-minute flights occur and we don’t know the context of this mother’s situation and how rushed she was when it came to traveling and being organized, but assuming you’ll have access to other traveler’s sources of entertainment isn’t wise and I can see why this man was annoyed by it.”
The mom of two boys with a baby girl on the way said that it’s unrealistic to expect children to sit still and not cry or express themselves on a flight. “I find it unreasonable that other adults expect children to suddenly become silent on flights. I try where possible to book night flights so my children can sleep but this isn’t always an option,” Vicki Broadbent said. “Of course, do fly prepared, taking items that can help soothe your child (their favorite toy or game/ app, milk, a pacifier, etc) but equally the onus should be on fellow travelers to act reasonably and remember that they too were once a baby/child themselves! No one is more stressed than a parent on a plane with a crying baby or child.”
The possibility of your kid causing some sort of trouble shouldn’t discourage you from taking them on a trip though. A survey of almost 1,500 U.S.-based teachers, commissioned by the Student and Youth Travel Association (SYTA), found that 74 percent of educators believe that travel has a very positive impact on students’ personal development.
Furthermore, a majority of teachers (56 percent) think that travel can benefit a student’s education and career as well. Getting more pragmatic, 42 percent of teachers thought that a well-traveled kid looked more attractive to college admissions recruiters.
Teachers agree that children who experience cultures other than their own tend to have increased tolerance and respectfulness, willingness to learn, and a willingness to try new things.
Not only do teachers believe that travel is useful in the classroom, but they think it can also help on the playground. Kids who traveled were more likely to have higher levels of independence, self-esteem, confidence, adaptability, and sensitivity. They were also more likely to be more outgoing and have better self-expression than kids who stayed at home.
And if your child loathes flying, you don’t have to rely on strangers. There are things you can do to help them.
Here’s what people said after reading the story
The joys of travel: having to interact with entitled idiots who have a hard time dealing with reality. "And you know, there was this b!tch on the plane who let my little Billy Blue watch some horror movie on her phone, but she refused to let him play some games on it. Can you imagine the gall of some people? "
The first thing that popped in to my head was 'furry porn!' I have resigned myself to the fact that I am going straight to hell.
Load More Replies...
Oh my lord, I'm not claiming to be the best parent, but at least I know my child would never ask a stranger to use their phone! Obviously the entitlement runs deep here.
We don't have kids. We were at the zoo, I was on my knee scooter post ankle surgery. Again. I paid my $5 for 3 romaine leaves to feed the giraffe. A kid about 8 years old standing next to me with his mom and siblings attempted to take the last leaf out of my hand and said "Let me have one, I want to feed it!" And the mom just laughed. I was so shocked I just pulled it away and said sternly No! And this woman was wearing expensive clothes and jewelry so it's not like this was a ragamuffin that had never been to a zoo before. Just entitled brats. All I could think of was W***y Wonka!
Load More Replies...
Once I was flying on an airplane by my self to see a friend. (Note: I have severe allergies to peanuts and treenuts, so they weren't allowed on the plane) I got my seat, sat down, and a woman sat next to me. We didn't speak during the flight until suddenly she whipped out one of those nutty-granola and m&m packs. I asked her to not eat it, since people on this plane have allergies. She then told me "Oh no, this has cashews in it. People aren't allergic to cashews" I told her I have a treenut allergy (which included cashews) and to please put them away. I explained that if an accident were to occur I would need to be rushed to a hospital, but we were on a plane so that cant happen. She had the AUDACITY to argue, and insist that "I was lying for attention." Eventually other people got involved and was pressured into putting it away. People are so entitled.
Glad she complied for your sake. I would have asked her if she'd like to find out if she were allergic to skydiving. One night years ago we rushed our mother to the hospital ER because she had difficulty breathing. Doctors stabilized her with adrenaline. They later determined she was allergic to pecans. The next morning the day nurse asked her why she was there. Mom replied she had a reaction to pecans. The *nurse* said, "Well, why did you eat them if you knew you were allergic to them?" Flabbergasted, my mother said, "LAST NIGHT was the first time I had a reaction. I have eaten pecans for years with no problems." The doctor told mom to avoid all nuts because chances are, if you are allergic to one, you are likely allergic to others. Even though botanically speaking cashews are classified as a seed, you don't want to take a chance.
Load More Replies...
Ah, the good old, “everyone is responsible in raising my child” attitude some people have. I second the f*** you and your child.
The original concept was that "it takes a village to raise a child". And it does - kind of. It means a support network for the parents and adults to act as appropriate role mdoels. The vitally important part of this concept however includes the fact that the village must be *willing* participants, not just random strangers mom decides are now responsible.
Load More Replies...
And this lady never thought that maybe she could give her kid her own phone...?
Madam, the child is your diamond. I'm glad you love your diamond. I do not love your diamond. Your diamond is being a pain in my r****m. No, I will not entertain said child, nor will I tolerate bad behavior of your child. If your kid knocks my mom down while running in the grocery store they will be frog marched back to you. Thanks
I am so very much reminded of my favourite internet video of all time when it comes to being petty with entitled people and their offspring. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x326hyw
Load More Replies...
I still recall now and again a flight from London to LA where the parents of four kids (ages 5-10 or so) decided they would let them run laps of the plane. Flight attendant shepherded them back to their seats (after maybe 4 laps) and the parents went ape saying the kids were bored and needed to blow off some steam. Grade F parenting.
"Entertain your crotch goblin? Okay, do I get to spank him too?" I say, "This sounds like fun. How many other children are you dumping on me? Does this one come with any allergies I have to also be responsible for? How good looking is my new husband? Does he make much money? I'm going to need a lot more money to raise all your kids for you. How about f@(k off!?"
But then she would’ve had baby shark playing in her head for days after that. And thanks to your comment, I have it playing in my head now, lol.
Load More Replies...
My husband and I took our son on his first flight when he was 10. He's also high functioning autistic and afraid of heights...so we prepared. We spoke to the doctor about medication to keep him calm in the event of an in-flight meltdown. We brought everything we could to entertain him (luckily he loves hand held video games and drawing.) And we informed the flight crew of his condition and problems with crowds. They let us board early. My husband sat on the aisle, me on the window and my son in the middle. Aside from a mild concern upon take off, everything went smooth as glass. Take the time to take care of your own issues. Don't expect perfect strangers to rescue you. The EM should be ashamed of herself..just bad parenting.
I don't think the OP is at fault. It was not her responsibility at all to entertain the child. She was kind enough to switch seats (we all know window seats are the best). Both mom and child were being rude and entitled. She didn't even ask for permission for her child to watch what's on a stranger's phone. It would have been weird still but at least more polite.
I was on a flight from SFO to San Diego when a mother of a 6 year old pulled this with me. She brought nothing to entertain her kid with and sat the kid between us. Within minutes of taking off the kid was bored and whining so I let the kid play a game on my cell phone the entire 1.5 hour flight. The mother never even thanked me. When I was off the plane and waiting for my luggage the kid came over and gave me a hug for hanging out with him. Stupid mother.
How can a stranger be expected to put on something appropriate for another person's kid?the mother should have packed books and video games.
I have never been on a flight before, but I have been on a train before and for the most part everyone kept to themselves and found ways to entertain themselves. No one demanded that anyone else entertain their children or anything like that. I am not a fan of the c-word being used, but this woman was acting like one. The OP shouldn't have to change their in-flight movie because this kid was bored and didn't have anything to do. His mother should have planned ahead and brought something to entertain her son. Our society is getting more and more entitled as time goes on and it is ridiculous.
Public transportation (whether by train, plane, bus, subway, etc) is one of the few times I'm grateful to be big and ugly. I never have to deal with situations like this, because everyone stays away from me.
What, she couldn't give her kid her own phone to play with, but expected a stranger to loan theirs? Who would even suggest that? I'd suggest she parent her child, because if her kid kept looking at stranger's phones over their shoulders, he was eventually going to see porn.
I've been watching R rated movies since I could walk and I turned out to be the least violent person you'll ever meet...just fyi for all those parents out there who have their kids watching Disney movies until they are 15.
Load More Replies...
There should be an option to fly on NO KIDS ALLOWED NOR PETS NOR PARENTS EITHER FLIGHTS!! that would be bliss!
I officially love this woman so much!!!! F**k that dumb c**t mom!! The world altogether should officially stop catering to kids and parents and families. More mom shaming and more breeder shaming. Maybe that will end this behavior
Just saw that movie for the third time! What a coincidence! I've only seen the sequel once, though. To be honest, I didn't want to see it when I was a kid because I thought it'd be scary, but then I decided to watch it. Yeah, really good. Not scary, but not suited for really young kids.
I download tons of animation movies n games that my children can play while on flight everyone with child should plan each hour of flight ahead of time. That's how ur kid keeps busy n traveling is hassle n cries free. Even plan their food also.
There are times when I give *serious* thought to getting cards printed with text to the effect of "Dear sir/madam/other, I am reading a book/listening to music/playing a game/watching a movie on my phone. This means I have absolutely zero desire to interact with you in any way, shape, or form. Please be so kind as to respect my desire to be left in peace to relax in my own way. Or, to put in simple, easy to understand language, f**k off and mind your own goddam business. Thank you."
Woah, she was nice about that. Wouldn't ripped that mothers head off and shoved it up her a**e
Shout out to Vicki Broadbent, whose opinion on this topic definitely changed the way we all perceive it.
If you think that "winning" is a thing in a relationship... then I pity him.
Load More Replies... 
Perhaps entitled mum should've thought of her child's needs and thought ahead? Perhaps if she'd dropped the attitude, she'd have got a better response? I'm all for helping others, but faced with that attitude, my empathy would be sorely tested!
Load More Replies...
It’s not her responsibility to keep the child entertained, it’s the moms. No it’s not common courtesy for you to be inconvenienced because someone else decided not to do their job as a parent. It’s all on the mom.
Load More Replies...
yes, assault is the appropriate reaction to bad language. if you strike people in public you deserve anything that comes to you.
Load More Replies...
The joys of travel: having to interact with entitled idiots who have a hard time dealing with reality. "And you know, there was this b!tch on the plane who let my little Billy Blue watch some horror movie on her phone, but she refused to let him play some games on it. Can you imagine the gall of some people? "
The first thing that popped in to my head was 'furry porn!' I have resigned myself to the fact that I am going straight to hell.
Load More Replies... Oh my lord, I'm not claiming to be the best parent, but at least I know my child would never ask a stranger to use their phone! Obviously the entitlement runs deep here.
We don't have kids. We were at the zoo, I was on my knee scooter post ankle surgery. Again. I paid my $5 for 3 romaine leaves to feed the giraffe. A kid about 8 years old standing next to me with his mom and siblings attempted to take the last leaf out of my hand and said "Let me have one, I want to feed it!" And the mom just laughed. I was so shocked I just pulled it away and said sternly No! And this woman was wearing expensive clothes and jewelry so it's not like this was a ragamuffin that had never been to a zoo before. Just entitled brats. All I could think of was W***y Wonka!
Load More Replies... Once I was flying on an airplane by my self to see a friend. (Note: I have severe allergies to peanuts and treenuts, so they weren't allowed on the plane) I got my seat, sat down, and a woman sat next to me. We didn't speak during the flight until suddenly she whipped out one of those nutty-granola and m&m packs. I asked her to not eat it, since people on this plane have allergies. She then told me "Oh no, this has cashews in it. People aren't allergic to cashews" I told her I have a treenut allergy (which included cashews) and to please put them away. I explained that if an accident were to occur I would need to be rushed to a hospital, but we were on a plane so that cant happen. She had the AUDACITY to argue, and insist that "I was lying for attention." Eventually other people got involved and was pressured into putting it away. People are so entitled.
Glad she complied for your sake. I would have asked her if she'd like to find out if she were allergic to skydiving. One night years ago we rushed our mother to the hospital ER because she had difficulty breathing. Doctors stabilized her with adrenaline. They later determined she was allergic to pecans. The next morning the day nurse asked her why she was there. Mom replied she had a reaction to pecans. The *nurse* said, "Well, why did you eat them if you knew you were allergic to them?" Flabbergasted, my mother said, "LAST NIGHT was the first time I had a reaction. I have eaten pecans for years with no problems." The doctor told mom to avoid all nuts because chances are, if you are allergic to one, you are likely allergic to others. Even though botanically speaking cashews are classified as a seed, you don't want to take a chance.
Load More Replies... Ah, the good old, “everyone is responsible in raising my child” attitude some people have. I second the f*** you and your child.
The original concept was that "it takes a village to raise a child". And it does - kind of. It means a support network for the parents and adults to act as appropriate role mdoels. The vitally important part of this concept however includes the fact that the village must be *willing* participants, not just random strangers mom decides are now responsible.
Load More Replies... And this lady never thought that maybe she could give her kid her own phone...?
Madam, the child is your diamond. I'm glad you love your diamond. I do not love your diamond. Your diamond is being a pain in my r****m. No, I will not entertain said child, nor will I tolerate bad behavior of your child. If your kid knocks my mom down while running in the grocery store they will be frog marched back to you. Thanks
I am so very much reminded of my favourite internet video of all time when it comes to being petty with entitled people and their offspring. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x326hyw
Load More Replies... I still recall now and again a flight from London to LA where the parents of four kids (ages 5-10 or so) decided they would let them run laps of the plane. Flight attendant shepherded them back to their seats (after maybe 4 laps) and the parents went ape saying the kids were bored and needed to blow off some steam. Grade F parenting.
"Entertain your crotch goblin? Okay, do I get to spank him too?" I say, "This sounds like fun. How many other children are you dumping on me? Does this one come with any allergies I have to also be responsible for? How good looking is my new husband? Does he make much money? I'm going to need a lot more money to raise all your kids for you. How about f@(k off!?"
But then she would’ve had baby shark playing in her head for days after that. And thanks to your comment, I have it playing in my head now, lol.
Load More Replies... My husband and I took our son on his first flight when he was 10. He's also high functioning autistic and afraid of heights...so we prepared. We spoke to the doctor about medication to keep him calm in the event of an in-flight meltdown. We brought everything we could to entertain him (luckily he loves hand held video games and drawing.) And we informed the flight crew of his condition and problems with crowds. They let us board early. My husband sat on the aisle, me on the window and my son in the middle. Aside from a mild concern upon take off, everything went smooth as glass. Take the time to take care of your own issues. Don't expect perfect strangers to rescue you. The EM should be ashamed of herself..just bad parenting.
I don't think the OP is at fault. It was not her responsibility at all to entertain the child. She was kind enough to switch seats (we all know window seats are the best). Both mom and child were being rude and entitled. She didn't even ask for permission for her child to watch what's on a stranger's phone. It would have been weird still but at least more polite.
I was on a flight from SFO to San Diego when a mother of a 6 year old pulled this with me. She brought nothing to entertain her kid with and sat the kid between us. Within minutes of taking off the kid was bored and whining so I let the kid play a game on my cell phone the entire 1.5 hour flight. The mother never even thanked me. When I was off the plane and waiting for my luggage the kid came over and gave me a hug for hanging out with him. Stupid mother.
How can a stranger be expected to put on something appropriate for another person's kid?the mother should have packed books and video games.
I have never been on a flight before, but I have been on a train before and for the most part everyone kept to themselves and found ways to entertain themselves. No one demanded that anyone else entertain their children or anything like that. I am not a fan of the c-word being used, but this woman was acting like one. The OP shouldn't have to change their in-flight movie because this kid was bored and didn't have anything to do. His mother should have planned ahead and brought something to entertain her son. Our society is getting more and more entitled as time goes on and it is ridiculous.
Public transportation (whether by train, plane, bus, subway, etc) is one of the few times I'm grateful to be big and ugly. I never have to deal with situations like this, because everyone stays away from me.
What, she couldn't give her kid her own phone to play with, but expected a stranger to loan theirs? Who would even suggest that? I'd suggest she parent her child, because if her kid kept looking at stranger's phones over their shoulders, he was eventually going to see porn.
I've been watching R rated movies since I could walk and I turned out to be the least violent person you'll ever meet...just fyi for all those parents out there who have their kids watching Disney movies until they are 15.
Load More Replies... There should be an option to fly on NO KIDS ALLOWED NOR PETS NOR PARENTS EITHER FLIGHTS!! that would be bliss!
I officially love this woman so much!!!! F**k that dumb c**t mom!! The world altogether should officially stop catering to kids and parents and families. More mom shaming and more breeder shaming. Maybe that will end this behavior
Just saw that movie for the third time! What a coincidence! I've only seen the sequel once, though. To be honest, I didn't want to see it when I was a kid because I thought it'd be scary, but then I decided to watch it. Yeah, really good. Not scary, but not suited for really young kids.
I download tons of animation movies n games that my children can play while on flight everyone with child should plan each hour of flight ahead of time. That's how ur kid keeps busy n traveling is hassle n cries free. Even plan their food also.
There are times when I give *serious* thought to getting cards printed with text to the effect of "Dear sir/madam/other, I am reading a book/listening to music/playing a game/watching a movie on my phone. This means I have absolutely zero desire to interact with you in any way, shape, or form. Please be so kind as to respect my desire to be left in peace to relax in my own way. Or, to put in simple, easy to understand language, f**k off and mind your own goddam business. Thank you."
Woah, she was nice about that. Wouldn't ripped that mothers head off and shoved it up her a**e
Shout out to Vicki Broadbent, whose opinion on this topic definitely changed the way we all perceive it.
If you think that "winning" is a thing in a relationship... then I pity him.
Load More Replies... Perhaps entitled mum should've thought of her child's needs and thought ahead? Perhaps if she'd dropped the attitude, she'd have got a better response? I'm all for helping others, but faced with that attitude, my empathy would be sorely tested!
Load More Replies... It’s not her responsibility to keep the child entertained, it’s the moms. No it’s not common courtesy for you to be inconvenienced because someone else decided not to do their job as a parent. It’s all on the mom.
Load More Replies... yes, assault is the appropriate reaction to bad language. if you strike people in public you deserve anything that comes to you.
Load More Replies... 
301
189