Woman’s Reaction To Crying Baby On Plane Goes Viral, Shows Why People Who Complain About It Are The Worst
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Flying next to a crying child is terrible, but it’s even worse if the kid is yours. A mom named Kesha Bernard was flying from Seattle to Denver on July 29th when she noticed a single mom traveling alone with three little kids, and struggling to keep them all happy – most notably her fussy three-year-old daughter.
To make matters worse, take-off was delayed, making the plane full of grumpy passengers even less patient with the overwhelmed family. Bernard just couldn’t bear to stand by and watch the poor woman having such a hard time parenting, especially after witnessing a shockingly abusive act by another passenger. She stepped in to offer what the rest of the plane seemed to have forgotten the meaning of compassion.
After sharing her story on Facebook, Bernard went viral and has now earned over 193 thousand likes and almost 100 thousand shares. In addition to being an absolute sweetheart, she’s also a photographer and has two kids of her own. Read the entire touching story on random acts of kindness below, and share it with someone who might need their faith in humanity restored.
More info: Kesha Shonet Photography
This mom recently shared a different kind of ‘screaming kid on the plane’ story, and she’s going viral for it
“How we can ignore a human in distress beyond me”
“Please be kind. Please be considerate. Help one another… It makes everything easier”
As you’d expect, most readers gave this super-mom a standing ovation
Some people, however, felt her help was little misplaced
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below!
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It's not that she's not right about helping people, but I'm kinda sick of these self serving look at how heroic I was to be different than the rest of the dumb crowd stories on the internet. Great man, you helped someone, have a freakin' medal.
I think the point is not that she's heroic, that what she did is normal, and everyone else is a self-serving shit who needs to learn to human better.
Most here just assume that everybody who gets annoyed about this is an ignorant asshole. That's a serious lack of life experience. There are people with headaches, personal problems, PMT, stress or any other things etc out there. They are not assholes. It seems that a lot of folks nowadays nastily assume that if someone doesn't behave as they want them to, then they can swear at them and call them names. I'm not too impressed by that egocentrical righteousness. Life isn't black and white, there is an awful lot of grey in between.
just because someone doesn't want to listen to a kid scream or cry doesn't mean her or she is an asshole. we all have the right to NOT CARE, because this is not our kid (and please, do not compare that to first aid or some shit). we CAN help, we SHOULD be considerate, but that goes both ways.
all these people who feign their right not to care. it is your right. but does it really make the world a better place? I can see it if the person didn't care. but never ever touch someone else's child ever for something so light. Sure I can see stopping it but full on grabbing. No. I have had a severe head ache and there was a crying baby on the bus. I didn't find it "MY RIGHT" to bad mouth the mom for doing a shit job or my right not to care. I know how hard it is for a child to not comply and especially to be less so when you want them to listen.
Cherilyn I NEVER said is OK to grab a kid or that you should badmouth anyone, so...
Is true, or should be true. Often not how these posts come across to me tho. Maybe I've just seen too much like that and I got jaded x)
Little Menace, it's not the intolerance that causes the problem: it's the SCENE. People make a scene when disturbed by an annoyance, thus just making the annoyance larger. So please think before you comment :)
Many people won't help simply because they don't know 1) how to 2) how it will be received. I think her post is useful in the sense that it tells people that it's okay to step in and offer help. It's also *very* useful to point out that when you're mumbling / making face / complaining at a struggling parent, you're actually the one doing intentional harm.
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Like I said, it's not that I don't think she's right. I'm the mom with the kid, and people who give me foul looks when my kid is crying can suck my hypothetical balls. It was more the way she was sharing it and the attention demanding tone of it. Again though might just be jaded from all the other attention whoring stories on the web and maybe she really just meant to change the world in a better way. Who knows. Honestly I didn't think so many people would upvote me spewing my annoyance :p
I think you are missing her message Leni. To me this is nothing about 'how great am I' its about 'why didn't anyone else offer help'....she is making the point that she wasn't even that near the woman but everyone else around her was just sitting there, pulling faces or complaining...she is telling us all to stop behaving like 40 year old toddlers and do something useful.
Yeh maybe. Like I said above to Jo I might just be jaded about it because there's so much of this shit around. I feel like she's way too judgmental about everyone else on the plane for this to be a 'positive inspiring story'.
Get over it Leni...
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Get over yourself, Mary.
So, lets break this down.....she is a self serving, attention seeking individual for being kind and sharing her story which may attract others to view the same situation differently if presented to them on their own flight.....But you, sir, share your opinion for what purpose??? To bring others down. Personally, I would rather read her story than your hateful opinion.
So, basically what's being said is Mothers with children who may or may not act up, shouldnt fly with their children? What about the adults we often hear about who act up on planes, shouldn't they know better than to act up? I know of many adults who have such difficulty flying they have to take a tranquilizer first, I doubt they offer them to children. Many people wouldn't choose to fly with their children, but sometimes things happen in life that turn choice into a "have to", such as an illness or accident in the family, or even worse, a death. We never know what a stranger may be going thru. So I say BLESS this woman & any like her who helped a struggling Mom. I offer a huge 'Shame on you' to all those who acted ugly!! Ohhhh, and to the woman who grabbed the leg of the child behind her...Thank your God profusely that the leg you grabbed didn't belong to one of my children or grandchildren, I'd need bail money & you'd need EMS!
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And why does everyone assume I'm a dude? :')
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She's not being kind, this is not to her to take care of someone's else children. She's just seeking attention. WHat she is telling on the internet is hateful. Because people don't want to take care of someone's else child they are bad ? The mom (and dad) has to take her responsabilities. SHe decided to take the plan. She had to plan to handdle her children.
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'Kind'. We read a different story. That's kinda my point. But reading comprehension is notoriously underdeveloped amongst native English speakers.
Bravo. Way to take a feel good story back to horrible again. We really needed all know what you are 'kinda sick' about. Improves everything.
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And I really needed to know that you're butt hurt about my opinion. If we're gonna talk about a 'need to know' basis, 90% of the internet is useless, so go take your useless hypocritical self somewhere else.
Wow. Why so many downsvotes on the actual reasonable, kind comments? Not much room for kindness in this world, it seems. Also, I don't believe it's a "look at me and how great I am" story, it's a "please help those in need, it will have great perks" story. Please think of all the kindness, effort, and pure heart in this story before you comment. Yep, here comes the downvote army, armed with their downvote pistols!
Some only comment to criticize! I Wish they had a life. But I'm with you, I don't think she was looking for fame or pats on the back either. I feel she was attempting to point out that kindness should win out over hatefulness or ambivalence every time it can. So, good for her for helping alleviate an already stressful situation, too bad there aren't more people who finding stepping up to be right thing to do.
*Downvotes. What is wrong with my keyboard?
With current adminsitration in the White House we need more human stories like this to remind us that individual people have value and are worth caring about.
yes too right she deserves a medal. And the rest of thos people need a kick in the ass. This wasnt about how wonderful she was. it was showing that it takes very little to help someone out and how we all need to do it more. I dont know why you would dis her for this.
It would have meant a lot more coming from the distressed mother than the person helping out and trying to validate how great they are.
You salty bro? Mad cause bad?
Agreed, these things are posted by the OP for accolades. I think if you are a good person and do good things you don't need shout it from the roof tops; leading by example includes being humble.
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Excuse you. I suggest you look up the word humble and study it really hard. Being judgmental of others is a far cry from being humble. Just wondering why you read the article?
Would have been a way better story coming from the distressed mother rather than someone trying to validate how decent of a person they are to themselves and the internet.
You obviously are an unkind person. You just can't wait to gripe about something. you're the kind of person who no one can depend on.
Yet....you knew everything about the woman who helped the mom on the plane & felt super free to judge her? What's that old saying....Judge not, that ye be not judged? Which I take to mean, "If you insist on judging, then be real prepared to get the exact same I return" ....but if you must judge, then I'd suggest acquiring a much thicker skin if one can't handle the fallout. Brightest Blessings🌞
Yep you know everything about me by an internet post, you're just that amazing of a person. You must have a great life.
Get a life. She deserves the thanks. You would be thanked also if you were not so judgmental.
I'm not sure you understand that you can't tell someone to get a life and to not be judgmental in the same post without being about a hypocrit.
*being a hypocrit. Damn phone.
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You're making a wild guess that the author's motives for writing this are "self serving." If I were to guess at them, I'd say she's 1. Opening herself to public criticism, not very self-serving. 2. She Addresses A Social Interaction ALL American mothers will face, so it's a social-service.
I don't know why that posted as a reply to you, sorry.
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And you Leni deserve a medal for being a douche. Because you were a kid once, and you'll probably have kids in the future. And because maybe if we were more humane, our world would be a better place...
so, just because she was a kid means she HAS TO like kids screaming and crying? how is that relevant?
VNem, why do you have downvotes? You're a friggin' GENIUS. And VNem deserves a medal for being one of the very few remaining people in this comment section with actual human knowledge!
If you'd actually read my post you'd see that I agree with her that we should help. But go on, show us how dumb you are, makes it easier to know not to take you seriously.
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It must be cold up on that high horse! You want a blanket? :)
Nah mate I'm good.
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YOU...are an idiot to the NTH degree!!! They are not sharing their story for a medal. They are sharing the story to remind people who are MEANT TO BE ADULTS, to act like ADULTS!! And remind these ADULTS not to be assholes!! AND to practice self-control and patience! They are FULLY capable of doing so! While a toddler, IS NOT! People ARE assholes, and NEED to reminded as such!!
How to tell if someone is an idiot: completely miss someone's point, insult them for it, and then make your own completely unrelated point. Well done! Have a medal.
You, madam, are SMART. That may seem like a normal compliment, but one in a millon actually remains smart in this comment section! Kudos, Melody!
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I'm pretty sure that you've never helped anyone in distress. The story wasn't so much about how one woman went out of her way to help a fellow traveler in distress; it was about all the assholes on the plane who not only did nothing to help, but went out of their way to make that young mother feel even more miserable. I'm gonna go way out on a limb here and say you'd be the old woman covering her ears and making faces.
You're a remainder of what used to be reasonable people. They all became idiots except for you and a few others. Keep it up, Eric!
I'm gonna go not so way out on a limb here and say you're a dumbass - hence all the dumb assumptions :')
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You're a Trump fan, aren't you. Perhaps if people were a little more patient, kind, compassionate and considerate, not to mention helpful, instead of bitching like you are, we might be a little bit better off as a country.
Well I'd say you're probably a Trump fan since you're so self absorbed that you think I need to have an opinion about your dumb American political mess :p get over yourself, there's more countries than the US.
It's great she helped the helpless single mom, which was doing her best to calm down her children. Unfortunately, I can't take a side. I have had lots of bad experiences with toddlers on the same flights with me. The problem is that as long as there are shitty parents who don't give a damn that their kids are misbehaving and let them do whatever they want(Invading my personal space and pulling my hair? Hello, I'm not their toy, make something about your kids' actions, don't let them ruin my flight for no reason), few people would be on the young parents' side.
I think both sides have a point. Passengers have the right not to be bothered by screaming kids, and yet sometimes parents really can't control their kids despite their best efforts (as in this case). The parents who should be condemned are the ones whose kids are flaking out and yet they do NOTHING.
Agree! Parental response has a lot to do with reactions (sometimes). On flights though, people are not very understanding on a good day...
Kicking kids and kids pulling hair can be stopped but it is nearly impossible to stop a baby/ toddler from crying on a plane since they are almost always crying because their ears haven't popped and there is a lot of painful pressure. You can try to distract them but it may not work and actually crying is one of the few ways they can pop their ears since it works similar to yawning.
Neasha do I read your comment as saying that you think your kids can scream as much as they like in public and you don't have to do anything about it? Cos I clearly say at the end that the ones who shld be condemned are those who do nothing.
That is exactly the point I'm trying to make. :)
I'm sure most parents would never want to expose their children to most of the hateful people commenting on this thread. I expect my children to behave, but children are very intune to the negativity around them & respond the only way they know how. And while, like most, I'd prefer not to have to listen to an irate child...Id prefer it to an irate childish adult any day.
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How do you have to the right to not want to be bothered in public on a public flight? You want to not be bothered...drive your own damn car with no in it but you or stay the hell home.
Agree with this, I used to travel a lot and children often kick the seats in front of them. While it may be a more difficult issue to calm a crying kid down, it should be manageable to stop a kid from kicking the back of a seat. This is also about teaching your kids some decent manners and I've seen so many parents that never told their kids anything, when they started screaming or kicking seats, which is not ok. At least you can minimize the noise by wearing earphones, but there isn't much you can do about the kicking issue, except for asking their parents to tell them to stop.
I once had a kid do that. I got up, turned at him and gave him a glare that would make sauron proud and said STOP. KICKING. didnt bother me again.
I'm with you on telling a child to stop, Leni. I generally prefer to deal directly with the child. Some of them listen to strangers better than to their own parents. Plus parents sometimes tune out their children or are tired or jaded.
I totally agree. My husband had a 4 year old kicking his seat for over 10 minutes and the mother did nothing. She wouldn't have had to yell or punish but just tell her daughter that the seat kicking was disturbing someone else. And then there are the parents with two boys who sat across from us, the boys did anything they wanted, and wound up sitting facing their seat backs, no seat belt, as we landed. And I'm sure the parents would have sued if their boys had gotten hurt.
Amen!
The mom wasn't doing her best at all. She was acting like the paying customers were an inconvenience to her unruly family.
She had THREE kids! How in the world do you have a clue if she was doing her 'best'?
You have to discipline your kids. You or your 1,2,3 year old kids don't have right kick anybody seats - end of the story. No silly boredpanda article will change these basic rules. You might not be able to control of crying, but doing nothing about kicking is not acceptable!
Whats not acceptable is grabbing a kid's leg... i would be the first to tell my kid off for kicking and there'd be consequences if she didnt stop. But if a stranger grabbed her leg she can expect a kick somewhere else - from me.
Why? Cause it's not your damn kid, that's why.
grabbing a kids leg is physical assault. The same as grabbing an adult limb is physical assault!
What the heck is so hard to grasp here?? We even have those who have differed so much on views agreeing. So myself, as a Mom, Grandmom, Godmother & retired Law Enforcement...let me explain. You never, ever, ever put your hand (or any other body part) on a child that isn't yours and especially not on a strangers child! It is a physical assault punishable by law. Kicking the back of a plane seat however is not an assault to anything but your feelings, which is not an assault.
An adult laying their hands on anyone without permission is legally battery. It is a sue-able offense although in this situation the mother wouldn't be awarded much money so it would be nearly impossible to find a lawyer willing to represent her but she could try to represent herself. Just saying it is legally considered battery to grab a toddlers leg and this person could have been escorted off the plane by the police if the mother had wanted to push it.
Leni, I can at last agree with you. All I can say is A M E N.
The stranger that is :p
Grabbing the leg is not assault - it's simply keeping the child from continuing to kick and getting the childs attention. The kicking is the assault.
Parents with unruly Kids doing nothing about it is the worst. I mean how can those parents stay silent looking at their kids being an ass. Bcs the parents don't have manners of course, they don't educate their child before flight, and they can tolerate it bcs its their little monster. They don't have manners to educate or at least saying sorry most of the times and letting their kids being a monster. What is the usual excuse "they are kids" so they can scream and jumping and kicking as they like with the parents doing nothing with that kind of excuse. Iguess its the parents that thinks their child is a monkey that cannot understand what they said at all.
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Why though? Grabbing a kids leg won't hurt it.
First of all- referring to a human being as "it" is reaaaaally not okay. Second of all- an adult touching a kid that isn't theirs without permission is still legal trouble, no matter where they touch.
most adults need to discipline themselves. i've been kicked, had a seat thrown back in my face, had people reach over me to turn out my light, had to listen to yak yak yak on phone from ADULTS. rather fly with a kid any time.
Yes, parents need to discipline their children if they are over the top or out of control....the problem with this is, people's expectations of what is acceptable behavior from a small child is way out of proportion for what is normal for children that age. As adults, we are supposed to have attained a certain level of maturity, and should be able to deal with a certain amount of noise/movement from a small child. It's ludicrous that people expect a child of that age to sit perfectly still, not move, or make a peep yet the adults who are expecting that are showing showing their immaturity by how they react to them in the first place. OMG, that child is moving! Why isn't their parent beating them into submission!? Children are children, not little adults. You acted that way when you were that age, I did, we all did. Get over yourself. Just because some of you don't like children doesn't mean they are being unruly. They are just being normal, young children.
( replying to Robyn, it's hard to tell )
I say this too much here, but A M E N. This is as real as organic fruit!
My response was not to Leni, not sure why it showed up here.
Maciek Ravs...I'm sure you are sitting on a plane in charge of three young kids, on your own all the time right? Toddlers don't just do what mum or dad tells them....if they did no one ever would talk about what a nightmare they are. I was a real disciplinarian....didn't take any crap from my kids...(I had three children under two and a half years of age)....but were they always well behaved? absolutely not....because they were kids!
Carol Norwell you speak the TRUTH!! They're called the Terrible Two's & Even Worse Three's for a very good reason. Obviously this isn't so bad of a problem that they have made separate flights for those with or without children. Going by some of the comments here, some need to be glad they don't require a test of mental health be passed prior to boarding, or maybe tests of humanity or empathy.
Sure, ok, but there's a right way to handle it and a wrong way.
Your child is not my responsibility.
Actually you're not paying for tranquility, you're paying to travel WITH people and EVERYONE have to be patient and make it work. You can't put your hair on the other one screen, taking of your shoes with smelly feet or put your feet on the armrest, taking pills to support the flight AND drink alcool so you become a pain in the ass, you can't either invade your neighbour, you can't throw a tantrum because the person that paid for the window seat don't want to let you the window seat,(I assit 4 of these comportementsby adult... plus the lady shitting on her seat in first class) and you don't freak about your neighbour not speeking english, you can't either grunt because a delay flight make a baby nervous(they calm down when the plane take off usually), you don't point out 10 time that thay didn't have YOUR usual drink... It's a collective responsabilitythat the flight is OK. And as my father used to say "Don't bitch about the problem: either you solve it, either you ignore it"
It takes a village to raise children, so you either travel with the number of children you can handle alone, or you bring caretakers with you. There is just as much chance that a mother would flip out if a co-traveling stranger offers to touch (hold) one or her children. Yes, if you are traveling with the number of kids you can handle if things go badly (and they still go badly) I have a great deal of sympathy (one baby crying). If you're traveling with a pack of kids, you have no capability to deal with any one of them having a difficult time.
Zeno. Zeno. I couldn't say it better.
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One's child isn't your "responsibility" but don't we all know that even the best-raised kids are simply kids & as such WILL throw the occasional tantrum or have some legitimate upset? We forget that kids up to a certain age DO NOT know how (and you can't speed up this process no matter how much you wish) to regulate their emotions and expression. Do we sequester them from public until they can play nice 24/7? Besides the cruelty of doing so, it isn't PRACTICAL; it is exactly the process of living/interacting out there in the world & MAKING MISTAKES that helps kids learn. OF COURSE, there are parents who lack skill or patience & utterly fail THEIR CHILDREN. Society lazily forgets to make the connection that for children, bad behavior is ONLY a reflection of the parent, not the child. Ok, be mad at the parent; fine, but WHAT does that accomplish? How about being an example? Be the compassionate, disciplined human who demonstrates HOW to parent and regulate emotions! Village...!!
Can't reply to my own post anymore, but no, it really isn't. I don't try to be in people's faces, and I try to keep my kid out of people's hair too, but reality is that if you're in public, you might be uncomfortable by the existence of others. It's part of the package. Don't like it? Get a private jet. You didn't pay for a tranquil flight, you paid for a flight. And so did I. And for the record I'm always uncomfortable around people, and you don't see me expecting they all abandon the plane to accommodate my needs.
Nor is it the parents responsibility to expect a 3 yr old to behave differently than. 3 yr old.
I hope people were kinder to your mother.
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Your comfort isn't mine.
actually it is. if you go public, that's not just your space. it belongs to others too.
You're right Lenny, my comfort is the responsibility of the people I'm paying for a tranquil trip, meaning if you're ruining everyone's flight and are unwilling to at least try and fix the problem, you should be banned from flying in the future.
The only bit that makes me uncomfortable about this is her description of the woman with her hands over her ears making faces. People with SPD (often as part of autism or other neurodiversity) quite often do this to cope with noise. Plane travel is really friken hard if you have SPD, and noises like babies crying can feel like knives in the skull. It is not usual for a 'grown ass woman' to do this but quite normal for a 'grown ass autistic woman' to do this. So if she's on a non judgemental rant, it would be good to take that into consideration.
Her whole rant drips with judgment tbh.
Oh absolutely. As I mentioned somewhere else, it sounds very "holier-than-thou".
Yes! I was thinking the same thing, because I would be the one covering my ears and trying to not have a panic attack >_<;
If I were there as an autistic person I would have been that "grown ass woman". And I would have been holding my ears (or really wanting to) and looking around for a way out/trying to avoid a full on meltdown.
If I don't cover my ears during the flight, I can easily get barotrauma. And even IF I cover my ears, it still hurts. So I can totally understand this poor woman. :(
Completely agree. I have hypersensitive hearing - I need to wear earplugs when I go to concerts! - and a screaming child does feel like having a screwdriver shoved into my ear. Babies cry, it's normal, we all have to cope with it, but there is no reason to judge people for whom this crying is actually physically painful.
Earplugs!! They are very inexpensive & anyone who has auditory issues should never not have a set with them. If they don't have the wherewithal to get their own then someone who cares about/for them should help them acquire a set or two. And no I'm not judging any with handicaps, ever. I'm just saying they should be provided with necessary things to help them thru the day. But I also know, there's plenty of people out there whose only handicap is the hatefulness lodged in their soul.
Idk why my post duplicated itself. Was only meant to show up under Emma's post.
Noise cancelling headphone used in combination with earplugs. It's called adulting.
Also I can't use earplugs. It's a sensory issue for me. That will just further a meltdown for me.
I guess I am not a decent human being, as I believe no one has to put up with a child kicking their seat.
It's not about putting up with that, it's about how the person handled not putting up with it.
The woman was trying to calm her kid, there are people who dont, they just ignore the screaming child and make evrerything worse for everyone, cero consideration for others. If thats the case, I'm going to complain. If the person is trying, well, ok, i'll endure. But if the person is not evern trying, please.
I would normally be afraid to help because I wouldn't want to scare a baby and make her cry harder but this has inspired me to try to help.
Same here. I always wanna help, but I'm so afraid I'd mess up even more, or just stand there like a fool for not knowing what to actually do. I guess I'm a bit of a panic type, and it takes rational gestures to solve a problem and help somebody for real.
Having said that, I want to add I really appreciate what this woman did. Not only for obvious reasons, but also because she can do something I wish I could (and maybe can, but need to stop being such a coward?)
Word of warning: sometimes it makes it worse. I mean my toddler is hsp and when she's off, people being nice always makes it worse :') I personally still appreciate the kindness from other people but I figured I'd warn you that some kids might respond adversely xD
"and everyone must read it" fuck off.
Everyone must read it so that they (very well hopefully) learn kindness and learn not to be a crapsack in public.
More like "Everyone must read it so I can show them how great I am and how guilty they should feel for not liking babies on airplanes".
Markus, you truly are a master... of missing the point entirely. It's a story that people will actually start finding the brain in their heads and know that it's never bad to help. Yes, people need to read it, because the people of society today are corrupt minds too scared and prissy to lend a hand. The writer is hoping that they can change that. Now, fetch your sympathy. 💝
Nobody acted like a crap sack but the unruly family.
Yes, so much better to read angry bitter replies like yours than a story about helping others! Tanks so much for spreading your hate and vile attitude on the internet! Everyone is better off because of it (just so you are aware I am being sarcastic).
Amen, Stephen. This, forever this.
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Obviously people performing acts of kindness has no effect on you. Must suck to be such an asshole. You read the story just so you could make a dumbass comment. How nice for you.
Im not an a asshole, I'm not gullible like you though, I would rather be an ass than be a gullible bitch that thinks the world is just sunshine and Strawberries. It's not. This person wanted attention and gloat over the parenting skills. That's the truth. Stop being stupid.
I didn't have kids because I don't like them. If yours is kicking my seat I will hold you accountable to control your crotchlings. My anxiety on a plane is on overload and I expect my rights to be respected as much as you and your brats. If you can't control them you should be escorted off the plane just like any other disruptive person would be. Agitating a plane full of people is in no ones interest.
You're an adult get over it or don't fly. Kids have more to learn, you should know better.
"crotchlings"?!? Thank god at least some people figure out they are not meant for parenthood beforehand...
Too bad more people don't figure it out and not have kids they can't afford or handle, or even want for that matter. I know quite a few people who are so sorry and miserable they had kids, just out of societal and family expectations. Children are the biggest responsibility you can have, and a lot of people fall short as parents because they didn't really want them in the first place. At least I didn't make that mistake!
You must have had an awful childhood. To call a small human a name like crochling :/ their only error is being born before you.
I think people with great childhoods are more likely to choose childfreedom, so that the rest of their lives can be as pleasant as their childhoods were. And please don't think we need your approval for being childfree. The peace, quiet and flexibility are their own rewards. And yes, we do have and express opinions on other's kids. You take them out in public, their bad behavior is fair game.
Lots of child-insulting names when you were once a child. Soooo, basically biting back to yourself. Check yourself before you wreck yourself, bro.
Aww, is little Missy Prissy angry? Adorable!
You don't have kids so you really don't get to have an opinion about how to handle them honey.
Her not having kids is not the issue here. If you can't control your kids, then your parenting really lacks something. Just because a person doesn't have kids does NOT mean they have to put up with your brats and not say a word about how you handle them.
It's awful you feel anxious on a plane. Have you thought about taking action about that so you don't, such as a course on managing your anxiety. It may help. Given I don't get anxious when flying, I also don't get anxious when children cry. You could help yourself and others.
Of course I manage my anxiety. I take responsibility for my end of things in life. I expect others to do the same, that's all. There is no such thing as screaming kids not bothering an airline flight. I find your reply to be both patronizing and nauseating. I also think that most people who say they have endless patience in the face of screaming brats to be more than a little hypocritical . Part of an overall "correctness" mentality that everyone is supposed to embrace.
What if I start screaming along with your screaming child while we're all stuck on the airplane together?
If you don't like "correctness" - why the hell should anyone else give a crap about your anxiety?
I don't recall asking anyone to "give a crap" about my anxiety. I manage it and generally no one on the plane knows about it. I don't disturb anyone, unlike the screaming brats of the world. But everyone is tense on flights nowadays, and issues that agitate people in general, such as screaming brats, should be considered as an issue to be managed, like I do my anxiety. Maybe regulation on how many small children can fly with only one adult? Or how about kid free flights? I know I'd pay extra for that one!
The mother should have stopped her toddler kicking the seat. It is annoying but it is hard to stop kids crying. You have to put up with it and be glad they're not yours.
yes, but sometimes you don't know it's happening ... and it can be dealt with kindly.
No sorry. I'm on the other side. Control your kids. Kids today are just spoiled and babied from birth. No surprise that at 3 and 4 yo they think they own the world.
I agreed with you up to the second sentence. Some kids are spoiled, but you are making a VAST generalization.
Wow, seeing how many kid-supportive comments are being hit with downvotes, can't help but wonder how many salty prissies are in here. Get off Bored Panda and get back in the salt shaker!
Right, like who one earth would baby a baby at birth???
Yeah, I've noticed the same. When I was 4 I had enough brain-cells to know that it's unwise to bother older kids and adults. I let my older neighbors(12-14 year olds) have fun with me but they used to be respectful and so was I. Now little pampered shits from 4 to 8-9 years of age come to me and my sister and irritate us on purpose! I only give them occasional poisonous glare but some people are far more bad-tempered and the kids might get it some day if they don't stop. Worst of all, their stupid parents don't do anything about their babyish actions!
Have you known all you have known from birth? Why, it very well might be NO! YOUNG KIDS WILL BE DUMB. They don't birth knowing manners and correct behavior, so what? Not to mention said manners and behavior are hard to teach. Moms are doing their best. It's a hard job to raise a child! Have a little sympathy for those hard-working moms, k?
You don't know that the mom was doing her best or is hard working. Anyone can have sex and make a baby.
I SHALL RIIIIISE! XD (getting steady upvote flow! people got their sense back.)
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Not one word was said about the children's behavior except one hit the seat in front while trying to get into his seat. I'm assuming you are childless or your kids are are in recovery.
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Kids at 3 or 4 can't be 'controlled' because they cannot control themselves completely yet. Controlling parents also lead to depressed kids who become depressed adults but sure, pick the comfort of strangers over your child's mental health.
Ya need W A Y more upvotes. That's just... it's... Well, AMEN.
I have flown a couple of times with my children when they were toddlers. They are toddlers and misbehave, I expect that. Therefore, my husband or a friend come with me to help out. My children obviously know them and when they act up I have the help I need. I don't expect the other passengers to have to deal with my crying children. If my husband or friend can't accompany me, I won't take a flight.
Thank you for your consideration.
You must have a lot of unemployed friends if they can just take off and fly with you to help with kids. I smell BS
YES!!! Thank you!
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How lucky you are to be rich. Most of us aren't. And most people have little choice about flying. Obviously you don't work or you might see things differently.
What she's saying is reasonable. If you have the money to fly with three children, that you know you can't properly control, then scrape up enough to take one more person with you to help with your children.
I'd be angry as well if a kid would keep kicking my seat and the mother doesn't do anything. You made a kid, it's your fucking responsability to take care of it, not mine. It's that fucking simple. You made it, you take care of it. You made 3, you get someone to help you if you can't handle them. Why do I have to "suffer" for your poor decisions in life? You're free to have 10 kids if you can take care of them. It's just like being gay, or straight, or religious, or whatever.... As long as your life choices don't affect others, you're free to do whatever you want. Can't believe that people think it's so bad if you don't want to take some bullshit from someone's kid.
Kelly, it isn't that I don't take responsibility for my actions or that I don't expect my children to. But I also firmly believe that in this life you must learn that not everyone will cater to you. It is unrealistic to expect that everything is going to go your way all of the time. People make mistakes, life happens in a wild, crazy, beautifully unpredictable manner and you must learn to accept that if you want to enjoy life. You don't have to WANT it, but you always don't get a choice in that. For example, I don't think anyone should assume that this woman made poor decisions in life because she is traveling alone with her children and the children were not perfect stone angels, but it isn't my place to tell them how they should feel.
Thanks for standing up to the breeder bullies. The want extra credit now for forcing kids into the world without a second thought. It takes courage to go against the mindless majority, and it takes brains to make good, but unpopular decisions.
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Other people's life choices will always effect your life. Sorry to break it to ya.
Jenny and Leni, you both need to learn to take some personal responsibility. Wow. Other people's life choices will always affect others, but they need to learn to manage them and not be surprised when other people let them know that their behavior is unacceptable and rude.
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You don't have to WANT to take anyone else's bullshit, but this is life, so you're gonna. Because that's how the world works.
WHY DO YOU EVEN HAVE DOWNVOTES? You speak truth, untouched by the filter of prissy sensitivity. I guess those downvoters just don't want to deal with the facts of life...
Oh god the paragraphing. Anw, nice that she helped but just a word of caution: THIS DOES NOT WORK IN ALL CULTURES. Some parents, particularly in Asian cultures, will think that you're trying to 'meddle' in their business. That said, ask politely if she wants help and you should be fine, don't just jump in and start trying to handle everything, you'll get an earful!
I thought that was what she did
Turned out fine in this case :) my comment was just a word of caution haha.
I have kids, I love kids, and I would gladly offer to help a mom in need because Ive been there. But after spending $400 to ride on a crowded airplane and getting seated in front of a family with a young child who kicked my seat all the way from Portland to LAX, I was ready to go out of my mind. I turned several times and asked the parents to please stop him from kicking me and they stared at me with a blank look on their face. They didn't give a shit what he was doing as long as he was quiet. So some people flying are exhausted, some are trying to get work done, Some are grieving and heading to funerals for loved ones,and some have kids that are being a pain in the ass. We share the planet. Be respectful of each other. Its simple as that.
Unless there's a really good reason, I just don't believe that babies should be on planes. Just raises too many problems.
Bob I'm sure planes are still an exciting luxury to you, but to most of us, it's like getting on a bus. If you don't like public transport, find another way.
There are other ways to travel. Figure it out. No one is forcing you to subject your child and all of the airplane passengers to hours of misery.
YOU take a bus, 'Jenny'. It suits you.
Tell me Bob, how does the child get to the destination. Oh, you don't care how as long as you are inconvenienced. You are a jerk and an ass. But you knew that when you posted.
You don't bring the child, obviously! I don't think babies should be banned from all planes, but having some age-restricted flights could be nice.
Don't bring them. Wait until they are older.
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Its called a fucking car, or a train, or horse, or a boat, or just walk or swim.
Call me a cynic, but sense a photographer looking to gain publicity. Bet we'll find out that this story was exaggerated or never happened. My BS meter is going off big time!
That's not cynical. That's realistic.
I'm with Selma to some degree. My opinion is this: First, to the poster: STOP TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT HOW GREAT YOUR ARE. To parents: if you can avoid it, if you have kids who won't listen to you, no matter what you do, try not to bring them on long trips (or to theatres or restaurants - basically any place they will be disruptive to people who came to enjoy something. Or, in the case of most traveling, people who are trying to distract themselves from how miserable they feel being stuffed in a metal tube with a crowd of other people.) If your child is generally quiet and/or well behaved, or at least easily pacified, nobody will go on a witch hunt for you.
I don't fly terribly often (a couple times a year for work) and I have no kids. That being said, there is a difference between a fussy kid and a bad kid. Toddlers and babies get fussy for all sorts of reasons, generally the same as grown people: tired, hot, cold, hungry. I don't have a problem dealing with this and will help if I can. The problem is with completely undisciplined children who scream, cry, and pitch a fit because they don't get their way and have parents who make no effort to take care of the situation.
There are many other helpful and considerate people out there who's stories haven't gone viral; I try to remember them during posts like thi
in the shortest of ways: your kids, your problem. yes, we should be compassionate. yes, we can (not: have to) help if we feel like it, but it's not our responsibility. if you decided to take three kids on a plane, you should be prepared for that. I DO NOT agree with touching other people's kids, keep your hands to yourself, but if your kid is kicking someone else's seat - REACT. we do not have to raise your kids together (leave the village alone!). BUT people should not make faces, roll their eyes or mumble under their noses. if you have a problem - say it clearly, but politely. and don't be an asshole. that last part goes to both parents and non-parents.
I think it's weird too that the girl seems to want others to help - as a parent, I wouldn't expect or even want that. But I seriously don't agree with people bitching at me when my kid is crying, because I know my kid a lot better than they do and I know how hard she's trying not to cry. Not that people have ever really commented at me, I mean I'm very responsive to my kid being disrespectful to others and I never let her just go off without intervention, but I also only have the one. If you have three, sometimes you can't sort them all out in a timely manner. The faces I personally don't care so much about, I mean, I get that it's not pleasant (I'm hsp myself and loud noises can really hurt), but there's just no need to be an asshole, like you said. (and yeah parents need to take responsibility ofc).
Well said, thank you. (This thread is going nuts.) If only I could give you a million upvotes.
I hate how they make people who do not immediately help look like assholes. I would NEVER expect anyone to help me with my son. If I really need help, I just ask for it like a normal human being, but I don't think that everyone SHOULD help me. Also I would like people to ask before they "help" or touch my kid.
as a person with chronic migraines, i would be the person with hands on their ears. maybe take into consideration that there are people with disabilities and sensory issues who hate the sound of children screaming for a very valid reason? that whole section reeks of ableism.
Then perhaps if children have such an affect on you you should wear ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones. YOUR post reeks of "ableism" just as much as you accuse hers of doing.
Good job in offering help to an overwhelmed mother. I must say that although you cannot always comfort a child's crying, I would have prevented my son from kicking other people or their seats. Hopefully, this story has created a new idea in the minds of the readers that offering help is a desirable option. One might also be understanding of people who must cover their ears. As a person who suffers under the constraints of PTSD, I must say that sudden noises, stressful travel or prolonged screaming can trigger an anxiety attack which may or may not be understood by those around me depending on whether I am crying, defensive or angered as I struggle against overwhelming, and debilitating reactions due to a disorder from which I will never recover. Be more kind than seems necessary.
True- there are lots of stories people post about how they did something good and changed someone's life (at least for the moment). But the point for me is that in these tense situations we all need to take a breath and find our humanity. After all, would these stories be NECESSARY at all if we all just held our tongues and our ATTITUDES in check? No, they would be common-place and nobody would post them. As a preschool educator I have found myself in some awkward and uncomfortable situations with young children and their parents, and the way things resolve the best is that the adults ACT like adults and adapt with some maturity. Yes there are parents who have no concept of teaching their children "public" behavior. But for the most part, parents are trying (!!!!) and even the best kids can go downhill fast in the wrong situation.
Why do parents insist on dragging their kids half way across the country, just so they can carry on as if they were childless, so selfish. It is very difficult with toddlers, I have had 2. They get bored, fractious and generally a pain in the proverbial ! You must consider other travellers, that is Good Manners. I did not fly with my kids until youngest was 7, when she knew how to behave in public. I have an American friend who used to dose her kids with some over the counter drugs which kept them asleep. Don't advocate that either. If you want to carry on your normal life and travel/holiday as if you were 20, don't have kids
As if people only travel for pleasure... you must've had a luxurious life.
maybe in the US you need to fly for reason other than pleasure, but here - in Poland - we only do it if we're going on vacation. only few visit families and I can't imagine anyone going on a business trip with a kid.
My parents flew with me from Melbourne, Australia, to Larnaca, Cyprus, when I was 18 months old. I cried on that flight; not because I got frustrated or bored, but because I got hungry and had already finished all my food, and the flight attendants didn't want to give me milk. My mother told me this story. She also used to always tell me that other than that, I was extremely quiet, and never needed a dummy/pacifier.
Because some of us want our kids to have experiences and try new things. You really think taking a plane is a luxury, poor you. It's like taking a bus. Public transport, its 2017 for gods sake
Great. DRIVE to your destination. That is much more educational than trapping a toddler inside a jet for hours.
People travel for all kinds of reasons. Not just pleasure but who the hell do you think you are to tell people with children that they can't go on vacation? Seriously? Maybe you should talk to your therapist about your self importance issues. SMDH
I wouldn't complain or show annoyance in this situation and would certainly have sympathy for the mothers plight, but as a person without kids and no idea how to handle them, I doubt I would be willing to take one off her hands.
I'd personally say that's totally fine. I have a kid and I'd never hand her off to someone I don't know tbh. But it's just nice not to be judged when you're doing the best you can (if you are. Not all parents do).
i'd rather have my seat kicked by a toddler, listen to a baby cry, even have my hair pulled by a little kid, while flying, than listen to some of the nasty-ass adults on plane. adults whining, not saying excuse me when they get up, throwing their seat way back so it hits me in the face [and i'm short!] yakking on their phone about you know, private things. GIVE ME KIDS TO FLY WITH ANY DAY.
Give me a break. A woman sitting on a plane with unruly kids is not the definition of suffering. I think anyone has the right to ask that a parent have a child not kick their seat. Respect goes both ways, people.
Exactly
If having three kids is so overwhelming and exhausting then don't do it. Mothers who want to have multiple kids have no right to complain about their own bad choices. It's not an addiction or a disease. It's your own mistake and other people shouldn't have to pay for it. The author asks what the mom is supposed to do. How about stop your kid from disrespecting others and being a rude family? She's "afraid" because "you can't do anything anymore"!? So her only idea of doing something is violence? You can discipline your kids without hitting them. These parents are already pathetic and then they act like everyone is so wrong for being annoyed. It's so selfish. Your kids shouldn't even be there and you're acting like they are the ONLY ones that matter. The parents should feel shame. I say getting upset and making faces is the best way to deal with it so maybe parents will stop bringing kids to adult spaces.
Why is a plane an adult space? Its a form of public transport for humans to travel to other countries. You wouldnt suggest a bus or train is an adult space. In fact if you were that unhappy about using a bus or train because you dont wish to be with the general public you would pay more and use a taxi or pay for the quiet compartment on the train.
Your alternative is a private jet, which is the equivalent of a taxi. You can't afford one, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
It's an adult space because it's a place where kids don't do well. Also you made another point against kids being on planes. Busses and trains have alternatives for people who have kids or don't want to be near kids - taxi or private car. There is no real alternative when it comes to flying. Kids don't belong in places they cannot control themselves. This is why you rarely see them in art galleries, fancy restaurants, or other venues. They can't control themselves in the air and create a problem for others. It's disrespectful and selfish. Parents need to remember that there are other people around besides their own family. You have to be considerate. You can't just selfishly expect people to deal with the extreme inconvenience your family causes just because "it's hard." It's hard on everyone else too and you have the option to not subject people to that.
Wow are you ignorant. Have you ever tried to talk to a 3 year old and reason with them or discipline them through talking to them. Take away a toy and that makes the situation worse. You are limited on disciplining a child on a plane. But where your ignorance blows my mind is your definition of a plane being an "adult space" kids have to fly to. We do not know this mothers situation. We don't know if she was flying somewhere for a funeral, or to visit a sick family member. We don't know if she is a single mother who had her husband/the father, walk out on her because he couldn't be an adult and raise kids or if he died and she is now alone. No one knows her situation but everyone is so quick to point out that she is at fault and she should have respect and raise her kids with respect. How do we know she isn't. Everyone has a bad day even adults and they can get cranky and ornery but because a child doesn't know how to keep their bad day inside like an adult the parent is judg
Just because you don't know how to discipline your kids, it doesn't make people ignorant for not wanting to deal with it. Her situation with the father has nothing to do with whether she is at fault or not. The children were disturbing other passengers and she did little to stop it and defended herself rather than taking responsibility. If three year olds are so hard to deal with then don't bring them into places where they become someone else's problem. Kids rarely have to fly and in the situations where it's absolutely necessary, the parents should be less entitled and more understanding that other people don't want to be hit or disturbed by the children. Otherwise find a caregiver and leave the baby at home.
Just because you don't know how t t
If you don't have kids, you don't get an opinion on A. how to raise them, B. whether or not to have them and C. whether or not the exhaustion is worth it. For the record, take it from someone who lives in a country where there aren't enough kids to compensate for all the old people - you'll be greatful other people had kids when you're too old to take care of yourself. A plane is not an adult space. It's a public transport place. Kids appear in public. Stop acting like kids are some kind of alien pet not meant to be part of society.
Kids are unpredictable. And so, basically, several of you think that because of that fact, parents shouldn't fly? Seriously, way to miss the point of the post, people. Jesus.
Crying can't really be helped, other than trying a bottle, a snack or a toy. But kicking seats is straight up wrong. Having your seat kicked constantly, not just once, should be stopped immediately. Props to the woman for offering to help & cuddling the baby; not a bad way to spend some time.
What I got from this is: Don't offer help, fine. DON'T be a rude butt about a 3 yr old pushing or kicking your seat. How about saying "Ma'am can you please ask your child not to kick my seat" instead of being rude about it. Being rude raises the stress level that children can pick up on and make their behavior worse. If you are annoyed at the noise, try just shutting up and dealing. There are often adults on planes who talk loud or complain a lot. Do you think someone yelling for them to stop or shut up is appropriate?
Honestly, I get annoyed by little kids too, but at the same time; they can't help it! These little children are in an unfamiliar environment, most likely lack sleep (because being at the airport on time usually means no naps), their ears hurt (because they don't know how to clear them), and they get bored! Of course you can try and make clear to a child that they shouldn't kick your seat, but they're KIDS. I guess my TLDR is; Try and be a little more understanding.
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Yes they can help it. AN educated kid don't kick the seat in front of him. Nowadays, parents try to avoid there resposabilities.
What about uneducated, like most young kids? So now you have no excuse. These children are yet to be educated and do not know how to handle the situation. It's an unfamiliar place in the sky with lots of new people, how else would a young child react? So basically, your takeaway is that your prissy little self is a little bit annoyed.
Some people don't like children. I love them and I find them more engaging and enjoy their company more than I do adults! I never miss an opportunity to say hello or have a conversation with a child. If you ask open ended questions, lead them in a topic, and encourage them to learn new words a child can be very well entertained and entertaining. Some of the funniest truths I have ever heard have come out of the mouths of babes. I pray that I never grow so old or jaded or bitter or miserable that I scorn or scoff or scold a child. They are the most endearing and lovely humans on the planet. We should cherish them and invite them and include them as a loving community wherever they are. They are our future. God blesses us with them. We should appreciate their innocence and relish in their imaginations and respect their presence.
I can barely understand what children say, much less have a conversation with them. They won't talk politics or philosophy. AlsoGod'snotreal.
*earth... Bleh.
So what? Their innocense is a grace to this corrupt eartj.
I wish people could just be nicer and more understanding, you know? It's a three year old, they're children. They're learning. Do you want to tell me that you've never overreacted or been rude since before you were three?
One should avoid flying with small children if possible, it is not a comfortable thing for the child and then it becomes an uncomfortable experience for everyone. If they must fly try to explain to the child before hand everything that is going to happen on the plane so they are hopefully ready for it. I can fully understand the woman complaining, but no she had no right to touch the child.
Stands as nearly perfect paean of self-aggrandizement for the entitlement crowd... with all the appropriate buzz words to simultaneously attract the attention of the like minded and shame those who dare to disagree.
Props to her for helping the woman... but not for her attitude. And, btw, if you're going to go with that old cliche that "it takes a village...", then you don't get to go "oh hell no" when the other villagers respond appropriately to a child's inappropriate social behavior... as happened when the aggreived passenger reached behind and simply grabbed the child's leg. That was an example of how the "it takes a village..." social mores works. How people outside of the family respond to their actions is how children learn what is and is not socially appropriate. Those are things mom and dad usually cannot completely teach by themselves. It takes interaction with others.
it usually "takes a village" when parents expect help, but god forbid someone criticises their precious kid.
No! It is NEVER ok to put your hands on someone else's child just because you are annoyed. You can turn around a speak to the child about keeping their feet to themselves, and how kicking your chair is hurtful or disruptive. You can mention to the parents of said child that they are kicking your seat and it is inconveniencing you. But you can NEVER, under any circumstances, put your hands on someone's else child. That is not being part of the "village".
On a flight from California to Texas my seat was repeatedly kicked by a boy of maybe 7-8. Finally I got up, turned around and leaned over the back of my seat. His eyes got as big as saucers as he took his feet of my seat. I smiled and asked his name. From California to our layover in Colorado that boy never stopped talking to me. I made a new friend that day and the flight seemed much faster.
Really, really can't take the noise of a crying baby on a plane? Here's my perfect (or close to it, anyway) solution. Requires a cellphone, a tablet, a pair of earbuds, and a noise canceling headset. Set your cellphone or tablet to the music or video you want to drown it the crying or other cabin noise. Use the earbuds to listen to it. THEN, attach the nosie cancelling headset to whichever device you are NOT using for music or video, fire it up playing a purchased track of white noise, played with the volume at mid level. Place the headset on your head, over the ear buds. Now, simply set to work adjusting volume on both till you can hear your music or video very well, and the volume on the white noise high enough to drown out the cabin noise. Enjoy.
Thanks for sharing, and thanks for helping. As a frequently flying mother of two under 4 I fortunately made the experience that many people react kind and positive. I've experienced elderly people drawing silly faces to distract the 3-year-old, teenage girls giggle with the baby and businessmen read a book to them. There's the odd 'oh no, a toddler on my flight' comment, but they are a clear minority. And to all those mother-shaming comments: I don’t think it's about whether she should have disciplined her 3-year-old or not, it’s about how a group of people deals with a stressful situation. It's heartbreaking to see that the group decision was to lash out at children who are clearly uncomfortable (i.e. crying) and their overwhelmed caretaker (because wouldn't you be as well in that situation?).
without tooting my own horn. I too when I travel is genuinely alone. I was next to this mother with 3 young boys. we all had the same haircuts, so everyone assumed I was the mother. at the end of a long flight NYC-CA she thanked me for entertaining her children. and I said that it was my pleasure, since they also helped me pass the time as well. I am not a good flier. so I was grateful to this woman.
Hmm ... I've been in both situations. Mostly, it's the parents' reaponsibility. I've always theorized there needs to be one whole parent for each kid. More kids than that is very taxing. The real culprit is crowded airplanes! I know I feel like screaming every minute. And no ugly airplane food to look forward to doubles the stress. A lot of time disappears watching the cart, struggling with bathroom breaks before the cart, eating? (Thank goodness I had gymnastics), clearing the trash. It's an awful challenge now. Screaming kids are part of the challenge. We have to all get along!
Ok, let's look at this logically. There are 3 small children who had to get up very early to get on a plane with their mom. I'm sure these kids don't usually behave like this. a two year old child will whine and be fussy sometimes, an infant can't talk so they cry to communicate, the other one was quiet but that child was older. So obviously at this point in time two very small children are needing mom and she is only one person dealing with three children. It's not that she can't control her kids. It's because she has kids. This can happen to anybody with children at anytime. I have a child that is very well behaved but she showed her behind when I flew with her and we were alone together. Somebody did ask if they could help me though. I said if you think you can please do. Luckily I put a stop to it though. But maybe the kids were having a bad day. If an adult can have a bad day then why can't kids? They are people too!
As a person who doesn't really like children all that much, thank you for showing me I can help instead of complaining.
I LOVE that this mom took action to help another fellow human being! <3 I also think Selma in the comments needs an attitude adjustment ha ha ha.
Distraction is a wonderful technique. If you are flying whether you are going alone or with someone or with kids, take a hand puppet/a sock puppet, hec take a pen an put eyes nose and hair on your finger tip and peep them round the corner or across the isle, often played peek a boo with the baby or child over the back of a seat or across the isle, even held a child or two who came willingly and with momma's consent. Babies will often pick up mom or dads stress level and if someone else is calmer they can often get a child to sleep while the parent calms down. Now if everyone around is judging their aint no way no how a fussy baby or toddler is going to calm down until there is a calm person to project that calm!
I have held someone else's infant while they ran to the restroom and prepared a bottle. It's hard to travel with small children and even harder if you are doing it solo. It's a no brainer- you help out that already frazzled mom.
I definite can support her view. Instead of trying to solve problems people get mad. They aren't empathetic they are just complainers. When ever I see a child crying i try to give them eye contact to see if they will respond so it will distract them from the distress. I have played ball with a kid on a flight once. The thing is if we help it helps us all.
i think its hard travelling full stop let alone with young children yes its annoying when you are older and dont have young kids and a child kicks your seat, I would always give the benefit of the doubt as it could be an accident once or twice but after that i would get a bit annoyed a shoot a look. However would ld aways help someone if they needed it I would offer and save them asking, It isnt that kids arent well brought up necessarily travel is boring for adults at times; (Well i think so anyway)) let alone children And you can only take so much entertainment with you!! Kids need to expel energy; but yes there is a fine line between allowing this and being respectful to other passengers. Its tricky thats for sure. Most of us been parents aunts or big sisters etc so show some patience at least. And help people Its a bit of a selfish act in many ways because it almost aways helps you too LOL
Such kind, understanding responses. NOT! Physically punishing that child would have shut him up, right. The only physical response that would quiet that child would be to abuse him, knock him unconscious and then everyone would be happy. No? Ah, the reaction then would have been that the mother abused the child and made the noise even worse. This is not unique. Many, so wrong, on that flight believe that the mother should not travel on a plane. You see, most people criticizing this mother who had the audacity to board a plane with child in tow are people who led perfect lives, didn't have to travel anywhere, who are always unfailing correct, kind, charitable....so much so that they leave their opinions not as solutions but to point out their superiority and good judgement. (BTW, sarcasm.) Yes, annoying noise...so what? That child? A distant memory. Your face contorted in hate, unforgettable.
I have a 3yr old, we have never been on a plane though, but she tantrums a lot at home, she laughs when i discipline her, some kids/people just react that way to discipline, they have to understand why they shouldn't do that, then they stop, my 3yr old's language and understanding skills are not developed enough yet. Anywho, i live with toddler tantrums. If i were on a plane on my own, and some woman was having issues with her kids i would offer to help, i would ask to switch seats with someone so i could be closer to the woman with the kids so that i could help, even though i am terrible on planes with travel sickness, varicose veins, extreme ear-popping, etc. If you want peace in this world, don't expect it to be dropped in your lap, we all have to work together to create peace.
Selma as a frequent traveler I can tell you very young children are works of art in progress and people need to be kinder and more tolerant. I have often had my seat kicked or pushed and it doesn't bother me but I actually like children. Learn to not sweat the small stuff. It's the the big stuff in life you need to sweat.
People aren't babysitters. What she did was nice, but this woman knew she was taking three kids on the plane. And when a lot of people get to go on one vacation a year, that they pay all of their spare money to enjoy, it's not shocking that they don't want their seat kicked or screaming the whole time. Here's the thing, grab your own kid's leg. I mean did the woman grabbing the leg hulk slam the kid? Or did she gently, but firmly stop the kid from kicking her seat? Because there's a huge difference. If you have three kids on a plane, and you know you might not be able to contain them you need to bring another adult. Because while it was great what this woman did, not everyone is going to want to watch and hold your kid on their vacation flight. Shocker. P.S. I know, I'm so mean. But most people won't make faces if you're actively getting a pacifier/telling your kid to quit kicking etc but yeah your gonna get more faces if you sit there with a derpy what do I do look on your face.
You have to prepare your child for a long journey. Bring things to distract them. Engage them in conversation. Bring snacks they like. Make it an adventure. Let them know they have your attention. Help them with the experience. Help them while waiting. Enjoy them. I had three in tow and they behaved because they had my undivided attention and they had fun. Mine were 3 all 3 years apart. My oldest liked to have responsibility and rewards if she helped me with her sisters and the children were promised stickers or an ice cream for good behavior and they got them.
Why so judgemental? I don't think you can just expect to everyone being capable of pulling something like that off. Perhaps they are stressed, already have headache, have no idea how to deal with kids etc. I don't think looking down on these people does it make any better. For example, I don't think I would be able to go to a mother and offer help. I have sociophobia to a point where there are days I'm struggling to even order something in a restaurant. Also I tend to have headaches so bad I once vomited in the middle of the night - the headaches come out of nothing and can happen every day, everytime. So if I'd be forced to help in a situation like that, chances are you have me either shivering and almost crying before even saying a word or suddenly having to vomit because my head is killing me. Does that make it better for the mother in need or me? Not really. Am I a bad person for not offering help? According to this article, obviously.
That lady didn't right in helping that poor mom with her kids. Listen people, we can teach our kids all the manners in the world but sometimes the kids act up. And as for the rude adults, they could have been more helpful. Selma, guess what they mother's control over the kids is not the issue, some people just have a difficult time traveling by themselves with their kids. Don't be so judgmental
Always bring headphones when you fly. The end.
Absolutely! Not only do you not hear crying children, but you also don't hear the middle seat person who booked the last-minute $69 seat sale who wants you to trade them your aisle seat you paid for at booking 6 months ago, the drunk person yelling randomly at the flight attendants, the loud group of spring breakers taking up 20 seats right in the middle of the plane, your boring seatmate who doesn't know how to shut up... Noise cancelling ones are expensive, but if you fly alot, they are pretty much indispensable.
I think that if she can't controls her children, then she doesn't take the plan. We all pay for the plan ticket, so a minimum of respect for the passengers. I understand people getting upsets about crying baby or kicking to the seat. The problem here is the mother who can't handle her children and took the plane anyway. You try to transform the story in your advantage. I'm not agree with that.
Even children who are completely calm on an every day basis can go apeshit on a plane. It's crowded, there's constant noise, the air is dry and their ears hurt. And taking the plane may not at all be optional for her. Who are you to assume anything about them?
Of course! It's the mother's fault! I'm so glad you cleared that up for everybody. You have no experience with children, do you?
Mother and Dad's fault. They are her children right ? It's not plane passenger's fault. I know than baby on plane have this kind of problem. THe thing I try to explain is that i'm upset than each time people put the blame on the passenger when a baby is crying. There are allowed to be upset about the noise. An educate kid don't kick the sit in front of him. An educate kid listen to his mother. Taking plane is optional, there is no need to take the plane. I'm not assuming anything. GIve me just one reason she has to take the plan ?
Oh boy, this is a sensitive subject. I don't have kids so I've got nothing to say except: I sympathise with both sides. I do want to say something about "... The freaking flight attendant is just standing there... listening. Not even doing anything..." My best friend is a flight attendent and the one thing she hates most is passengers who call for her to help with something concerning another passenger before talking to them themselves. And I agree (to some extent). I'm not going to bother a flight attendent about every little problem I have, when he/she clearly has something more important to do. I'm a grown up - I don't need somebody else to speak on behalf of me.
I know right? What airline is this? The stewardesses are obviously not motivated to go the extra mile!!
One flight a day should be for parents with crying kids--how hard would that be. Airlines, Hotels, Car rental places should be compassionate but they only care about money these days not service. That lady who held another's baby is a true samaritan and the article is right on.
Cont from previous post: 3) GUM! If your child is old enough to chew gum, make sure you pack some. The change in pressure is hard on young children, who don't understand what causes it, just want to get rid of it. For infants and toddlers, just give them your pinky finger, pad side up, to suck on - this is far more effective than a bottle or a pacifier, and much more soothing. These are all simple things that, even after J grew up, I was still happy to share and pass on to other moms of little ones. Just the act of wanting to help can make for a more pleasant flight for everyone. And if the adult is acting more like a child, definitely either call them on it or report them to the crew - that type of behavior can get you bounced off the flight for being a disruption, and the crew would rather know before they start flying than when they're 30K feet and climbing - tossing Mrs. Bossy Pants out the door is no longer an option at that point. Happy flying...
It kinda saddens me to hear so many negative responses to this post - it's hard to fly with young kids, no matter how well-behaved they are. When you put even the most angelic child in a strange situation, they are going to react to it, each in their own way. And this is not a pat on my back by any means, but just some advice I learned while flying when my son was young: 1) I always made sure there were extra toys, books and snacks in his bag that he could share with an upset child seated nearby - kids bond much easier than adults do, and parents don't seem to mind accepting cheerios from another child as much as from an adult. 2) I always overpacked my son's carry-on with a variety of quite activities, as youngsters can get bored quite quickly - this trick actually got him invited to the cockpit to meet the captain and "fly" the plane after one particularly difficult flight on Alaska - lots of crying kids, and we were in the back so J couldn't offer his "help." Cont below...
I have to agree that you cant go letting your kids misbehave like that...but people could do with being more helpful...Being helpful makes everyone feel good. Flying with kids takes preparation. I used to keep mine up so theyd sleep on the plane. I flew alone with my who was 2 months old. I fed him to stop ear pain and he slept. People were so nice. Holding him for me when I went to the toilet...I ended up walking into arrivals with an entourage of 10 people, holding my bags, loooking out for my car hire...it was amazing...They all just wanted to help. Im still so grateful to all of them years later. Please help those with kids. it doesnt take much.
My grand daughter and her husband have been stationed in Okinawa now for 3 years, they have 2 boys age 4 and 1. They finally get to come home for 2 weeks before they go to the next place of assignment. I certainly hope they do not have to put up with any of these mean inconsiderate people. Any well mannered kids will get restless on a 13 hour flight. Please people. Be considerate, you don't know the circumstances of why they are flying.