My family and I went on vacation and flew Air Canada to get to our destination. The flight was fabulous by the way but we literally made it just in time due to the long line ups at the check-in and customs (why weren’t there more employees behind the counters, I fail to understand).
On the plane, my husband was sitting in the aisle seat, and me and my two kids were just across from him filling up the row (why does dad get to sit by himself? That’s another post 😉
The Destroyer sat in the aisle seat while my the Boss sat by the window. The Destroyer stretched out his legs, reaching the back of the seat in front of us. As you know, there isn’t much leg room in Economy. I swear if I had the money I’d fly executive/first class just to have a little more room.
Immediately, the man sitting in front of us, who is wearing earphones, reaches behind and taps on my sons legs.
Ok… the man seems to be playful in his gesture. We tell my son to stop kicking his legs and he does.
But he’s a kid after all… maybe 20 minutes later, he stretches out his legs again, tapping the seat.
The man does it again. I tell my son to stop and remind him that there is someone sitting in front of him. The Destroyer is a kid – all of four years old. Too short to really see the person sitting in front of him, he needed to be reminded that there was someone there and that it was bothersome.
Later during the flight, my boys switched seats. Of course the boys saved going to bathroom at the most inopportune times – like when the plane was taking off and landing. The Boss had to go and I took him. As we got back to our seats, he happened to hit the seat yet again – and so did I as I was squeezing to get into the middle seat.
As we settled back down, the man in front of us reached back and pushed my son’s feet with a little more force.
I just about had it.
I tapped on the man’s shoulder. He removes his earphones and looks back at me.
“Don’t touch my son,” I said.
“Tell your son to stop kicking my seat,” he said.
“You can turn around and talk to us but don’t touch my son.”
He turned around and stopped the conversation there… of course I had to mutter a few more things, like “he’s just a kid” and “how rude”.
The annoying stares we received from the man and the other couple sitting in front of us made me realize – some people really don’t like kids!
Not just traveling with them but any time – period.
The hubs didn’t even realize what was going on – he was too busy watching a movie, of course. That’s another post 😉
Have you ever had a bad experience traveling with your kids? If so, how did you handle it?
11 Comments
That man had no class. No matter the situation u never touch someone else’s child. I think u had a lot of patience in dealing with him. And yes there are alot of people that don’t like children. Just be glad they were not your parent.
Thanks Elise 🙂
I think some people have no idea of the effort parents make (or should I say mums make?) when travelling with very young children. However, regardless or whether you have much experience of children or not, I would have thought that anyone would realise that being squashed up in a plane is far from perfect for anyone and that civil behaviour is one way of making a bad situation tolerable.
Mums travelling with young kids always earn my admiration.
He should not have touched your child, but at the same time, you are the parent, you do have authority and you should not be afraid to use it. I don’t mean physically harm your child, but be firm, as in vocal, while still loving. When we make powerful statements, such as, “But he’s a kid after all”, we don’t put enough faith in our children’s ability to behave properly. I’m not taking that man’s side, but I do encourage all of us to put ourselves in his shoes and imagine there is a child behind us kicking the seat for hours at a time. It’s pretty hard to ignore, right?
There was no child kicking anyone for “hours” at a time… I quickly stopped my child from kicking the seat within seconds. “He’s a kid after all” means that kids can forget the rules and need to be reminded of them, especially a four-year-old boy. I don’t know about you but my boys, at this age, need reminders.
Hey Maria… sorry that happened. I am not much of a kid person but that is just rude.
It did not happen with my kids – don’t have any, but a friends as I was traveling with the whole family. But we were staying at an Inn, and were told that on the second day that kids below 12 were usually not allowed. That put really the dumper on the whole experience, even though we were about to checkout in a couple of hours anyhow.
They complained that *I* did not clearly declare that there were two kids when I booked, and that it was clearly on their website. I actually called the hotel after a rebel while trying to find a place to stay, and when booking I told them two adults and two kids. Before calling, I checked out their website, and didn’t notice anything about kids. Still, I can not find anything about kids, Just something about pets not being allowed.
The hotel manager really lectured me on how the kids were screaming and not controlled as he was watching us during breakfast(we were being watched ..). All the kids were doing was saying everybody a hi or good morning … 2 and 4 … and they were a bit loud showing us how they are finishing their food.
It was a horrible experience, and not the only one in Monterey/Carmel area. I hate the area now. Anybody from the area, and think I am wrong … let me know.
Where exactly? How can a hotel not allow kids under 12???
God, grow up!
Oh yes, we should all understand u…w children. I travel half million miles a year and encounter some of the dumbest parents and most disrespectful kids on the planet. Oh yes, ur sweet little ball of joy just needs a reminder…..every three minutes which u and most parents don’t do. Ive had kids kick my seat and asked the kid to stop numerous times…to no avail. This is w the parent watching!!!!!
Then I ask the parent…to no avail. How dare I request that this sweet and perfect child refrain from being a child. I’d never touch a child but I gotta tell u that I’ve been very inclined to want to just slap some sense into the parent(s) who are as thick as two bricks. I say grow up mommies and daddies who think the whole world revolves around ur child!!!!! And don’t even get me started on crying kids on airplanes”!!!!!
A vacation is better when you leave your brats at home with their grandma. I would be happy if I never laid eyes on another one in my life. Yes, I was a child once, but now that time is over. I’m sure one is being raised now that will steal my job from me in 20 years. I love my 15 year old niece, but the rest of them can go to hell along with the SUV-driving maws on their cell phones.