Those of us who have traveled by plane have surely found ourselves in one of these situations: either we travel with a baby or small child, or we travel alone but we find children around, as happens in any commercial flight. Unfortunately, some people do not see that babies and young children travel by plane.
A sample of this is what a mother recently lived, who He wrote an open letter to the man who made it very clear that he felt annoyed at the simple presence of her and her daughter on the same plane as him.
Traveling with babies and young children by plane is rarely easy. Among all the extra things we should take "in case they are needed" and making sure that our children are comfortable and calm, the flight can become a true odyssey. But if we add to that the annoying looks of other passengers, our experience can become very uncomfortable.
Something like the latter was what happened to Stephanie Hollifield, a mother who was traveling with her daughter by plane for the first time. From the moment they entered it, He noticed that a passenger was very upset just by their presence on the plane.
In Babies and more, they expel a family from an airplane because their two-year-old daughter had started crying while boarding"The first time I saw you, it was when you sighed loudly as soon as you saw me and my daughter boarding the plane", is how Stephanie's letter begins, addressed to"the knight on flight 1451", a man who was traveling with his wife and whose seat was right in front of hers and his daughter.
By sitting in their places and fastening their belts, the man continued to snort and show that he felt annoyed at having them close while the girl played and laughed out loud, as children naturally do.
I was wondering if you had a bad day or if this grumpy temper was your usual behavior. I wondered if your wife felt embarrassed while she nodded silently at your frustrations. I was wondering if you had children. I was wondering a lot about you. Did you ask yourself something about us? Did you ask yourself something about this mother and her little daughter, who were traveling alone?
Stephanie says that they were both excited to live a new adventure, but that she was very nervous, because it was the first time she was traveling with a girl and alone. And even though he had prepared for advice, bringing toys and books, as well as movies for his daughter to see, sometimes children simply feel uncomfortable.
As much as she tried to keep her daughter calm and calm, making sure she never kicked the seat in front of them, the girl started crying when the plane took off, thus beginning a long tantrum in which there were screams and kicks.
She was awake from very early. She hadn't eaten much because she didn't like airport food. She was finishing recovering from sinusitis, and I was wondering if the altitude pressure was hurting her ears. She was tired and uncomfortable.
In Babies and more On the first flight of their baby, they apologize in advance to the passengers and give them with sweets: is it necessary to reach so much?While this was happening, the passenger in front of them continued complaining about both of them and seeing them with annoyance. Stephanie apologized to everyone around her, and was about to start crying: "I felt guilty and ashamed for not being able to control my own daughter".
Fortunately, a flight attendant kindly approached her and brought her daughter a glass and a straw to play, because the toys they were carrying did not attract her attention. And so, with the kindness of the flight attendant and a new distraction, her daughter finally calmed down. "Everything is fine "Traveling by plane is difficult for everyone, and you two are doing well"the flight attendant told Stephanie.
Somehow, his kindness calmed my baby. Somehow, his simple words made me feel better. She was right. We were doing well! We were doing the best we could. The problem was not with us, it was with you.
And that was how Stephanie managed to regain calm, because she was actually doing the best she could, and regarding the passenger, there would not be much he could do, because even he was upset from the moment he saw them board the plane. Then, he proceeded to explain some things:
What you need to know is that while children can be terribly inconvenient now, they will dominate the world when you are old and full of gray hair.
Children can be annoying and frankly hateful, but they are also innovative and bright.
These children may one day discover the cure for the type of cancer that is present in your family.
They can be selfish and noisy, but they can also be precious and loving.
They could grow to serve others, in a way that would make us want to go back in time and wish we had done it all over again.
They are the future.
They are a gift for your family, your community and the world.
We will need them, just as they need us now.
They need a kind word. They need the novelty of a plastic cup and a conversation with a new friend.
They need someone to see their mothers nervous in their eyes and tell them that they are doing great and that everything will be fine.
If you can't put on a smile and say hello, then a simple silence will be enough.
I understand, children can be a nuisance to some, but the next time you're forced to be close to one, I hope you're more like the flight attendant. And I hope that instead of frustration and annoyance, you feel hope and goodness.
This world already has enough negativity without us adding it, and perhaps the kindness you give to others today will be returned to you in the future.
Let's not forget that they are only children
Stephanie's post was well received and has had thousands of comments, because in addition to telling a situation in which many parents have met, It reminds us of something we sometimes forget: children are just that, children.
In Babies and more Do not complain, help: a passenger calms the baby of a mother who was traveling by plane with her three childrenHis intention is not to disturb or bother others, they are simply still too small to understand and manage their emotions or to know how to act and what to ask or say to feel better and calmer.
And as we have seen on previous occasions, it helps more a kind gesture than simply complaining. It doesn't cost us or take anything away from us to help, and sometimes, with the simple act of greeting a child or holding a baby in your arms for a few minutes, the whole experience can be very different.
