Unless you pay extra for premium comfort, air travel can be a drag. You go through long queues for security and luggage, and then are subjected to seats that are not built for a full-grown adult.
Being within the vicinity of rowdy, uncontrollable children makes the experience even more stressful. This is what a woman went through during her flight back from an emotionally exhausting weekend.
The worst part: people blamed her for not keeping the kids in check, as the actual parents intentionally sat behind and got inebriated. Scroll down to see the full story, as well as our conversation with VIP flight attendant and aviation & business trainer Paula Adams, who was kind enough to share her insights on flying with children.
A parent must ensure that their children remain well-behaved during a flight
Image credits: EyeEm (not the actual photo)
However, this couple intentionally sat behind their rowdy kids and had a few drinks
Image credits: EyeEm (not the actual photo)
Unfortunately, the woman sitting next to the little tots took the heat
Image credits: ijeab (not the actual photo)
But because she was mentally exhausted, she wasn’t able to do anything
Image credits: helluvaresearcher
The lack of preparation is a common mistake parents make when flying with young kids
Part of parental responsibility during flights is to ensure that the kids aren’t a nuisance to other passengers. And according to Paula, most people come ill-prepared.
As she told Bored Panda, one of the biggest mistakes is to expect your children to “behave like seasoned adults.” Some would rely entirely on devices and have no backup plan when the gadget suddenly conks out or runs out of battery.
When the iPad fails, Paula advises engaging their senses and energy in a hands-on way. It could be through sticker books, puzzle boards, or storytelling games like “I Spy.” She emphasizes that these activities should not disturb everyone else on the flight.
“Flight missions” are also an excellent option, Paula says, suggesting things like making them “in charge” of the snack list.
“My golden rule? Routine + Responsibility,” she said. “Most kids don’t want to be ‘bad’ – they’re just uncomfortable or bored. Giving them a purpose is often more effective than giving them a punishment.”
Dealing with checked-out parents requires a polite but firm approach
The story’s author was in a tough spot when everyone started giving her the side-eye because of the unruly children. What made her situation worse was that the parents brushed it all off as if there was nothing problematic.
Paula’s initial suggestion was to address both the kids and parents in an empathetic yet assertive way. However, none of these worked for the woman.
In this case, Paula advises calling the attention of the flight attendants who are trained to handle far worse situations.
“If all else fails, throw on your noise-canceling headphones, center your inner Zen, and try to become the embodiment of patience,” she said.
“Deflect glares with humor or confidence”
Paula says being mistaken as the parent of misbehaving children is a common occurrence, something she describes as an “elite level of air-travel chaos.” Ultimately, it all comes down to how you handle it.
Her first piece of advice is to establish early on that you’re not the parent. It could be through a “light-hearted PSA” that goes something like, “These aren’t my kids, I just got the wildcard seat today.”
Paula adds that flight attendants are typically accommodating to any request, as long as the situation is explained clearly.
“If we know you’re stressed and misassigned by assumption, and if the flight is not full, then we’ll go the extra mile – or at least offer an aisle seat near peace and quiet,” she said.
But most importantly, Paula advises handling the situation with poise. Wisecracks like “Believe me, if they were mine, they’d be quieter” help break the tension and reset assumptions.
The woman does deserve props for not losing her patience despite her futile efforts. She seemed to have kept her calm, even though she was frustrated on the inside, something many people likely wouldn’t have been able to do.
People in the comments gave their suggestions, and the woman addressed some of them
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