Comments in response to A Parent's Perspective on Air Travel
I listened to Marjorie Sun's report on my local Grand Rapids Michigan
Public Radio station on Saturday, March 25th, and was reminded of an
inner struggle I've faced when traveling with unruly children sitting
nearby.
Although I don't have any children of my own, I do sympathize with
weary parents and restless
children travelers, as we all get tired and cranky when enduring the
uncertainties and constantly
changing schedules with our domestic airline industry. However, as
mentioned by one of the travelers in Marjorie's report, I have little
patience with young children, generally aged 3 to 6 or so, kicking
the back of my seat or flipping the tray tables up and down
repetitively. When I'm especially tired, I am able to nap somewhat
successfully with children talking nearby or even with babies crying
incessantly. I understand the chattering of toddlers and certainly
the instinctive irritability of infants. But, when a young child is
allowed to disturb the passenger sitting in the row of seats in front
of him or her, I get frustrated with the parent for not restraining
the child. My inner struggle: do I say something to the child or the
parent ? What can I say to express my distress without sounding like
an angry child-loathing adult ? Do I speak to the child directly or
to the parent ? In the past, I've just held my tongue, hoping the
parent would eventually stop the child. But in most cases, I end up
frazzled with elevated blood pressure (and sometimes a sore back) by
the time the flight is over.
Kevin
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