Thanks to my friend DJ at Dream Euro Trip, I have decided to participate in this year’s A to Z challenge.
Today is brought to you by the letter A.
Airplanes and small children
As a mom who not only loves to travel with her clan, but also actively encourages others to do the same, the topic of flying with kids is one that is close to my heart.
Many parents dread flying. We typically have no experience bringing our kids into an enclosed space with a bunch of strangers, limited in what we can bring to satisfy our kids, while depending on variables out of our control.
Sounds like fun a situation. Add the grief of knowing that most people around you have already decided that your children will ruin their flight, and I can see why more parents simply don’t want to do it.
If you are a parent traveling with a small child, ignore anyone around you who is not smiling. They’re either ignoring you or rolling their eyes at your decision to show your kid the world and you don’t need to pay them any mind. Know that your one job during this flight is to keep your child comfortable. It’s exhausting at times, but this is your responsibility. In the end, it will be ok. The flight will not last forever.
If you are traveling in the vicinity of a small child, think of it like turbulence. It can get bumpy, it can get uncomfortable. The person in charge is doing everything they can to fix the situation. It may be hard, you may need to wear your seatbelt (or headphones), but you will get to your destination.
I don’t have children so I can’t relate but I bet it’s a challenge but well worth being able to travel with you kids 🙂
I think it’s more often not too bad, but the stress leading up to it is horrible. All in all, completely worth it.
Good post! A lot of parents forget this, sometimes, but a lot of adult individuals do as well.
Thanks! I spend so much time reading about parents who don’t want to travel with their kids because they worry about the flight, but it really doesn’t have to be that bad.
“The flight will not last forever” TRUE! It must be hard though if you have a baby who cries all the time. How do you manage? Do you bring toys and stuff?
I used to bring a lot of stuff, but I’ve since stopped. My kids don’t seem to want 98% of the stuff I bring and are happy just playing with what’s on the plane and looking at people – and eating. The best thing for a parent to do is, really, ignore everything else and not let it stress them out. My kids are so much more relaxed when I am also relaxed.
Ohhhh the eye rolling… that I used to do. And now… I betcha its going to be payback. GREAT TIP!
Karma. I picked up my husband from an overseas flight once. The whole way home he was complaining about a screaming kid throughout the flight. When we got home, I shared my big news, yay! I’m pregnant!
I know people will eye roll… (I do it, too, when my kids are asleep – shhh!), but it’s best to ignore it and expect to be ignored.