Why I'm Afraid To Fly With My Kids!

From the Community…

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  Posted by calliope Sun Nov 1, 2009 7:12pm PST

  there must have been more to it than throwing a kid off a plane for talking. some parents get very defensive and hostile regarding criticism of their child. that said, i probably would have been thrown off the plane because a child talking is music to my ears. and i would not go for anyone telling my kids to stop being kids.

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  Posted by kriste Sun Nov 1, 2009 11:43pm PST

  when i was 21 i had a 3 year old and a new born. we planned to fly from southern california to chicago to see my husband who was at great lakes naval training center. i had so much stuff to carry on, and we got there late so we didn't get to board early. i too was so worried about how they'd react to the flight but they were so amazing! a couple passengers actually took up collection and gave me money to take my son to get ice cream once we landed! it was really great experience for us, much better then time before hubby left san diego when two kids and i took train and 3 year old decided to stop in aisle and refuse to walk...

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  Posted by carol Mon Nov 2, 2009 6:15am PST

  if possible take them one at a time on short trips to the airport or even on a short flight and talk to them about what is expected of them when you go as a group to fly. work well with my children who are now 14,12, and 8yr old boy with austim so i know the stress of flying

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  Posted by Mo B Mon Nov 2, 2009 6:35am PST

  I've been flying with my daughter since she was 1, we have had some problems but nothing that would of caused us to get kicked off the plane. She loves flying, I make sure to buy a few new things, have an ipod and dvd player and on our cross country tirps that we take a few times a year she is happy as can be. Anyone who would get upset at a kid talking can just suffer through it, after all they were a kid at some point and I'm sure there was someone who was annoyed by them in their lifetime. We all pay for a ticket knowing that there maybe a screaming baby or that annoying person who likes to take over my seat (why isn't he kicked off if he is bothering me but a child is).

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  Posted by julie Tue Nov 3, 2009 7:09am PST

  The real story was this:

  In a move that might make the Supernanny proud, Southwest Airlines sent a two-year-old (and his mother) to a time out, kicking them off of a flight from Amarillo to San Jose last week. It seems that the rowdy toddler was making such a ruckus that the rest of the passengers could not hear the preflight safety announcements. The kid's mother says that she was sure his screams of "Go plane go!" and "I want Daddy!" would have subsided once they were in the air, but the flight crew were not as confidant and ended up taxiing the plane back to the gate and booting the twosome off the plane.

  It went on to say 76% of people polled agreed with the airlines action. I would be one of the 76%... control the kids or even better, dont fly until they are older.

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  Posted by Mysterious Gryphon Tue Nov 3, 2009 7:19am PST

  First off, i nthe itnerest of full disclosure, let me say that I am not a parent, nor do I plan to become one at any point. I am a teacher, and have taught preschool, elementary, high school, and college. I have also been a full-time nanny for babies and toddlers.

  Okay. When a person makes the choice to become a parent, he or she is choosing to give up certain things in life because he or she feels that parenthood is a more worthy goal. You simply cannot have life be the easy, peacful, spontaneous journey it was before baby. Remember that having a baby was BY CHOICE. No one made that coice for you - you freely chose it.

  This means that you must plan ahead and pack a diaper bag - and then be willing to transport it with you wherever you go. You must have formula or pumped breast milk on hand, or else be willing to cover up your breast with a blanket while you breastfeed in public. You must spend inordinate amounts of money on that child's welfare.

  You must also remove a crying child from a restaurant, church, or other public space. Yes, it's too bad that you will miss out on whateve you were doing, but you decided the day you conceived that it was a sacrifice worth making. You can't go back on it now.

  People who decide to have children must understand that the rambunctiousness and talkativeness of those children will inevitably disturb those who have chosen not to have them - or those who have carefully, painstakingly made plans to have a few hours without those children and their noises.

  When you got pregnant, you made a pledge to be the sole guardian of that child. You promised to bear the full weight of raising it, financially and emotionally. If visiting Grandma requires a transcontinental trek, you will simply have to choose a means of transport that does not interfere with others. I guess that emans you're taking the extra time to drive - or else you could always ask Grandma to come visit you for a change.

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  Posted by Belinda Tue Nov 3, 2009 7:39am PST

  Well said Mysterious Gryphon!

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  Posted by Theresa Tue Nov 3, 2009 9:08am PST

  wow.

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  Posted by ClaudiaS Tue Nov 3, 2009 10:38am PST

  There is a difference between a kid being excited and throwing a fit.

  I have 2 boys and my husband was in the AirForce. My family lives in germany and me and my 2 sons fly there every summer by ourselves. We started flying alone by the time my first son was 1 year old. Both of them get to pack their own backpack with their favorite toys and books and i always have some special things in my backpack. It`s a 12 hr flight and most of the time I don`t get to sleep or read a book or watch the movie, but that`s part of being a mom

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  Posted by Debbie Tue Nov 3, 2009 11:26am PST

  i have a 3 year old he flys all the time just find things to keep them buisy with if you think they are just going to sit there and do nothing your got it wrong

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