A question for parents

[stephbg]

On our bumpy 5 1/5hr flight from Brisbane to Perth, it was my fate to sit across the aisle from a mother, father, infant and toddler, all squeezed into 3 economy seats.



The kids ran through the usual range of kid behaviour, from angry screaming, to tired whimpering, to curious poking, and enthusiastic toy and lolly tossing. The father got to walk the aisles for a while when the toddler fell asleep across two seats. There were some protests during the enforced inactivity of turbulance.

I remember tikiwanderer writing not long ago that if you can distract other people's children on planes you would be doing them a service, but I couldn't pluck up the courage to engage in some naked hand puppet work. Parse those words carefully, people.

Later as we got off the plane I really wanted to tap the mother on the shoulder and tell her that I thought she and her partner had done a really good job of managing the kids. Not because the kids were "angels"--they most certainly were not--but that the parents had put in a consistent effort to keep them occupied and happy and I appreciated that effort. But again I lacked the courage to find the right words to express my thanks and admiration. I had smiled a few times at the mother during the flight, so perhaps that was enough.

So, my question for parents of small ones: How did I do? Should I have spoken up? Or was a bit of quiet support enough?

splanky wrote recently of bad supermarket behaviour by a rude man. I hope I did enough to distance myself from that kind of person.

Comments

[splanky.livejournal.com]

Smiling is great. I get more supportive smiles when Norah is being a bit noisy than rude comments. Quiet support is enough. It is appreciated.

Having said that, if you had spoken up the parents probably would have been very surprised and happy. Traveling on a plane with children is every parent's nightmare. To have someone recognise that and realise that the parent is putting the effort is in wonderful.

Just by posting this I think you are wonderful :)

[babalon-93.livejournal.com]

I agree with this, I think you did awesome. A supportive word is great, but a smile or nod that says 'I understand that being on a plane can be difficult for kids, but I totally accept that they are human beings with as much right to be here as me' is priceless.

[lauredhel.livejournal.com]

Smiling is terrific. Anything to relieve the feeling of "Argh, are people thinking that we're being annoying?"

Kid-distraction is also good, when obviously welcomed by the child and done non-creepily. Butting in to play games when you're trying to put a fussy baby to sleep = not so welcomed, too. So that's just a matter of basic cue-following (or should be).

And basic practical help, though on a plane there's less you can do. Taking a finished tray or cup might be one example, to stop them having to juggle so many things in the tiny space.

[transcendancing.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

This was awesome to read... yay you!

[callistra.livejournal.com]

Yes! *any* encouraging word or gesture is so rare!
:-(

[emma-in-oz.livejournal.com]

Pearl is very little and I can already say that any smile of encouragement is gratefully received.