“He’s A Child”

August 10, 2010

in Baby & Kid Stories

On a recent flight to Edinburgh, a woman boarded the plane with 3 children (only one of whom was under 5, the others were about 10-12). As I boarded, I found a window seat but did not realize it was near this woman and her tribe of wild Indians.

Before the plane took off, the son was talking very loudly in two languages, one to his mother and the other to his father (sitting across the aisle). This continued as we took off and we could clearly hear the entire discussion above the drone of the plane. Once we were in the air, the boy decided he wasn’t going to sit still during the flight and began to kick the lower back of my seat, pulled on the top of the seat, pushed it, fell against it as if he were out on a playing field and seemed to have forgotten he was within the confines of an airplane and that the seat he was at war with was mine.

Since the flight was over 2 hours, I thought that by glaring at the mother each time he kicked me she would “get the message.” She did, but pretended not to and after an hour I’d had more than enough and asked her to tell her son to stop as he was incessantly kicking me in the lower back. Her response was “He’s a child,” as if that was an excuse for his poor behavior or her complete lack of parental skills…

For the rest of the flight (over an hour) I was obliged to sit leaning forward in my seat to avoid being kicked in the lower back.

I still wonder who was worse, the obnoxious son or his sorry excuse of a mother.

{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

Hugh August 10, 2010 at 11:21 pm

And you didn't ask the FA for help, why?

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Karl August 11, 2010 at 3:44 am

What are you, a wussy? No spine to speak up in the first minute this kid started to kick your seat? A very stern verbal respond to this little fellow would had done the trick. If not proceed to step # 2: Call the the FA!

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madachode August 11, 2010 at 3:45 am

Don't complain about something that you did nothing to control. Glaring at someone is not going to solve the problem yet you come here to complain about some kid kicking your seat? He should have kicked some sense into your head for 2 hours then maybe you would have stood up for yourself.

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Billy August 11, 2010 at 3:55 am

Both the mom and the kid need a good slap.

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John August 11, 2010 at 3:56 am

Slap a hoe!! 🙂

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Jim August 11, 2010 at 6:35 am

Karl and Madachode,

I think the poster handled this very politely. The Mother should have been observant of her children, and she should have stopped the child from being loud, kicking the seat, etc… before it became an issue.

So, when this did not happen, a look her way or glare is apprporiate. And, would be understood by most. And, most parents would then stop the child at that point.

It is not the other passengers position or responsibility to insure that parents make their children behave accordingly.

In this case, the mother was very rude to let this become an issue.

However, I would not have let this go on so long. I would have said something to the Mother after the glare didn't work. And, then I would have called the FA when the Mother did nothing.

It is rude parents like this that do not know how to parent their children, that make many have bad impressions of all children on planes.

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Aaron August 11, 2010 at 11:19 am

If they had sections for those traveling with kids and babies, the kids could kick each others' seats, causing much laughter and farting.

But, the poster has to speak up assertively and the mother is completely irresponsible.

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Eric August 13, 2010 at 11:19 am

I would have politely asked the mother to control her little hellion. Once that failed I would have summoned the FA and demanded the mother be required to swap seats with me, then her little brats could kick the back of the seat all they want.

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The Teenaged Tourist August 14, 2010 at 9:00 pm

I would have demanded that the mother and I swap seats since I won't have a kid kicking my seat and she 'claims' to have the ability to suck it all up. If all else fails, call a flight attendant.

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Brownstain August 16, 2010 at 5:22 am

Time to cull the herd.

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Tux November 15, 2010 at 8:24 am

Through the years I've learned that the phrase "He/she is just a kid" is synonymous with "I know he/she is being a nightmare but I don't feel like being a parent today, so you just shut up."

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Dr. Sex Potato February 13, 2013 at 10:34 am

Pack of wild WHAT now? You deserve a kick in the seat.

Reply

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