Have you ever been seated in front of a kicking toddler on a plane? Sally Zou brings us this Perspective.
Imagine a future when travelers will no longer have to put up with crying infants, seat-kicking toddlers, or window shade slamming preschoolers. A world where the only noise is the hum of the engine. Children are banned from airplanes until they are fully airplane trained. One kick on the seat, hit the Call Button and the family will be escorted out. As they make their way out down the aisle, let’s not forget to use our judgmental looks to express our disbelief, especially toward the Mom. What have you done to your kids? How could you infringe on other people’s comfort? How hard can it be to just calm them down?
Before I had kids, I too could not tolerate those restless creatures. Their feet are flying all over the place. Their piercing screams and uncontrollable tantrum are beyond comprehension. Now, as a Mom of two young boys, my perspective has shifted. I understand that those little humans are not designed to sit still. Especially when past their nap time, these little rebels often act up not to torture everyone, but simply because they are tired. They are not playing with the tray table to annoy the heck out of you; it’s just their phase of being curious and constantly exploring. I am not saying they are all angels. The naughty ones can be quite a handful at times, not because they are out to get you, but because in their world, everyone is playful and ready to have a bit of fun. Children cannot fully express themselves, so as parents, we speak for them.
I also want to speak for those guilty looking Moms. Believe us, it is that hard to control those little jumpy feet, to stop those curious fingers from poking around, and to calm down their burst of laughter or tears. Like many women, we are conditioned to prioritize others’ needs over our own. Even before external pressure kicks in, we are already giving ourselves a hard time for not meeting the societal expectations of perfect Moms.