Little Travel Buddies

I had one of the most "interesting" flights home on Tuesday. Having a number of friends who have small children and knowing that it must be extremely difficult to travel, let alone fly, with them, I always try to be nice to families on a plane. I give them a nice smile when waiting at the gate or boarding the plane and I resist the urge to turn around and stare when their kid is screaming at the top of its lungs. My ears hurt from the pressure change sometimes and I get antsy sitting for hours in that tiny seat too. So I can only imagine what these kids are enduring, especially the small babies who have no idea what's happening.

This last flight however completely tested my will to be nice or understanding. It even tested my restraint from trying to squeeze myself out of my window. There was not one baby on my flight, not even two, but three babies and two toddlers on this flight! It was insanity 50,000 feet in the air. I knew it would be a rough flight as I watched one toddler completely dominate his parents outside of the gate. These people had no control and that kid was a little ball of destruction. I just knew keeping him in his seat would be an interesting task to watch. What I was not prepared for was the baby who was hollering as we boarded the plane. It's one thing to scream as we take of and land or even to get fussy mid-flight. But this baby was hollering in all known vocal ranges before half the plane was filled.

I was then blessed with the presence of the third baby directly behind me! Luckily the airline made sure to spread each family throughout the plane. So this little guy and his dad sat behind me while mom was further back on the plane. It became very obvious who normally watched junior as dad had no idea what he was doing. I resisted the urge to offer to help even though I watched a flight attendant hold and slightly calm screaming baby # 1 in the front of the plane, while she poured drinks one handed!

Miraculously, we all survived the flight and surprisingly everyone kept calm even though there were times of quiet murmuring. I think headphones were the most appreciated item on that flight. And as I de-boarded the plane with a small migraine I was grateful that I do not have to worry about traveling with my own children for quite some time. I will just sympathize with all the parents out their.