'People need to stop doing this on planes, seriously'
OPINION - How things have changed. At least that's what I thought on a recent flight from Sydney to New Zealand.
Getting bumped, elbowed, poked by the in-flight menu, and having twistie crumbs spilled on me by a small human asking 100 questions would have in the past had me rolling my eyes out of frustration.
And generally seen for an unpleasant mood for the whole flight.
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A recent flight saw me completely change my mind on something. Getty Images/iStockphoto
I was travelling solo on a work trip and had already been 'downgraded' from a preferred seat near the front to something a little further back in the plane (goodbye view).
When I eventually took my seat on the window over the wing I was sorting my belongings when a mother with her four children arrived to take up the remaining seats in my row.
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Three of the children took up the row across the aisle, while she and her youngest son sat next to me.
I could almost see and hear 'old-me' huffing a sigh.
This was a relatively short flight (three hours) but there were no in seat TV screens to provide entertainment for the littlies.
As such the mother quickly swung into action to have her kids prepped, with chewing gum for their ears, snacks and the like.
I spared a glance for her. And I'm sure she often gets looks of frustration. But instead of that I looked at her and said:
"I'm taking notes."
There is no point getting frustrated at children on planes. Getty
You see, I've become a mother myself in the last year. I'm preparing to set out on a long-haul flight with baby in the not too distance future and I couldn't help but simply appreciate what she was doing.
It's hard work travelling with kids. Let alone four of them (all seemingly under the age of 10).
Honestly I'm not sure why I used to get so annoyed by kids on flights. I suppose I lacked the perspective.
Not understanding the fact that kids will be kids, and most parents are doing everything they can to make the flight comfortable, for their kids, for themselves, and for the passengers around them.
We were on a Virgin flight to Queenstown. Virgin
Once my little seat buddy had been reminded a few times that the tray table was not a toy, he snacked on his lollies, and then proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes happily colouring.
The other three kids eventually had a kid's show set up on a phone to occupy them (which they dutifully shared around), and when I looked over a little later, mum was sat with her head in her hands, eyes closed for just a moment, no doubt cherishing the few seconds of peace.
All I could think was "good job".
To anyone who feels the need to judge (or even worse) pipe up at parents who have already got enough on their plate, please don't.
All it does is make everyone feel bad. Yes, including you.
