Another day, another parent acting like a jerk on a plane. We've all been there, treading that oh-so-delicate balance of trying to keep our kids happy (and quiet) while respecting our fellow passengers. And there is no public space quite so challenging and sacred as 30,000-some feet in the sky, when everybody is in sitting-duck mode.
In this case, a mom travelling solo with two kids tried to keep one amused by watching Dora or Bubble Guppies on a tablet *without* headphones. Obviously, not everyone is a fan, so when the flight attendant asked the mom to kindly turn off the tablet, instead of complying she refused point-blank.
Now the easy solution here would have been for the child to wear headphones for her own private enjoyment, yet as the child wouldn't, the alternative was to simply switch off the gadget.
But instead of deferring to the order, the mom in question flew off the handle and talked about Her Rights. One thing led to another and—rightly or wrongly—anyone perceived as even remotely belligerent or uncooperative on a plane is met by security upon landing.
The mom sounded off and vowed to put the footage of her little chat with officers on YouTube. Thankfully for y'all, she followed through on her threat, and in the process showed herself up in a big way. No spoilers here, you'll have to watch around the two minute mark for the goods.
“I am an American citizen. I have rights, right?” she rants to the officers. Since when do a parent's or child's rights trump that of every other person on the planet? It's this kind of self-entitled attitude that gives us all a bad name.
I don't care whether you're a teenager or a pensioner or anyone in between, when you're in a public space (especially a cramped Boeing one at that), have some courtesy and don't do anything that would annoy the bejeezus out of anyone else.
If that means having your darling plugged into headphones to watch Dora, then so be it. If it means a Guppies hiatus for a few hours, then be a big girl and bite it.
You tell me, were officers right to put this mom back in her box or not?
This mom had the opposite from the flight from hell and wrote a viral letter about it.
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