A woman and her husband boarded a mammoth flight across the world, which would last a lengthy 15 hours, commencing at 8 p.m. Her sleep was unfortunately disrupted by a misbehaving child. Here is what she had to say:
Catch Up Sleep
The woman had already had a grueling 24-hour journey and was exhausted. Therefore, she decided that she would try to get some much-needed sleep throughout the flight, helping her to pass the time and feel well-rested upon arrival.
An Inconvenient Seatmate
On the flight, a family consisting of a mother, father, and their 3-year-old child shared the same row as the woman. The woman commented that the child was “older than the under 2 limit for a child to sit in a parent’s lap for free, for sure”.
Immediate Discomfort
The woman described how, upon taking off, the flight immediately became a miserable experience. “Throughout the first 2 hours, the child kicked my husband’s and my seat, stood up on their parent’s lap to grab my hair and pull on my shirt, and shoved papers in the back of the seat in between our seats, poking us.”
Kids Will Be Kids
Despite their frustration with the mischievous child, the woman and her husband bore these disruptions in silence. They understood the challenges of traveling with a child, gritted their teeth, and tried to relax.
Seeking Rest
Unfortunately, the child’s antics continued relentlessly, but after 4 hours of discomfort, the child finally fell asleep. The woman decided that it too was her turn to rest and reclined her seat, although not fully.
The Mother’s Request
Much to her dismay, the woman soon felt a tap on her shoulder from the mother sitting behind her. She was now crammed in her seat with the sleeping child and asked them to move their seat upright so that she could have more space.
Reluctance To Comply
Whilst the woman recognized the unfortunate discomfort that the mother was going through, she was reluctant to comply. She wrote, “I’m sure having a child in your lap is not pleasant, especially when they’re larger and on a long flight”. However, the woman believed the child should not have been sat on the mother’s lap at his age, so it wasn’t her problem.
The Dilemma
However, the woman’s conscience got in the way, leaving her at a crossroads. On one hand, she had endured hours of discomfort due to the child’s behavior and felt entitled to some comfort during their rest. On the other hand, they recognized that the mother was also facing difficulties, especially given the child’s size and the long duration of the flight.
Refusing to Move
Despite her deliberations, the woman decided that she would not agree to the request, keeping her chair in a reclined position. Whilst this remained the case for the rest of the flight, she still felt guilty that she was making the mother uncomfortable.
Seeking Forgiveness Online
Riddled with guilt, the woman confessed to her decision on an online forum. To her relief, the comments section was very forgiving. One writer defended her actions: “From the age of 2 a child should have its own seat, it is even required by a lot of airlines. So if the parents did not arrange that then it’s on them if their seat is too crammed with a parent and a larger child in it.”
Parents Were Selfish
Some people even believed that the parents were the only ones being selfish. “A 15-hour flight with a toddler on your lap?”, questioned one commenter rhetorically. “Buy them their own seat and do everyone a favor.”
Everyone Agrees
This attitude was shared in almost every comment. “Parents feel they are entitled to more comforts way too often”, someone wrote. “Simply for having children. I am not saying that people should be rude to parents and/or children. I’m saying that parents should not expect everyone to bend over backward for them.”
There’s Always One
However, in typical internet fashion, there was one person criticizing the woman, along with other commenters. “Am I the only person who thinks anyone who reclines their seat in economy is a jerk?”, they rightly asked.
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