Yesterday I flew home on an evening flight. The flight was full and I was sat across the row from a woman with her little who was under two. Honestly, when I first saw they were across from me, I was a bit happy. I was missing my own little and was looking forward to being somewhat close to a little one. I'm pretty sure you other moms get me...

Well, not even before we took off the little man gave her the whole alligator roll move. She tried her best to tame him. The flight attendant came over and told her she would have to hold him in her lap since he was under two. (I'm over here thinking...uhhh..she is trying. Way to make her way more uncomfortable Miss Flight Attendant...but me being shy didn't say anything).

After the whole alligator roll, he figured the best way to get to his mama was to yell. And cry. And then yell cry. He was LOUD. The poor woman tried her best to tame him. I heard her offer him juice. In desperation to get him to quiet down she offered him some candy. (while I'm not sure that helped, she was trying everything). Little man just wasn't having it. He didn't want anything to do with sitting still.

I thought about what I would probably want if I was in that situation. Honestly, I would rather that people ignore my child's wild behavior. Not encourage it. And honestly, that is what everyone on that flight did. The man in front of her continually got his seat kicked. The mother constantly slid the child's legs away from the seatback. The man behind her would just barely fall asleep and little man would decide to stand up and stick his head behind his seat. He was just all over the place.

I felt exhausted for this woman. He did not let up for the whole hour and forty five minute flight. I could tell she was embarrassed and struggling. I wished I had something to offer her other than a sympathetic smile. After about 20 minutes of her wrestling him, I was checking my phone to see if by chance I had any of Lily's movies downloaded on my phone. But I didn't. (She really doesn't care for much tv or screen time.)

I feel like all parents can relate to attempting to tame a wild child in public...I mean especially when it is close to normal bedtime. I felt sympathy towards her because while I haven't experienced the alligator roll in public or the yelling/crying to draw attention...I know my days are coming. I know my daughter will embarrass me or exhaust me in public. I know I will have to debate on how I decide to correct her in public. Will people think I am too weak? Or will they think I'm too strong-willed against my curious child?

Most times when people see this behavior in public, I hear..."My child would never..." "They would get a spanking" "They better sit still or else" and so on. I honestly I fully expect this from my daughter at some point. I fully expect that she won't know how to regulate her emotions in a new scary place. Can you imagine what it is like for a toddler to be pushed around a very busy airport? Made to wait in lines, possibly watch their new wheelie luggage be taken away from them. Then waiting in more lines to board. Then to wait in this seat that has nothing interesting in it. But wow everything else and everyone else is so interesting. But I'm made to sit still and well I don't want to sit still. I think toddlers and children need more grace than they are given. They are experiencing so many things for the very first time. I think parents attempting to help regulate those children's emotions need more grace as well. So what if a flight is a little more noisy than usual. Can you hear anything over the jet engine anyways? Weren't you going to put in headphones anyways? Give that mama more grace and less judgment. She honestly needs it. I see you mama. ❤

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