Momma’s Coffee Break
June 27, 2008 by Eliza Ferree
Filed under Mommy Extras
Well it’s Friday and you made it through the week! So much has been going on in the world of baby but for today I’d like to just step back and catch up on all things in life. Which I’ve actually been doing, I got all caught up on posts, projects and deadlines and now it’s time to touch up on some baby topics.
I read a post this week that got me thinking and while it is controversial I thought we could all voice our opinions. Remember to keep it civilized though, some of us do have kids that read over our shoulders.
Gayla over at SuperNannyRules recently touched on that whole airplane scandal with the mom of a 2-year-old and getting kicked off the plane. Now no one will know the whole story so we can only assume what really went on given the stories that are online. Here’s the basics: The mother’s son is autistic and wouldn’t stay in his seat belt. The stewardess kept coming back to tighten his seat belt but because he can’t stand to be touched he threw a major fit. He ended up on the floor throwing his fit and the plane had to be turned around. Now I don’t know anything else, as their have been no passengers on that plane that have come forward, but I do know that before a plane can taxi off the ground EVERYONE must be buckled up. This could not happen as he would not do it and the mother did not want him touched. So my question to you is how could this have been prevented? What are some ways you control your child on a flight?
Once again since this is a Friday chat, you can go completely off topic and talk about the weather or what movie you’ve seen or want to see. Have fun!
Technorati Tags: momma’s coffee break,chat,supernannyrules.com,gayla,supernannyrules,mom kicked off plane,austistic child
I don’t know many details about this situation, but I think it’s one of those cases were everybody will have a better idea how to handle things next time.
The young mom might not have known how her son was going to react and the crew may never have dealt with a situation like that. It’s pretty unfortunate all the way around.
A few years ago, I was boarding a flight with my son, Max, who is severely disabled. He can’t sit up by himself and we could not have his wheelchair on the flight. They were wanting to place us - there were 5 of us - in seperate spots througout the cabin. I explained that I needed to sit with Max, that he needed me to hold him up. They asked for the passengers to give up a seat so that we could sit together and everyone just sat there looking at us. I explained that he would be leaning on whomever he sat beside. Finally, a lady - who was also disabled - gave up her seat for me.
I wrote about it over at Discussing Autism because the little boy was autistic. The problem was two-fold…the boy was a mess and the staff did not know how to deal with him. Both parties are, in my opinion, at fault.
I don’t have a child but I have an opinion, so I’ll share it. I don’t think they should have turned the plane around, I understand it was a risk to the childs safety but if they had waited he would have eventually tired himself out and calmed down enough to be buckled up, and it’s true seat belts are supposed to be checked before hand. If that’s the best way they can handle minor disturbance there’s an issue, that must have only humiliated and ostracized his mother. If I had a kid who hadn’t been on a flight before maybe I would have made sure they were calm before hand, or already relaxed, not that I know anything about flying with kids let alone autistic kids but maybe if he was comfortable he wouldn’t have been so.. animate?
Also to what Michelle said, I find it really depressing that no one would give up there seat for you, some people really don’t have a sense of compassion but it does make the ones who are kind more worth it,