So, you know how mums these days flood online forums with endless questions about what on earth to pack in a first aid kit and whether theyll be allowed to bring the pram into the cabin? Meanwhile, there are other travellers nearby gearing themselves up for another tense flight. It all seems a bit straightforward now. Back in the day, some brave soul mightve tried to shame those grumpy passengers and remind everyone that children deserve a bit of patience. But now? Theres actually talk about airlines putting up near-segregated sections one for families, one for everyone else. When did we get to this point?
Hope you have a pleasant flight!
Seriously, when did it become trendy to keep living life full throttle after having a child? Go back to work, socialise, head to events, travel as much as you fancy, all with your little one in tow, no matter how old they are. Our mums didnt live like this not even close. I honestly cant picture a mum with a baby in a busy restaurant in, say, the 60s. Not even in the 80s, to be honest. It just wasnt a thing and really, that made perfect sense.
Lets be honest: no matter how much someone tries to deny it, travelling long distances with kids is stressful, both for the little ones and for the grown-ups. It takes actual effort to make things comfy for everyone, and not many are up for it. It seems like, as soon as people go on holiday, they stop trying altogether. Kids are left to their own devices and mums and dads just switch off, so the rest of us are left to deal with the aftermath.
Everyone wants a comfy, peaceful journey. Whos got the patience for two hours of turmoil, especially after paying a good bit of money for the ticket? People moan about the legroom, for goodness sake, just so they can stretch out. Never mind that what chance have you got if theres a five-year-old kicking off behind you, obsessed with how far he can make the seat swing? I dont remember a single soul laughing and joining in Lets see how big a goat you can be! That never happens.
Nursery, going extinct.
I tried to be polite once. This woman plopped down next to me with a baby who couldnt have been more than a year, and I immediately felt a wave of apprehension. Didnt take long to realise that wasnt the half of it she had a whole tribe with her. There they all were, settling in front, behind, and on every side, spreading their bits and bobs everywhere, chattering away, swapping bottles and dummies like it was pass-the-parcel. Honestly, I felt like all that was left was for them to adopt me too! It was far from lovely. They kept asking me to hold this or that, never a please, and several times I nearly got splashed with boiling water from someones flask. Brilliant. Nowhere to hide might as well have jumped out the window.
Another time, on a train, I witnessed an absolute marathon. A mum was drilling her four-year-old daughter with non-stop activities for all of the 26 hours we rattled down the tracks. The mum was doing her utmost not to let the girl bother anyone, but crikey the whole carriage was filled with endless Sweetheart, shall we go here? and Lets watch out the window! and Should we draw? Forty minutes of loud colouring, sifting through every crayon imaginable, discussing puppies and kittens and every single picture. Whos to say whats worse, honesty.
Its enough to make you understand why people raise their hands up and suggest, Perhaps you should just stay at home till your children are older. Fair enough if your little one can quietly draw for three hours and then nod off clutching a half-finished dog sketch, but honestly, do those children exist?
And thats not even mentioning babies wailing at takeoff and landing. It used to be just the odd one, if any, on board, but these days there might be three, even five, plus their delighted siblings racing and shrieking up and down the aisles. You tumble out of the cabin at the end pretty much as fast as the plane flew.
Dont get me wrong, Im not totally child-free, and Ive done my fair share of travelling with a little one mostly out of necessity. But honestly, I dont have the patience to be running after kids while on holiday. We first went away once she was old enough to be reasoned with as in, Sit here quietly, dont touch a thing. Waiting calmly, with maybe a colouring book but no running wild. But a lot of people just dont think that way. They show up armed with a bag full of educational activities and seem to think running round the place is essential for a growing child and that, apparently, is that.
