Long-haul flights can be uncomfortable without the added factor of confrontation. Unfortunately, one father-daughter duo had to deal with a cramped plane and a child whose parents neglected to control him on top of the discomfort of travel.
An airplane flying against a sunset background | Source: Shutterstock
A few years ago, during a long night flight back from India, a family found themselves embroiled in a conflict with the family sitting behind them. The father and his then-14-year-old daughter were seated in front of a trio: a couple and their son, who was approximately 9 or 10 years old.
The plane ascended into the night sky, but the tranquility of the journey was soon disrupted by the the little boy behind them repetitively kicking the daughter’s chair. Initially, the father addressed the issue with a polite request for the boy to cease his kicking. The boy stopped, but only for a short time before he started again.
An upset child on an airplane | Source: Shutterstock
In a strategic move, the father reclined his seat fully, disturbing the boy’s mother seated behind him. When the mom and her husband protested, seeking the intervention of a flight attendant, she asked if the man wanted to keep his seat reclined. The father responded in the affirmative and the flight attendant confirmed he could do as he pleased.
The couple then exchanged a few whispers, which led to their little boy no longer kicking the young girl’s seat. However, her father kept his seat reclined for an hour so that he could be sure the couple had learned their lesson.
An airplane passenger sleeping in a reclined seat | Source: Shutterstock
Many people were entertained by the story. One person suggested that the father should have waited until the couple had received drinks and then reclined his seat fully, causing the drinks to spill on them.
Another person shared that many people wouldn’t understand how something was impacting others until they were directly impacted by something themselves. The commenter shared that since the couple couldn’t feel their son’s kicks in the chair, they couldn’t care less about how it was affecting someone else. However, when their comfort was compromised, they knew they had to do something.
A frustrated male airplane passenger | Source: Shutterstock
Some people even shared similar stories to the one this poster shared. One woman shared that she had been on a flight on her way back from Egypt when a man was seated behind her. He was indignant that a woman should be sitting in front of him, which led to him aggressively kicking her seat each time she moved.
At one point, the woman leaned back slightly, prompting the man to call a flight attendant over. The man screamed that a woman shouldn’t be allowed into his space. He pushed her seat as hard as possible in an effort to straighten the seat and no longer have it near him.
A sleeping female passenger on a plane | Source: Shutterstock
The flight attendant told the man that the woman was allowed to lean her seat back if she wanted to. The woman’s husband offered to switch seats with her, but she remained steadfast in her resolve to stay in her seat for the seven-hour flight.
Another Reddit user shared that they were 18 when they traveled from the US to the UK. They sat in front of a child who was kicking their chair and causing general discomfort. The traveler politely turned to the child’s mom and asked if she could tell her child to stop kicking the seat.
A mischevious child on a plane | Source: Shutterstock
The child’s mother shrugged and said her child could do what he wanted to do. The commenter replied that they could also do what they wanted and that unless the mother wanted things to get ugly, she should reign her child in. The person said they would embarrass the woman if she did not control her child.
The mother seemed nonplussed, so the traveler stood up and shouted to the plane that they were having an issue with the child. They then asked if anyone else was experiencing the same issue or if the child’s mother just didn’t know how to parent. The woman became enraged, but the person did not care.
A sheepish woman avoiding eye contact | Source: Shutterstock
When the flight was over, the traveler walked into the airport and was greeted by their friends. The mother and her son walked past the group with their heads down, not saying anything.
While these parents didn’t know how to control their children on the plane, one mother was not even allowed to get on the plane with her child. Read the full story here.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Sir Elton John’s Surprising Parenting Method: His 2 Sons Do Chores for Pocket Money
Sir Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, have been together for more than 20 years. They have two sons, Zackary and Elijah, and they are working hard to raise them to be humble and understand the value of money.
Sir Elton John is a famous musician with 32 albums and shows no signs of slowing down. At 73, he still gets many gig bookings.
Even though Sir Elton John has had a successful career for over 30 years, he is now focusing more on his personal life, including his marriage to David Furnish and their two sons, Zachary and Elijah.
Before becoming a parent, John and Furnish had a whirlwind romance that began in 1993. John said he returned to his home in Windsor and wanted to meet new people, so he asked a friend to organize a dinner. David Furnish was among the guests, and John felt an immediate connection with him. He liked that Furnish was a bit shy and dressed nicely.
The next day, they went on a date, which led to their long-term relationship. They were in a civil partnership for nine years and got married in 2014. They shared their wedding day with their sons, who were ring bearers, and posted about it on Instagram.
For John and Furnish, sharing their special day with their kids was heartwarming, especially since their journey to becoming parents was challenging. In 2009, they connected with a Ukrainian boy named Lev at an orphanage for children with HIV. They wanted to help him because he came from a broken family, but the government didn’t allow it since Lev was considered too old. Despite this, they continued to support and talk to him
Meeting Lev made John realize that he could become a father. He admitted he never thought he’d have kids because he felt too old. Shortly after, they had their first son, Zachary, in 2010 via surrogate, and their second son, Elijah, in 2013.
**Raising Kids Out of the Spotlight**
Even with their busy lives, the couple wanted to be very involved in their children’s lives. “We don’t want to leave raising our kids to nannies and housekeepers,” said Furnish. Becoming parents was the best decision for them, and their main goal now is to raise their sons to be happy and healthy.
John wrote a touching letter to his sons, saying how much they have changed his life. “Zachary and Elijah, you are the greatest gifts I’ve ever received. You’ve filled my heart with love and my life with purpose and meaning in ways I didn’t think were possible,” the singer wrote.
John and Furnish are proud of their family and want their children to always remember the love and support they will receive from their parents.
Since becoming parents, John has talked about how his views on life have changed. He and his husband now focus more on spending quality time with their sons than on material things. John admitted that they used to spend a lot before having kids, but now they have cut back and focus on only what they need.
The couple has also been teaching their children about the value of money and the effort needed to earn it. John knows his kids have a comfortable life but wants them to stay humble. He doesn’t plan to leave them his entire estate. Instead, he wants to provide a good life while keeping them grounded. He explained:
“Of course, I want to leave my boys in a good financial position. But giving kids everything can ruin their lives.”
From when their sons were toddlers, John has worked to teach them about money. At ages five and three, Zachary and Elijah might not have fully grasped their parents’ fame, but John and Furnish taught them about saving and spending.
Back in 2016, John shared that the boys would earn £3 ($3.74) for doing chores around the kitchen or garden. They would then split their money into three categories: charity, savings, and spending. As they grew older, their chores included cleaning their rooms, and they earned stars for each task they completed.
Although their children’s lives are far from ordinary, John and Furnish strive to keep things as normal as possible. John mentioned that their kids live like local children and are not isolated behind the gates of a mansion.
When asked about raising his kids in the spotlight, John acknowledged the challenges but said he finds the public “brilliant” and “not hostile.” He doesn’t mind taking photos with his family and enjoys spending time with them outside their home, like going out for pizza or a movie.
John makes sure not to miss important moments with his children due to his fame. He often picks them up and drops them off at school.
**Elton John Shows Off His Sons**
John and his husband usually keep their sons away from social media, but the “Rocket Man” singer recently shared a rare photo of Furnish, their sons, and their godmother, Lady Gaga. John expressed his sadness at not being able to join them for the photo but sent his love.
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