Naughty kids, bad parenting, exhausted cabin crew
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Hi, no, not saying kids are angels 100% of the time.. I know I wasnt... but my mum did her best to keep me in hand the times I decided to play up. Still, it usually didnt get past a stage 2 smack (after a stage 1 'Look', of course 
)
The point I was trying to make (long-windedly I admit, hehe) is that crew have all the time in the world for the poor parents who DO try.... we're just sick of the attitude of the ones who don't.
As long as I can see mum or dad trying to keep the kids under control, that's enough for me. If I get extra time, I'll offer to watch them or I'll ask them about their book/toys/Nintendo DS etc. I just don't like being expected to when mum and dad want to get blotto on red wine and leave their job to someone else.
Hope this clears things up a bit, I'm not a child-hater!!!
)The point I was trying to make (long-windedly I admit, hehe) is that crew have all the time in the world for the poor parents who DO try.... we're just sick of the attitude of the ones who don't.
As long as I can see mum or dad trying to keep the kids under control, that's enough for me. If I get extra time, I'll offer to watch them or I'll ask them about their book/toys/Nintendo DS etc. I just don't like being expected to when mum and dad want to get blotto on red wine and leave their job to someone else.
Hope this clears things up a bit, I'm not a child-hater!!!
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ParaPunter
Off course kids misbehave - that's why they are kids. An 99.99% of cabin crew will be delighted to help that mum taking one kid to the toilet whilst they look after the other.....etc etc
HOWEVER (...) here it comes.....what I have seen over many years as cc is the difference between kids from the UK and elsewhere. Overhere it is almost accepted as that parents do not want to take full responsability for themselves let alone their kids!
The level of anti-social behaviour that is seen in the streets everyday is taking onboard an a/c with an attitude of ".....I will do how I will do things and I don't give a s**t what anyone else thinks...".
I mean..........parents are in Club, kids down the back, well the cc will look after them! (....)???
Changing nappies on a seat???? the fact that it is a daily occurance is frightening....
Pax having a stand up fight with you because they cant get an alcoholic drink for their 15 year old????
"Give me milk for my baby!!!"......Why didnt you bring your own??
ETc etc etc
My fellow friends - reality is that the standard of social skills within the UK is poor at its best in most cases; and we are the blessed ones who have been given the pleasure of looking after this lot at 36.000ft, in a metal tube for a pittance.....
Joy!
HOWEVER (...) here it comes.....what I have seen over many years as cc is the difference between kids from the UK and elsewhere. Overhere it is almost accepted as that parents do not want to take full responsability for themselves let alone their kids!
The level of anti-social behaviour that is seen in the streets everyday is taking onboard an a/c with an attitude of ".....I will do how I will do things and I don't give a s**t what anyone else thinks...".
I mean..........parents are in Club, kids down the back, well the cc will look after them! (....)???
Changing nappies on a seat???? the fact that it is a daily occurance is frightening....
Pax having a stand up fight with you because they cant get an alcoholic drink for their 15 year old????
"Give me milk for my baby!!!"......Why didnt you bring your own??
ETc etc etc
My fellow friends - reality is that the standard of social skills within the UK is poor at its best in most cases; and we are the blessed ones who have been given the pleasure of looking after this lot at 36.000ft, in a metal tube for a pittance.....
Joy!
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I've experienced the full force of the chavvy families more than once on aircraft & I do sympathise - my sole concern is to put the other side of the argument, since reading through this thread, until I piped up, it wasn't there!
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I had a late Tirana the other day and on the way home we had 14 infants. Pax sitting everywhere with babies and children over two on their laps, it took us aaaages to secure the cabin and move them around (only 3 oxygen masks on right hand side of a/c). Most of these families had children aged around 3-6, most of the kids were screaming and one lady had twins about 5 yrs old, one of them refused to sit in her own seat. So her mum was trying to hold her down on her lap and I insisted that she force the seatbelt around her child otherwise she could be seriously injured. But pax just don't seem to get this and all she said was 'she won't sit down, she doesn't want to'. I can't believe people will let their 5 year olds dominate them like this! And her father was sat 3 rows back on his own and just sat there laughing!
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No mention of the decent kids - that is human nature
I'm not seeking to make any other point than that this thread seems to me to be one loooong list of child bashing/parent slating. When the bad ones get onboard (and I bet you can spot them a mile away!) I realise your collective hearts must sink, but there is another side - the well behaved family. It's not in our nature to comment on that, but they're there I'm sure - I just place a little emphasis on that, that's all
In fact, I have an idea, why not have a thread - Great pax, or smart passenger comments
I'm not seeking to make any other point than that this thread seems to me to be one loooong list of child bashing/parent slating. When the bad ones get onboard (and I bet you can spot them a mile away!) I realise your collective hearts must sink, but there is another side - the well behaved family. It's not in our nature to comment on that, but they're there I'm sure - I just place a little emphasis on that, that's all
In fact, I have an idea, why not have a thread - Great pax, or smart passenger comments
Last edited by Parapunter; 25th Sep 2008 at 14:11.
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One of our hosties once had a baby handed to her by a passenger and was told to change her.
She took the infant to the front of the aircraft, where she knew another crew member who was travelling out with her young family on holiday, and duly returned to the offending passenger with a different baby, handing him over with a smile and a simple "there you are"..
I must admit some kids are little sods, but it seems too many parents seem to abdicate responsibility for their kids as soon as they board the aircraft, expecting someone else to ensure they behave.
All mums should have a "scary look" for child control purposes, I don't know if this is passed down through generations or learnt from a manual, but when they have it, it works!
By way of revenge, you could always slip the little dear a couple of cans of full fat Coke as they disembark, should guarantee mummy and daddy won't get much rest for the next few hours!
She took the infant to the front of the aircraft, where she knew another crew member who was travelling out with her young family on holiday, and duly returned to the offending passenger with a different baby, handing him over with a smile and a simple "there you are"..
I must admit some kids are little sods, but it seems too many parents seem to abdicate responsibility for their kids as soon as they board the aircraft, expecting someone else to ensure they behave.
All mums should have a "scary look" for child control purposes, I don't know if this is passed down through generations or learnt from a manual, but when they have it, it works!
By way of revenge, you could always slip the little dear a couple of cans of full fat Coke as they disembark, should guarantee mummy and daddy won't get much rest for the next few hours!
Upto The Buffers
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All kids should be given a high dose of Dramamine pre flight. Knocks the little blighters out
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Bravo that man/woman.
People look at me all peculiar when I say that people should
(a) have to pass a test before they're allowed to procreate
(b) upon passing that test of competence they're issued with *one* breeding licence
(c) no breeding licence = no State handouts of ANY kind
You'd stop the chavs breeding just like that......
People look at me all peculiar when I say that people should
(a) have to pass a test before they're allowed to procreate
(b) upon passing that test of competence they're issued with *one* breeding licence
(c) no breeding licence = no State handouts of ANY kind
You'd stop the chavs breeding just like that......
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Funny how, many moons ago, if i behaved like a brat, all that my mum had to do is give me the look.
I had a woman the other day, of course with the "little angel"
Little angel had an "accident".
Woman reaching for the call bell: Ding!
Me rushing: Yes madam?
- My daughter had a little accident. We need other seats.
- Sorry madam, the flight is fully booked, therefore we don't have any empty seats.
- OK, so are you going to clean this? (pointing to the damped seat)
No I am not madam, however i shall bring you lots of napkins for you to clean it.
- Me???
- Yes, you madam (smile)
- Do you call yourself an airline? You expect me to clean your plane?
- Not the whole aircraft madam, just the area where your little angel peed on.
Note to pax: when you come aboard an a/c with your precious angel(s), regardless the airline, you ought to know that we are not a babysitting company therefore we shan't wipe your little angel's bottom because you just can't be arsed. Also, we do recommend you take some parent skills classes; it'll make my life a hell of a lot easier.
Many thanks and kind regards,
(not a babysitter) ATS
I had a woman the other day, of course with the "little angel"
Little angel had an "accident".
Woman reaching for the call bell: Ding!
Me rushing: Yes madam?
- My daughter had a little accident. We need other seats.
- Sorry madam, the flight is fully booked, therefore we don't have any empty seats.
- OK, so are you going to clean this? (pointing to the damped seat)
No I am not madam, however i shall bring you lots of napkins for you to clean it.
- Me???
- Yes, you madam (smile)
- Do you call yourself an airline? You expect me to clean your plane?
- Not the whole aircraft madam, just the area where your little angel peed on.
Note to pax: when you come aboard an a/c with your precious angel(s), regardless the airline, you ought to know that we are not a babysitting company therefore we shan't wipe your little angel's bottom because you just can't be arsed. Also, we do recommend you take some parent skills classes; it'll make my life a hell of a lot easier.
Many thanks and kind regards,
(not a babysitter) ATS
Last edited by Abusing_the_sky; 25th Sep 2008 at 19:26. Reason: Because I can :)
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Blimey! The cup runneth over!!
What I'm getting is that it's not so much the kids, but the rubbish parents? Bearing in mind that these people are an integral part of your daily working life, isn't this a MASSIVE drawback to your work?
Not trolling, but I wonder why something that draws such strong reactions would be worth carrying on with - if it were me, I'd be off to do something that made me happy or at the very least didn't piss me off so badly?
What I'm getting is that it's not so much the kids, but the rubbish parents? Bearing in mind that these people are an integral part of your daily working life, isn't this a MASSIVE drawback to your work?
Not trolling, but I wonder why something that draws such strong reactions would be worth carrying on with - if it were me, I'd be off to do something that made me happy or at the very least didn't piss me off so badly?
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Parapunter, it's worth it for the maybe 20% of parents who actually are pleasant, well-mannered and look after their own children.
It's not a huge part of my day, but it's definitely the one that has some of the biggest impact.
Some of my fondest memories of flying are perfectly lovely families and children that I've looked after on board. It's all about how they behave and treat us, as well as having respect for the other pax around them. I suppose the issue is, some parents know how it should be done, why don't all of them. It can't be that hard surely!
It's not a huge part of my day, but it's definitely the one that has some of the biggest impact.
Some of my fondest memories of flying are perfectly lovely families and children that I've looked after on board. It's all about how they behave and treat us, as well as having respect for the other pax around them. I suppose the issue is, some parents know how it should be done, why don't all of them. It can't be that hard surely!
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I have two young children and they have been on many flights, longhaul and shorthaul, not once do my children get out of their seat unless they need to use the washroom, I ensure they dont kick the seat in front and always clean up after ourselves. If I tell them to put on their seatbelt I expect them to do so, which they do of course. It makes me mad when these pax feel its ok for their child not to be strapped in because they are asleep or having a tantrum.
It feels good when you ask them if they would allow their children to travel in a car going along at 150 miles per hour + not properly secured in their seats, with their seatbelts fastened.
It feels good when you ask them if they would allow their children to travel in a car going along at 150 miles per hour + not properly secured in their seats, with their seatbelts fastened.
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Lol StaceyF re:
People look at me all peculiar when I say that people should
(a) have to pass a test before they're allowed to procreate
(b) upon passing that test of competence they're issued with *one* breeding licence
(c) no breeding licence = no State handouts of ANY kind
You'd stop the chavs breeding just like that......
Sometimes I see the most uncapable of mum's who order several Jim Beam & Coke yet I can clearly see their children are not clothed or cared for very well. If their lucky enough to have found the child's father he's usually sitting in a different seat, knarly toes and flip flops drinking like his child's mother is sleazing onto the cabin crew.
People look at me all peculiar when I say that people should
(a) have to pass a test before they're allowed to procreate
(b) upon passing that test of competence they're issued with *one* breeding licence
(c) no breeding licence = no State handouts of ANY kind
You'd stop the chavs breeding just like that......
Sometimes I see the most uncapable of mum's who order several Jim Beam & Coke yet I can clearly see their children are not clothed or cared for very well. If their lucky enough to have found the child's father he's usually sitting in a different seat, knarly toes and flip flops drinking like his child's mother is sleazing onto the cabin crew.
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All I'm saying is that there are two things I'd be happy never to see on my aircraft again.
A small child with a box of sultana's
A small child with crackers
Both of which always end up in microscopic fragments all over the seats and carpet. Both of which are hell to clean up and both of which parents think are ok to leave behind. Sure it looks like a herd of pigs had their lunch here but nevermind we'll never have to look at it again.
I wonder how many moulding biscuits exist under their couch cushions...
A small child with a box of sultana's
A small child with crackers
Both of which always end up in microscopic fragments all over the seats and carpet. Both of which are hell to clean up and both of which parents think are ok to leave behind. Sure it looks like a herd of pigs had their lunch here but nevermind we'll never have to look at it again.
I wonder how many moulding biscuits exist under their couch cushions...
good sedative
When our son was 18 months we took him on his first holiday but took the precaution of asking our GP what do to for flying. It was only a 2.5 hour flight but didn't want him to be a nuisance and didn't want to cause him any problems.
His reply was dose him up with medised (antihistamine/paracetamol combo) for a few days before and then give a double dose 30 mins before boarding and he should sleep the whole time.
Worked like a charm. He stayed awake long enough to watch the take off then fell asleep for the boring bit and woke up in the arrivals hall but was fairly groggy until later in the day.
His reply was dose him up with medised (antihistamine/paracetamol combo) for a few days before and then give a double dose 30 mins before boarding and he should sleep the whole time.
Worked like a charm. He stayed awake long enough to watch the take off then fell asleep for the boring bit and woke up in the arrivals hall but was fairly groggy until later in the day.
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Ok, the above post was scary!
Whilst I agree that parenting standards have really gone down in certain parts of the world, I also see that tolerance to children (again in certain parts of the world, has also gone down. For example, when I take my kids to a southern european country to a restaurant, I feel they are welcome and many adults even approach them and play/joke around with them. On the other hand, where I live now, the opposite is true, when in a restaurant, other adults are either indifferent to or even annoyed at the fact there are kids around. (My kids know how to behave in a restaurant).
I totally agree that parents have to control their kids in the airplane and that crew are not a babysitting service. However, it is not always so easy. I have 3 kids, 2 boys and one girl, all been raised the same way, the boys behave perfectly in the airplane (always have) but my girl is a drama! "the look" does not seem to work on her, and even strapping her down with the seatbelt does not work because she always manages to wrigle out of it. Now, at home, if needed she gets a smack in her bum, but today in public it's like a "no no", and if you do it you end up getting bad looks from other people!
Drugging kids so that the trip is "pleasant" for everyone else? No thank you.
Also I agree that kids should not stand on seats because of a safety issue, but not out of concern that some people behind will be stared at.
About the nappy changing on seats: I too think it is totally innapropriate (would never do it in a restaurant etc...), but, on some aircraft it is simply impossible to change a nappy on 8-9 month old baby in those tiny lavatory tables (later on they can stand). So yes, I have in the past changed my babies on the seat, embarrasing as it was, but still better than travelling for 2 hours with a nasty smell. And no, I did not get poo all over the seats/ other pax etc...
So,I totally agree that parents have to discipline their kids, not let them be a nuisance to others, teach them how to behave etc.... But in general, society is also becoming more and more intolerant towards children. eg "OMG, this child is staring at me! whatever shall I do? what a nuisance!!"
Sorry for the long message...
Whilst I agree that parenting standards have really gone down in certain parts of the world, I also see that tolerance to children (again in certain parts of the world, has also gone down. For example, when I take my kids to a southern european country to a restaurant, I feel they are welcome and many adults even approach them and play/joke around with them. On the other hand, where I live now, the opposite is true, when in a restaurant, other adults are either indifferent to or even annoyed at the fact there are kids around. (My kids know how to behave in a restaurant).
I totally agree that parents have to control their kids in the airplane and that crew are not a babysitting service. However, it is not always so easy. I have 3 kids, 2 boys and one girl, all been raised the same way, the boys behave perfectly in the airplane (always have) but my girl is a drama! "the look" does not seem to work on her, and even strapping her down with the seatbelt does not work because she always manages to wrigle out of it. Now, at home, if needed she gets a smack in her bum, but today in public it's like a "no no", and if you do it you end up getting bad looks from other people!
Drugging kids so that the trip is "pleasant" for everyone else? No thank you.
Also I agree that kids should not stand on seats because of a safety issue, but not out of concern that some people behind will be stared at.
About the nappy changing on seats: I too think it is totally innapropriate (would never do it in a restaurant etc...), but, on some aircraft it is simply impossible to change a nappy on 8-9 month old baby in those tiny lavatory tables (later on they can stand). So yes, I have in the past changed my babies on the seat, embarrasing as it was, but still better than travelling for 2 hours with a nasty smell. And no, I did not get poo all over the seats/ other pax etc...
So,I totally agree that parents have to discipline their kids, not let them be a nuisance to others, teach them how to behave etc.... But in general, society is also becoming more and more intolerant towards children. eg "OMG, this child is staring at me! whatever shall I do? what a nuisance!!"
Sorry for the long message...
Last edited by nanocas; 26th Sep 2008 at 12:50. Reason: forgot some text