Sooo am I just the best parent ever or are the others complete duds?

[Anonymous]

Was on a 3-hour flight. Packed books, toys, cards and travel games to engage our preschooler and elementary schooler. Spent the rest of the time talking, reading quietly together, closing our eyes. Walked down the aisle a few times for bathroom trips, and each time, every single other family - kid on iPad, parent scrolling X or Instagram on their phone.

What gives?

(Ready for flames for being holier-than-thou, but seriously, what gives? Travel time is great for talking and engaging)

[Anonymous]

I Benadryl my kid. Much easier for everyone.

And I would really appreciate it if you could keep it down so my kid and I can sleep.

[Anonymous]

Yes. You are the best parent ever and everyone else is the worst. Here’s your trophy.

[Anonymous]

Clearly everyone else is duds. Wow

[Anonymous]

I'm sure you'll have your parenting fails at some point, OP.

- parent of young adult and teens.

[Anonymous]

Do you want a cookie?🍪

[Anonymous]

Reading aloud, and walking up and down the aisles sounds annoying and unsafe. Glad other parents are raising their kids with manners and prioritizing safety.

OK, I don't actually believe their way is better, just like I don't believe your way is better.

[Anonymous]

Stop.

[Anonymous]

Yawn. I’m with my kids 24-7 never had a babysitter. We don’t need to put on a show in public and annoy others. The kindle or iPad and quiet is nice.

[Anonymous]

Ipads and phones are addictive, and widely accepted in our culture as the standard way to fill time on plane trips, road trips, restaurants, etc.

Most people go along with prevailing cultural standards. You see this also in the insanely high levels of obesity/overweight, helicopter parenting, overbooking kids with activities, etc.

I appreciate your post. I think we all fail as parents in different ways at different times, but that’s not the point. The point is that it’s not normal or healthy for us and our kids to be on screens this much and it’s nice to have a reminder of that.

[Anonymous]

3 hours is nothing! I took my kids on a 12 hour flight with no iPad! You lose OP.

[Anonymous]

We are zero screens except for 5 minutes to brush teeth at night and on airplanes. I’m a Montessori, SAHM, forest preschool, healthy food-only parent. I only mention this to shatter your stereotypes of parents who allow TV on planes. I feel very secure about allowing TV on planes. I’m sure if we did a 3+ hour plane ride I’d pack all the stickers etc. but haven’t needed to do that yet.

If you aren’t using screens for the rest of the time, why would this worry you so much? 1 hour 2x a year is really no big deal. Give yourself a break and scroll your phone for an hour.

[Anonymous]

Your toxic need to judge others and feel superior is worrisome. You should probably go to therapy so your kids don’t turn out like you.

[Anonymous]

Oh, I have no problem taking a pass from good mom duty on travel days. Travel is stressful and tiring. The way you live 90 percent of the time is what affects your kids; not the exceptions made on travel days. So, do whatever makes you happy for sure, but know that the odd travel day does not make or break your kid!

[Anonymous]

lol. You are the only one staring around noticing and judging though, right?

I have several kids and I am tired AF when we finally get on that plane after packing all their stuff and dealing with the hours it takes to get to the airport get the stroller car seat feed them security and I want to lay down. I want to sleep. I want to look at my phone. So they get too, too. Travel time is down time for us. It’s so nice. We are all happy. Why do you care? I refuse to feel inferior to you because you are performative parenting like a massive tool. If I saw you doing this I would just lol at your intense need for martyr recognition and go back to scrolling.