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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been intentionally low screen in our house and we did a similar thing on planes. The result is that my kid has developed the skills to chat with people and entertain himself without a screen. My rule was that we had to be considerate of others and I never talked and narrated the whole time. I think that is just as annoying as the parents who let their kids on tablets without headphones.

We’ve been doing this since he was a toddler. Things that kept him occupied were window clings, lots of snacks, cheerio necklaces, and quiet toys like Wix sticks. As he got older we did more quiet card games, puzzles, and now in 2nd grade he mostly reads, listens to audio books, writes, and looks through the seat back stuff. Now that he is older he gets to watch TV if the plane has a screen, but most of his time is no screen. He’s done 16+ hour flights this way and fellow passengers have been commenting on how pleasant he is, so it can be done!

But again, my most important rule was not annoying anyone else on the plane. We are in very close quarters for hours.

OP here. These are the exact skills I want to develop in my children. And to add to that, I want them to observe and understand their fellow humans and the world around them with all its warts. Not just some sanitized, curated version. I don’t think that is compatible with constantly being on a device when in a public space.

I love the activities you mentioned for the toddler set - I’ll try them sometime. I also bring blank greeting cards or even just blank paper and ask my elementary schooler to write and illustrate thank-you notes on our flights home from visiting family. Good way to kill an hour

Op, you’re an insufferable ass. Nobody cares. And get out more and get over yourself. I do school admissions and every single parent at every competitive to get in school in the area is doing all of this and more every single day. And many of them don’t work, so they don’t do it on flights and vacations only. I’m sure they are in other communities too but these are the ones I see regularly. You’re not special, you’re relatively wealthy and educated, and doing the things such people do. You are also a raging self congratulatory bore.

But how are narcissists going to get over themselves? They know everyone else is wrong and they are the only ones right.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you try going on a 12 and a half hours flight with kids OP, and then report back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I don’t know what time of time she spends with her kids but anyone who spends a lot of time with one another doesn’t need to talk on the plane. It is more people who don’t see one another much would be the ones who want to spend all this quality time together on the plane.

My neighbor is a SAhM to 4 kids. She spends all day everyday with the kids. She is just trying to survive the flight.

I talk to my spouse and kids at home but uh we also talk on planes. Not like nonstop or anything but we'll have a conversation.

I don't get the whole "I'm just trying to survive the flight" thing either. Flying is not that difficult. Sure there are times when it's a huge hassle -- if you are on a flight that got delayed or you wind up with some huge annoyance like getting stuck on the tarmac for an hour before take off or horrible turbulence. But most flights are just... fine. I'm not in crisis and reaching for iPads to shut up kids because otherwise I just won't make it. And that includes on international flights. Kids will watch devices some (on an international flight usually at least one movie and if a very long flight of 10+ at least two). But also we will talk and play games and read.

Travel is not some horrible hardship. And if traveling with kids is so difficult that you simply must placate them with devices the whole time then maybe don't travel so much. It's optional.

Posts like these make me pretty sure a lot of posters on this thread don't fly that much. No, air travel is not some daunting hardship. But flights are not particularly enjoyable anymore (if they ever were). I fly a couple times a month for work, and I'm never interested in hearing people idly prattle on about nonsense. I just want to read, watch a movie, work, or sleep so that I can feel a bit more refreshed to actually do things wherever I'm going. When I travel with kids, I do the same. They read, play with small toys they pack themselves, watch movies, or play on their Switch (they share one). My DS also likes to play the seat back games, especially the ones that allow you to play with other passengers. We keep our chatting to a minimum, because nobody wants to hear me talk to my DH or kids about dinner logistics after we land. We can do that in the airport or car like civilized people!

[Anonymous]

My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

You aren't cooking a 5 course meal at the same time - you are a dud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

You aren't cooking a 5 course meal at the same time - you are a dud.

Well, no, not when I fly commercial, who is what I thought we were talking about here. I had to do that once when my plane was being painted with inspirational quotes and I remember it very well- fascinating experience. Of course when I’m in my private plane I cook while I lecture, gluten free and vegan food only naturally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

Same except we also received citizenship and were enobled in Sweden and Norway. Maybe you’ll get there someday. Perhaps it was because I delivered fhe lecture while simultaneously performing CPR on three passengers all of whom had heart attacks. Thank goodness I speak 11 languages and can could communicate with everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

You aren't cooking a 5 course meal at the same time - you are a dud.

Well, no, not when I fly commercial, who is what I thought we were talking about here. I had to do that once when my plane was being painted with inspirational quotes and I remember it very well- fascinating experience. Of course when I’m in my private plane I cook while I lecture, gluten free and vegan food only naturally.

💩

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

You aren't cooking a 5 course meal at the same time - you are a dud.

Well, no, not when I fly commercial, who is what I thought we were talking about here. I had to do that once when my plane was being painted with inspirational quotes and I remember it very well- fascinating experience. Of course when I’m in my private plane I cook while I lecture, gluten free and vegan food only naturally.

We may as well just ask Jeff to close this thread right here. This is perfect!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

Yes, indeed, she is trying her level best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have been intentionally low screen in our house and we did a similar thing on planes. The result is that my kid has developed the skills to chat with people and entertain himself without a screen. My rule was that we had to be considerate of others and I never talked and narrated the whole time. I think that is just as annoying as the parents who let their kids on tablets without headphones.

We’ve been doing this since he was a toddler. Things that kept him occupied were window clings, lots of snacks, cheerio necklaces, and quiet toys like Wix sticks. As he got older we did more quiet card games, puzzles, and now in 2nd grade he mostly reads, listens to audio books, writes, and looks through the seat back stuff. Now that he is older he gets to watch TV if the plane has a screen, but most of his time is no screen. He’s done 16+ hour flights this way and fellow passengers have been commenting on how pleasant he is, so it can be done!

But again, my most important rule was not annoying anyone else on the plane. We are in very close quarters for hours.

Hm, we are also a low screen family (my kids are allowed to watch a little tv, they don't use other devices), but one of them has massive social anxiety and won't even look adults in the eye. Also, if you bring window clings, stickers, cheerio necklaces, etc. on an airplane, the flight attendants HAAAAATE you.

[Anonymous]

It's like ALL parenting. Part planning and part luck. Both worked for you this time. It won't always.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been intentionally low screen in our house and we did a similar thing on planes. The result is that my kid has developed the skills to chat with people and entertain himself without a screen. My rule was that we had to be considerate of others and I never talked and narrated the whole time. I think that is just as annoying as the parents who let their kids on tablets without headphones.

We’ve been doing this since he was a toddler. Things that kept him occupied were window clings, lots of snacks, cheerio necklaces, and quiet toys like Wix sticks. As he got older we did more quiet card games, puzzles, and now in 2nd grade he mostly reads, listens to audio books, writes, and looks through the seat back stuff. Now that he is older he gets to watch TV if the plane has a screen, but most of his time is no screen. He’s done 16+ hour flights this way and fellow passengers have been commenting on how pleasant he is, so it can be done!

But again, my most important rule was not annoying anyone else on the plane. We are in very close quarters for hours.

Hm, we are also a low screen family (my kids are allowed to watch a little tv, they don't use other devices), but one of them has massive social anxiety and won't even look adults in the eye. Also, if you bring window clings, stickers, cheerio necklaces, etc. on an airplane, the flight attendants HAAAAATE you.

This. Can you imagine having to pick up the slobbery bits of cheerio left behind? Absolutely disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Oh we def make plane trips a screen time free for all and pump it up that way. Hey larla the flight to Turkey is ten hours and guess what you get to do the whole time!!!!

But we travel much farther than three hours.

(See that dumb humble brag? We can all play and it’s so silly. Stop.)