Air travel with little kids can be the pits. I’ve been there and it’s not fun. But the worst part wasn’t my children’s behaviour, it was the judgement I received from fellow passengers.
As soon as my husband and our baby and toddler boarded the plane we were met with stares and raised eyebrows. I could tell that passengers were bracing themselves for some kind of toddler apocalypse. There was an uncomfortable tension in the air that made us feel isolated and an inconvenience.
Talk about pressure!
Lucky for us though our kids travelled really well for the 60 minute flight. My baby son breastfed on take-off to help his ears adjust to the air pressure and quickly fell asleep. Our toddler daughter enjoyed a lollypop for the same reason and she happily looked out the plane window, mesmerised by the tiny world below.
The whole flight was all quite unremarkable. I’m sure everyone on the flight was grateful that our kids didn’t treat them to a scream-fest, but no one said anything.
A few months later I was travelling alone with my baby son. I was nervous about the reception I’d receive from other passengers, but having already had a successful flight with him before I was feeling quietly confident. I knew the best way to keep him settled would be to breastfeed him as the plane took off and began it’s ascent. This would put him to sleep, help his ears and allow him and I – and everyone on the flight – to have a peaceful journey.
my baby next to him. He promptly asked the flight attendant to be moved to a different seat. I was feel humiliated and like an imposition.
After having had these uncomfortable in-flight experiences I was completely overjoyed to read a Facebook post that went viral this week about a woman that went above and beyond for a mother travelling alone with her baby daughter.
Rebekka Garvison was on an early morning flight with her baby daughter, Rylee. They were travelling to surprise her husband, who works away from home with the army.
She was feeling anxious and stressed about keeping her daughter Rylee calm and settled and was seated next to a couple who made it clear that they were unimpressed about sitting next to a baby.
When little Rylee wouldn’t stop crying Rebekka asked if she could move to some empty seats elsewhere on the plane where she could have some more room to try and settle her daughter.
The flight attendant agreed and seated Rebekka in two empty seat next to a woman named Nyfesha who completely changed the flight for a now rather frazzled Rebekka.
Not only was Nyfesha able to stop baby Rylee from crying, but she was able to get her to sleep and let her snooze on her let for the entire flight. She event carried baby Rylee off the plane for Rebekka to allow her to carry her luggage and stroller.
“Nyfesha Miller, you will never understand how happy this act of kindness has made my family,” Rebekka wrote in her now viral Facebook thankyou note.
“You could’ve just rolled your eyes and been irritated like everyone else, but you took her and held her the entire flight and let me get some rest and peace of mind.”
“It brought tears to my eyes while I sat there and watched you and Rylee sleeping next to me. I just couldn’t believe how that ended up working out and how caring you were to us.”
“Thank you SO much!!” Rebekka added.
It’s no surprise that Rebekka’s Facebook post has gone viral and has been shared over 87,000 times. It clearly struck a chord with many parents who know the stress of travelling with planes with kids all too well.
If only every travelling parent could sit next to an angel like Nyfesha – there would certainly be a lot less tears in the cabin and a whole lot less tension.
Take a look at Rebekka’s Facebook post below:
