If there’s one thing that can turn a situation really stressful, super-fast, it’s a toddler having a meltdown in public. But if you’re on an airplane it can take things to another level – as there’s no way to escape, and sometimes calming them can seem impossible.
Then to make things even worse is that it can feel like all eyes are on you.
One woman spotted a mom having a difficult time on a flight to Los Angeles.
Rachel Yuen posted the story on Facebook, saying:
“Last night Jared and I caught a flight to LAX on Hawaiian Airlines. As we sat waiting to board the plane, we realized this was our first time being away from our kiddos at the same time. We’ve traveled separately before. But not together and not without the kids.”
She continued:
“Needless to say, we began to comment on all the families traveling. Making jokes how we don’t have a billion bags to carry and how we cannot pre-board since we don’t have [the kids]. But then we began to notice the mommies who were traveling alone with their babies and we began to plan out how we can offer to help being we’ve traveled so many times with the kids.”
Then the couple did notice a parent who really could use a helping hand.
“It was on the flight, where a single Mom of three was doing her best to calm her youngest one down. Her oldest couldn’t have been more than 5 years old. I watched her turn into an acrobat, trying to soothe her crying toddler, passing a turning. (Trying) to find a position to make him comfortable. She paced the aisles back and forth and nothing could calm him down.”
As one might expect, some other passengers began getting irritated.
“A couple in front of her kept turning around; giving her a stink eye. As if she was purposely trying to inconvenience them. I watched the woman in front turn around and snicker something at her children and all I could think of was ‘you wait until this seatbelt sign comes off…’ Jared could tell I was getting frustrated. Not at the child screaming. Not even at the mom. But irritated that people could see a mother desperately trying to soothe her child and still lack empathy.”
“Right before I could get out of my seat, this happens…. a flight attendant walks over and asked to hold her son. The mother seemed reluctant, embarrassed and at her wits end. She had tried for at least 45 minutes and nothing worked. The toddler reached out and the flight attendant rocked him… Up and down the aisle until he finally gave in. This is true Aloha spirit.”
The angel flight attendant turned out to be Gina Reyes – who’s a mother as well.
She knows that sometimes kids just don’t want to calm down, and instead of putting down the mom who was doing her best, she decided to help her.
Rachel ended the post with:
“#HawaiianAirlines you should be proud of the people you hire who go beyond the call of duty and remind the world that kindness isn’t all that uncommon. I didn’t get her name but I’m sure someone knows who she is. To that flight attendant, thank you for your kindness. It was noticed all around that flight. You gave a mother a moment to breathe, and you have no idea how priceless this was for everyone around to see. Mahalo Nui!”
Her kindness touched Rachel and many other passengers on the plane.
Rachel added:
“It’s just that human kindness, you know? Someone going beyond just a job description. It was a privilege for me to witness that and I took out my phone and decided I’m just going to get a snippet of it.”
Anyone who’s a parent knows that you can’t wave a magic wand to stop a child’s meltdown. It can take time, a bag of tricks, and occasionally even a helping hand. Let’s hope more people act with compassion like this sweet flight attendant did.
Watch the video below to see more on this very heartwarming story!
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