A mother who wrote an open letter to a fellow passenger after the flight with her daughter is surprised by the reaction.
“I was really shocked that my post generated so much interest and differing opinions, but I think it’s important to have these conversations,” Stephanie Hollifield told “Good Morning America.”
Earlier this week, Hollifield wrote a Facebook post on her Momstrosity page titled “To the gentleman on Flight 1451.” It has received more than 1,000 comments so far.
“I first noticed you when you sighed loudly upon seeing me and my toddler boarding the plane,” it begins. “In a brief moment of inattention, we sat behind you. It was the next row of seats and I couldn’t wait to put my child and our heavy bags down. It was clear from the exaggerated huffing and puffing you made as we fastened our seat belts that you were annoyed by our very presence.”
The mother of five from South Georgia flew to California and it was her first flight with one of her children, she told GMA.
“I was so nervous. I researched and planned and packed tons of toys and activities. One of the reasons I was so nervous was because I knew we would miss nap time, and that can sometimes make for a rough day. No matter how well you prepare or plan, sometimes toddlers just make a fuss,” she said.
Hollifield’s daughter was exhausted and hungry and suffering from an ear infection and was throwing a tantrum.
“You didn’t stop muttering and looking over your shoulder,” she wrote. “You even pushed the back of the Sears toward us. I apologized to everyone around me. I almost started crying myself.”
Luckily, a friendly flight attendant rushed to help. A straw and a plastic cup finally calmed the little girl down.
Reactions to her post were mixed, Hollifield said.
“Half of the people (who commented) believe that small children should not be taken on airplanes,” which she found “shocking.”
There has been discussion about the possibility of adult-only flights or planes specifically for families, she said.
“I love a good adults-only restaurant or a fun outing without the kids, so I think this is a great idea. But until these types of flights are available, there will be kids on airplanes,” Hollifield told “GMA.” “I hope people think about the stress of a mother who has no choice and feels guilty because her upset child is bothering the people around her. It’s so easy to judge when you’re not in the throes of parenthood yourself.”
