Post your "horrible flying with children" experiences here

[Capt_Cully]

We just touched down after the WORST trip of my life. First flight out, my 22 month old son was very fidgety and cranky. It was trying. Second flight he slept the whole way. Get there, no baggage. Perfect. Oh well West Palm Beach ain't so bad.

Kids woke up at 4 am first night. Terrible night. Wife managed it. Next night, son up at 4. I get out of bed with him. 20 minutes later, my daughter vomits in our bed, on my wife, the walls, the carpet, the sink. Whole family up scrubbing puke.

Next night, no one sleeps at all. Wife and I writhing in bed, not in a good way. Stomach bug...I'll spare the details. BUT, my 77year old mother whom we were visiting, also, vomiting all night.

Terrible few days. Especially while we were sick and the kids felt better.

Today, up at 4:30 to fly home, kids don't wanna wake up. First flight, son is ....fidgety and fussy and whining, kicking seats, not a lot of fun. Next flight, he slept.

3rd flight, he went so mental, full blown WOBBLER! Worst tantrum I've ever seen, thus far. I've seen my wife cry maybe 4 times. Almost always my fault. Not this time. She was sobbing. Pacifiers flying, took his shoes off, socks off, threw those. Threw the iPhone, iPad. Magazines from seat pockets. Ridiculous tantrum. We were "those people"!

I pitted out a sweatshirt. My wife's mascara completely gone from crying. Got picked up by my father-in-law who borrowed my wife's SUV for the week. Oh, by the way "sorry about the dent in the front quarter panel.

PLEASE tell me anyone, someone can relate a similar tale????

As of now I NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER NEVER EVER want to travel with children again!

 

[Steve Canyon]

:beer:
Ahhh... the stuff memories are made of!!!
It may be hard to believe right now, but these are the moments you'll treasure in years to come.
Our minds play tricks on us as we get older.

 

[Jacwil]

That's so awesome. .. I'm running up to read this to Jennifer

 

[Foody]

:beer:
Ahhh... the stuff memories are made of!!!
It may be hard to believe right now, but these are the moments you'll treasure in years to come.

I second this sentiment. I have 7 children and many similar stories. My youngest is now 15 and one of only 2 left in the house. Most of my great memories revolve around them, even the difficult ones. The only thing worse than being sick is being sick at the same time my kids were sick. Ugly stuff.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Looking for people to laugh (or cry) with me, not at me.

Foody, I'm the youngest of 7. Many fond memories of being part of a big clan. Could NEVER parent that many kids. You are clearly a crazy person.

 

[NirvanaFan]

My only child will be 2 in about a week. He's always been really well behaved while out in public. The past few weeks, he's been throwing tantrums at home though. Straight up, kicking his feet while holding him, slamming his hands and feet on the floor, throwing things, etc. I'm starting to get nervous about taking him out in public.

I don't want to be one of "those people."

I can't totally relate yet, but I'm definitely getting there!

 

[magdelan]

I think if anyone who chimes in here can refer to a time where they were, "That guy", you have a group who understands. I and my wife have both, collectively been, "That guy"... and boy does it SUCK.

 

[captain7359]

Even after I had her read this she still won't let me put this on the baby registry...

but she still thinks it's funny that they made me wear one the night of my bachelor party!

 

[mr86mister]

I laughed during the entire story. Mostly because I feel really bad and I have a Disney trip coming up in December and bringing my soon to be 4 year old. I highly recommend, a bunch of NyQuil and lots of deep sleep. After you have rested up give the lovely wife a few days rest as well. You will be happy and the hero at the same time! Glad everyone made it home safe!

 

[blanden.adam]

Note to self, always carry syringes of lorazepam when flying with children in case of agitated psychosis... Thanks for the heads up!

 

[GMaquarium]

I was once stuck on a 13 hour flight next to a mother with a child. This kid was freaking out the entire time. After that I told myself never gonna fly with my kids. So fast forward a little bit and now have a daughter. We flew with her three times now and all without major issues, perhaps lucky and just matter of time. My main issue is the amount of extra baggage. Felt like the Silk Road camel with suite cases, stroller, car seat, back pack, diaper bags way too much stuff. I fly relatively often alone for work and its beautiful. No luggage, no screaming and head phones work great to ignore other people's kids.

 

[Steve Canyon]

I must be lucky.
There was about a 10 year period of time I had to fly somewhere everyday. Of course somedays that meant multiple flights a day. 3,000,000+ miles on NWA without a single incident of children acting out in any way whatsoever.... I can't say the same for the adults though. Smelly, rude, loud.... I would have preferred the kids. I have compassion for them.... and the parents.

 

[Capt_Cully]

I should comment that my daughter was my saving grace. An angel on the flights, and she's only 3.

Adam, so far you are the winner. Next year, better living through chemistry. I'll have that kid so doped up, I'll be able to check him through to our final destination. $25 baggage fee is a lot cheaper than a 4th ticket.

Little guy just slept for 11 hours straight. So now that he's awake. Let the beatings begin! ....uh....er...I mean, desensitization therapy...

 

[low riderr]

if you have children,then you have most certainly felt that pain one way or another.my little girl has been flying since birth and loves it.me on the other hand would never fly,that is till the wifes mother passed and we had to be in fl. asap.so me being nervous about my first flight my daughter says to me its ok daddy ill sit with you and hold your hand,what a trooper. that said dont think for one second she wouldnt bring the wrath of god upon us if she decided to while shopping. you just work through them as best you can. and when she gets to be a teen i am going to embaress her as much as she did us.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Wife and I traveled every week for about a year when our oldest were 1 and 3. I am sure I have many stories but they're all blacked out. :lol:

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Living the dream!

Living the dream!

You were overdue, cully

 

[MarkKlier]

First family trip. Boys are 5 and 3. Drive down to South Carolina so they can see the Ocean for the first time. Drive all night so they will awaken with the sunrise over the beach. Time it perfectly arrive at the beach at 7:10am. I'm the man I'm sooooo psyched.
Okay to Ihop to have breakfast then check into the hotel. Getting out of the car...older son pucks at least 50 gal of food he must have been saving for a week. Hits my wife in the back, all over son number twos travel bin. When I open the side door to the carivan puck just rolls on out. OHHHHHH god...two kids screaming, wife crying, flies buzzing.
People would pull into Ihop see us and just leave. 45 minutes later after scrapping as much puck off as we could, throwing away half our stuff, wife changing in the bushes, finally ready to get the hell out of there. Older son screams.."where is Tim's clammedy clam. (A beloved plastic clam toy). Tim's head goes straight up with an unyeilding scream. Looked like snoopy when he howles. So I take all my degrees and whats left of my manhood and CLIMB INTO THE DUMPSTER to get the damn clam. I finally find it dripping with puck. Just at that time some 20 something kid walks by and gives me that "get a job" look. I think I looked kinda psychotic at this point...because he suddenly looked very scared and took off.
We laugh about it to this day....

 

[Capt_Cully]

YES!!!! That's the frame of reference I'm referring to!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Omg im laffing so hard

 

[reefboarder]

Holy crap LowRider, you've just made my life perfectly clear!
No wonder my parents were so embarrassing as a teen!
I was a B U T T H O L E!