It has been a while. To update my three readers, I am in Mumbai, India on a two month vacation. I traveled Business Class on my way here and that helped with the fact that I was on a 24 hour trip with a 11 month old by myself. That and the fact that so many of you prayed for me. Y'all are the best. It was great service and although I had to hold him on my lap the entire time, it was not as exhausting as it might have been. I had a connection to NJ and then it was a straight flight to India. On my first flight, there was an old lady sitting next to me and she was quite displeased to see that she got a seat next to a mom and baby. As soon as Neil and I were seated, she requested for a seat re-assignment. She had to sit next to me though, and I prayed that he would go to sleep. He did, the entire flight and it was such a relief. Ms Grouchy was pretty much scowling every time Neil made the slightest sound. He never cried, he was just making happy sounds. I have to say she has issues if she scowls when a baby makes happy albeit a little loud sounds. The second half was better thankfully.
Here is one thing I find curious and I thought I would put it out to the readers. Here in India, babies are just such a part of life that it is never really bothersome to anyone. Nobody makes a huge deal out of them either. (There are plenty to go around anyway!) When I was single and then later married, it never bothered me that a mom and baby was sitting next to me on a flight or train. My brow never creased the way peoples do here when they are seated next to a family. Of course, if the baby is crying incessantly from takeoff to landing for the entire duration of the flight, that is a different matter. What I am saying is, I do not automatically associate negativity to that situation. Here I have noticed people do. They may be nice to you to the face, but I can see it nevertheless. My opinion is that (and this may offend some of you), the society here is so darn individualistic that even the perception of inconvenience irritates people. And children are the victims, because they are inconvenient. Even the best behaved baby (and my child is not very bratty) will cry when hungry, wet, or dirty. I have to say Neil did great on the 15 hour (straight) flight except a little bit of crying when he threw up and had to be changed and later held by the air hostess while I changed. That was no more than 10 minutes at the most.
Here is my question to you. If you were on a flight (or any public place) with your small baby, have you felt the irritation of others? Or if you do not have children, do you cringe when seated next to a family?
I would love to hear your response.
PS: I have not had a chance to visit any blogs yet, as the internet is a little flaky, but I hope to, soon.
2 comments:
Yes to the first, but four years into the parenting game and I have no pride and hardly notice anymore.
To the second question, I strongly dislike being seated by children (or loud annoying people or talkers) on flights as I am terrified of flying and find the extra noise created by these groups of people during takeoff makes my calming exercises all the more difficult to concentrate on. Most anybody who sees me on a flight would be able to tell I detest flying and wouldn't take my white as a sheet face and terrified expression as anything other than "GET ME OFF THIS PLANE NOW!"
Answering to your first question:Last 4yrs I have been flying to India with J and always prayed that I preferred people next to my seats would be someone who love babies.Thankfully I had good experiences and I had my friend flying with me along with her hyperactive kid and people along with hosts were annoyed to the max and had harsh attitude with my friend.Answering the 2nd question I do not mind loud babies next to me but yes I get annoyed with loud talkers who are adults.
I agree with you when you say people in India do not mind kids around.Anyways,have a wounderful time in India.
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