Posted on 07/13/2007 2:03:55 PM PDT by Cagey
NEW YORK -- The Gwinnett County mother kicked off an airplane with her 19-month old son tried to tell her side of the story Friday morning, but her son's crying drowned out part of the interview.
Garren Penland, 19-months old, got so unruly during his mom's chat with 'Good Morning America' anchor Diane Sawyer, co-anchor Chris Cuomo had to take the toddler off the set.
While Kate Penland explained her child was well-behaved on the Continental Express flight, little Garren kicked, wiggled and squirmed out of his mother's arms.
At one point he climbed up on a coffee table and rifled through Sawyer's scripts.
When Sawyer handed him a model Space Shuttle to distract him, Garren rolled it off the table and onto the floor.
Kate Penland said she and Garren were booted from the flight last month by a flight attendant who suggested she use benadryl to calm her son down.
It’s my mothers fault. She told me “I hope you have 3 just like you”:’)
Because they'll be arrested.
I thought children still had to have their own seats and if small enough they had to be strapped into their car seats?
I used Benadryl on my son when he was fussy on flights. Fast forward....my husband, 16year-old son and I took a cross country flight from Boston. There were several bratty kids and an infant who had been crying non-stop for 2 hours. With a few hours left I saw the mom by the lav and suggested she try some Benadryl. She was pretty horrified by the thought. I told her that the child was in misery and that it would benefit all if she tried it. She glared at me the rest of the flight. A little Benadryl wouldn’t have hurt the fussy child and a couple of hundred people would have been grateful. Now........how to deal with kids who play their portable DVD players loudly and without headphones???
“Because they’ll be arrested.”
LOL!!!
too true!
If not arrested...they’ll at least get reported to DSS and have to deal with a gazillion home visits and be ordered to anger management classes!
We know a couple whose child went to school and said she hadn’t eaten that morning (she failed to mention she refused to eat what her mother had given her).
The parents got reported and had to deal with DSS going through their fridge and pantry to make sure they fed their kids.
“She glared at me the rest of the flight”
And what did you expect?
‘’There are two ways to travel; first class, and with children.’’ — Robert Benchley
I guess I didn’t expect any different. I can tell you though that we didn’t allow our son to disrupt a few hundred people for several hours at any time in his life. Everyone on the plane would have appreciated not having to hear the incessant crying for the entire flight from Boston to California. She could have easily remedied the situation but chose to aggravate several hundred people.
Kids will be kids. What’s she supposed to do - stay home forever and never go anywhere? People need to get a heart and give the baby and the frustrated Mom a pass. He’s just a baby, for goodness’ sake! This is what babies do.
The only passengers to speak about it have all come out on the side of the mother.
I fly frequently and often take long, transatlantic flights with several connections.
If I was delayed for 11 hours and then my flight diverted because of a crying kid, I'd be pretty pissed at that airline.
Flying isn't always pleasant, but often necessary. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and endure it --if you want to get to your destination.
“She could have easily remedied the situation but chose to aggravate several hundred people.”
well here’s something you may not have considered.
If my son had become agitated - and I had been talked into giving him Benadryl - do you know what would have happened?
He would have started jumping up and down, screaming and laughing like a maniac, and possibly would have started to bite people.
Read the label - not all kids react to it the same way, and Benadryl makes my son psychotic.
How would you calm your son when several hundred people would gladly calm him for you? I don’t believe in inflicting bad behavior on strangers unlucky enough to have to be near the ruckus.
I'd bet this was one of those, "he's going to ride on my lap deals", she could have shown how well she behaved on the TV show.
“How would you calm your son when several hundred people would gladly calm him for you?”
What exactly are you asking here?
If you mean that “they” would calm him for me - are you still referring to the Benadryl? which I already stated would have made the situation MUCH WORSE.
Or are you referring to more ....sinister means?
Are you suggesting spanking?
You ARE aware that results in louder screaming?
Are you suggesting muzzling?
That results in arrest or reports to social services.
Are you suggesting they leave the plane in the middle of the flight?
If the child is hungry - food may calm him.
If his ears hurt him - gum may work
If he is tired and irritable - and Benadryl is out of the question - it’s going to take some time to sooth him to sleep.
Sorry...no quick and easy answer here.
I’m glad Benadryl worked for you.
What would YOU have done if Benadryl had turned your son into a raving lunatic?
I would have found something else that worked. And, no, I didn’t mean anyone would be threatening. We had to travel with our son from his birth and if he couldn’t have tolerated Benadryl I would have found something else. You are overlooking the fact the the child was miserable as well as the rest of the people on the cramped 737. What mom could listen for hours to her own miserable child?
“I would have found something else that worked.”
Well gee...thanks!
Can you be any more specific?
“You are overlooking the fact the the child was miserable as well as the rest of the people on the cramped 737. “
No I am not...I am acknowledging that your solution to my son’s irritability would have made him MUCH worse, and therefore would have made every one else much more miserable as well.
” What mom could listen for hours to her own miserable child?”
Again...you are simply offering criticism without offering much of a solution.
Do you want her to knock him unconscious?
I’m saying I would have found something different. I would have asked the pediatrician what would be safe but would calm him. Happily for us, Benadryl worked for us. You’ll have to find something else. Ask your pediatrician.
How many decades ago was that?
It's faster and cheaper to DRIVE from Philly to Chicago.
I have made the drive from Detroit to Philly and back in less than 12 hours, and with 5 kids in the car.
Over 20 years ago.
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