Mom Booted From Plane Goes National; Toddler Bucks, Whines During Interview

WSB-TV NEWS ^ | 7-13-2007

[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.

[TomGuy]

There’s no predicting how a kid that age is going to act.

An old standing rule of stage and live broadcasts: If a kid can upstage you, he/she will.

[mware]

I was on a train from Philly to Chicago, 12 hours. One of the children (about 6 yo)in the seat in front of me was a holy terror. Just drove me insane with her whining and complaining about her brother.

Two weeks later, as I was returning to Philly, who would be in the same car as me, but that very same family. I looked at my mom and felt like crying. Luckily the little girl got the chickenpox and had to stay with her grandparents.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Your kids must be retarded. At nineteen months one of mine was in his second year at Stanford. The other had climbed Everest—barefoot.

LOL! Hillarious!

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

I’d rather hear the kid scream and carry on than to see someone give the kid drugs to keep him quiet.

Me too. Otherwise, how will they ever learn how to control themselves...without resorting to drugs/alcohol?

I'd also rather hear a kid than a loud, obnoxious adult...and there are plenty of them out in public.

[highimpact]

I watched the video. The kid was acting like a normal 19 month old who was hungry or tired or just couldn’t sit still. He wasn’t kicking and screaming. He was just a little fussy.

I think the airline should first fire the air waitress (they go ballistic when you call them that), offer a public apology, and give them some first-class tickets to wherever the family wants to fly. It’ll be a lot cheaper than going to trial.

[CaptainK]

Most adults turn into a screaming brats when forced to wait 11 hours for a flight. I don’t expect more out of a child.

[rideharddiefast]

I don’t know how it became part of conservative “street cred” to brag about walloping your kid.

It works and it usually only has to be administered once.

[Grunthor]

My mom used to count. How many whacks with her wooden spoon on my backside, lol! I still shiver a little when I am over at her place and see her stirring something with one of those evil inventions.

[Marysecretary]

Now that’s funny, and typical of 15 year olds, LOL.

[org.whodat]

The only one to complain was the flight attendent, and she all but told her to drug her kid.

The woman with the brat says that, Sorry not buying it.

[mware]

I see it the same way regarding the air attendant. I really don’t like the idea of law suits. Giving the lady some comp tickets, and a free flight back home could have avoided some nasty PR for their company.

[CindyDawg]

At 19 months that child should be well enough behaved to sit quietly thru 2 hours of church, once per week. Both of mine did.

Really? My 4 year old used to act up in church. He knew he was going to get a spanking but I guess he figured it was worth it. One time he started grabbing pews and screaming "help me. She's gonna spank me" as I hauled him to the bathroom. It almost worked too. One lady he made eye contact with followed us and pleaded his case that she knew he would be good the next time.

[Marysecretary]

Wow, that sounds like MY kids. Are we related (LOL)????

[OSHA]

Better yet—remember the old days, where they had smoking and non-smoking sections of aircraft? How about a kid and a non-kid area? Chances are, the business people who need to get something done while on a flight could justify an extra 10% surcharge for a seat in the preferred section. And not having to listen to whining is one additional benefit that the harness you picture wouldn’t do anything about.

Amen and AMEN! Last trip across the Atlantic was with a 4 year old who screamed the entire trip. 9 hours of hell! He was mad because they wouldn't let him run wild in the plane. People have the right to have children but have a responsibility to others. Either control them or forgo any air travel until they have left home for college!

[mware]

Oh I dont doubt some people were ticked off sitting by the kid, but most folks try to make the best that they can out of a bad situation.

[BallyBill]

I’d rather hear the kid scream and carry on than to see someone give the kid drugs to keep him quiet.

[rideharddiefast]

I do not know what airline your son flew on but anytime I have flown with my children or grandchildren the kids have always been treated like royalty. But they did behave.

[Marysecretary]

I believe it was Continental that wouldn’t give my son a bottle of milk for his little girl who sat on his lap throughout the entire flight from AK. They were very rude. Maybe they just don’t like kids!!! No pay for seat, no getta drink.

[tsmith130]

While living overseas in Asia, I flew many times with my two kids....and those are looong flights. The Asian stewardesses are GREAT when it comes to dealing with kids on the flights. They actually enjoy children! The only time we ever had any problems with stewardesses was when we flew American carriers. Snippy, uppity and don't want to be bothered with ANY passenger, let alone children.

And the child wasn't that bad in the interview. He's not even 2 for goodness sakes.

[mware]

. One time he started grabbing pews and screaming "help me. She's gonna spank me"

ROFL.