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.
Did you use any of that corporal punishment you mentioned in post #5? Or just the threat of it?
I figured that might be the case. It’s not easy flying with small children. My grandkids are coming out from AK in August (one is a year old) and I don’t envy the parents any. Someone mentioned air pressure being a problem as well. Kids are going to be fussy, it comes with the territory.
Of course, our third child tried the same thing with me.
My oldest, though, *ugh*. I got to the point that if we made it past the sacrament it would be a good day. One time, after a very trying time I had one of the brethren approach me. I was so sure he was going to lecture me. Especially when he started with, "When my mother would take me to church..." He continued, "she would swear that I would behave this time. And every week she had to take me out." I appreciated that. Most people would never guess by looking at my 13 year old that he used to be worse than all three of his brothers combined.
So, did he get the spanking?
Heh. It is a very funny story. :)
I think it was Continental. My grandchild behaved pretty well for having to sit on dad’s lap all that distance. She was an angel anyway, you know. ALL granddaughters are JUST perfect! He’s 6’6 so it couldn’t have been too comfortable for him either.
Daddy,who is that fat drunk in the front row???
Shhhhh, son dont talk about Ted Kennedy like that.
Works for me!! Then we get to take our kids there on those hours when we don't get dirty looks from mean people like you!
Yeah but since his friend was watching my hand...er..my heart really wasn’t into it anymore. How do some of you have such perfect kids? My boys were rowdy. You know...the kind people suggest drugging?:’)
Stop making sense! Too many people here either never had to raise boys, or they forget how toddlers act. :-)
Don’t look at me for perfection. :)
“If she decides to sue the airline, you can be sure the defense attorney will introduce the video of the GMA interview.”
The airline didn’t get the plane turned around because she told the pilot the child was being unruly.
She got the plane turned around because she told the pilot the mother had threatened her.
It appears the stewardess lied about that.
> Did you use any of that corporal punishment you mentioned in post #5?
At 18 months (not before) kids understand concepts like right and wrong, and by 24 months they can be masters at manipulation. So yes, I used corporal punishment from 18 months until they were five years old. After five there were much more effective remedies available.
In all, I think my kids were spanked on fewer than 4 occasions each. Done properly, it works just fine to correct bad behavior.
> Or just the threat of it?
I believe it is important to never *threaten* any form of punishment: threats become useless the instant they are not carried out. It only needs to happen once.
Punishment must instead be a natural and inevitable consequence.
As to corporal punishment (and as with any other form of punishment) it needs to be done fairly: I do not subscribe to parents slapping their kids, for instance. That is lashing out in a fit of temper: not carrying out punishment — which must always be done fairly and without anger or malice.
I have three boys myself. Each was born with a different personality. Some kids are more active and louder than others. Boys especially are highly energetic. As someone else said, it’s the parents’ reaction that matters.
I watched the video, too. The mom did her best to keep her toddler under control. What did people expect - for her to beat him on-air? For squirming and fussing? They did what was best by moving him off-air. I’m guessing Diane Sawyer talked the mom into bringing him on-air.
I can only think of one time when my husband told me about telling a woman she should spank her children more. That was a six year old girl climbing onto the mother and demanding she buy such and such NOW.
True, true. Too bad they have to work on airlines where they have a captive audience...
All of mine did, too. But to get them on Good Morning America at 7:20 in the morning, I am guessing, would require a great deal more time, exposure to unusual and unsettling environments and people, and who knows how much time? Plus probably getting up at 4:30 or 5:00. I think my kids would have been pretty cranky - but I don't think I'd have brought them on the show...
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