User post: Children are people too - and they should act like it!

A recent post looked at a woman suing an airline that failed to control a child whose screaming caused the woman hearing damage. Many of you claim that children are people too, who deserve to be allowed to travel as freely as any other person. I agree!

Children are people, who need to be held to same standards as all other people. If I, an adult, stood in the aisle and screamed my head off because there was no chocolate milk, I'd probably be arrested as soon as we landed. Children must be taught by their parents how to behave and how to grow up to be responsible adults.

And here's the really important thing: while I am expected to be ever so kind about your precious little junior, HE is not expected to be ever so kind to me. Kindness goes both ways! Parents, teach your children to be respectful of others. Adults cannot simply do whatever the heck they feel like, just because they feel like it. They must exhibit self-restraint. If I am expected to exhibit self-restraint, then so is everyone else on the airplane - regardless of age or other situation. On a flight, my ears might hurt, but I cannot scream in pain until we land. I might not like my lunch options, but yelling at the flight staff is not going to make my TV dinner turn into homecooking. As a citizen of the world, I have to control my own desires and be kind to others!

I understand that kids have less practice at this and are going to make more mistakes, but that is when the PARENTS must step in and use restraint on the child's behalf. If he's crying, take him to the bathroom until he calms down enough to come back into public. (After all, that's what I do when I start crying in a public place.) If he has a tummy ache, give him some tummy medicine and seat him in your lap until he feels better. You cannot simply expect the rest of us to make accommodations for you unless you are willing to make accommodations for everyone else.

Just a little Golden Rule is all I'm asking for, folks!!!!!