Flight Attendant Puts Toddler In Overhead Compartment

[Peppergirl]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vic...-1226016403074



To summarize:

Flight attendant witnessed the toddler playing peek-a-boo and lifted him up, placed him in the overhead bin, and closed the compartment. Toddler was in the compartment for about 10 seconds.

He's been fired.

Very stupid thing to do and I agree with the firing, but I think having him seen by various 'specialists' and saying he's suffering from 'anxiety and withdrawal' is going a bit overboard on the part of the parents.


Thoughts?

[Kheldarson]

Um...wow. Attendant was a moron is the first reaction.

But as for the kid, I have to wonder if the night terrors aren't being caused simply because mom's stressed...

[Cheshire]

Sounds like the steward was simply playing with the child, and the mother extremely over-reacted.

A bit curious how you judge a year old child for anxiety and withdrawal. The picture from the link shows the child rather happy, while the mother making an obviously fake "worry" face. She might have more credibility if it wasn't for the other passengers laughing while the event was taking place, adding to the "playing around" part of the stewards story.

Shame that man lost his job for something so trivial.

[Peppergirl]

I know I shouldn't, but I snickered at one of the remarks where the person commented that he's surprised the mother isn't an American, what with the whole 'milk your 15 minutes of fame' bit and also her being overly litigious and dramatic.

I know those aren't things that are exclusive to Americans, but we do seem to be the loudest about them.

[Rageaholic]

Wow the flight attendant was an idiot. He should have kept his hands off the kid. What was he thinking?

But I also agree that the mother is probably overreacting just a little bit. I just don't believe that being locked in an overhead bin for TEN SECONDS is enough to cause this much grief. I can understanding being rightfully pissed at some stranger touching your kid, but wow...

[Gravekeeper]

Flight attendent was stupid. Kid's perfectly fine I bet. Mom on the other hand sounds like a psychotic to begin with. Crying for days? Really? "Absolutely devestated". Right. Then to take him to "various specialists" afterwards. Which I'm betting the whole experience of was far more stressful to the child then anything the flight attendant did.

[Andara Bledin]

The woman's a nutter. And all of her histrionics are what is distressing her son.

^-.-^

[Greenday]

Woman probably did overreact later on, but the flight attendant deserved to be fired. He acted like a complete moron and paid for it.

[Peppergirl]

The article says she and her husband are now estranged.

Gee. Can't imagine why.

She'll probably try to include that in her lawsuit, too.

[Mytical]

Mother over reacting, trying to 'win the lottery' to boot. Not that I understand why a flight attendant putting their hands on a child (without permission) short of saving that child from harm.

Let me ask the mothers here, if a stranger just walked up and put their hands on your child (without warning or asking or anything) and you didn't know why..what would your reaction be? (Sorry if this is too far off topic..please ignore)

[Peppergirl]

Let me ask the mothers here, if a stranger just walked up and put their hands on your child (without warning or asking or anything) and you didn't know why..what would your reaction be? (Sorry if this is too far off topic..please ignore)

I think it's a great question.

Keep in mind my kids are grown (chronologically), but if it was me, I'd likely have been pissed...but I would have accepted an apology and let it go.

Some of these parents today are...well, different (to use a nicer term) than when I was raising mine - even though mine are only 23 and 20.

And to further illustrate how times have changed, If this had happened when *I* was a kid, it wouldn't have even been newsworthy.

[Mytical]

I might not be the best one to ask about what would traumatize a kid....my uncles use to toss me back and forth like a football .. and I had way too much fun when they did that.

[Plaidman]

From what I've read in other articles (Haven't read the OP one yet) The flight attendent didn't just randomly grab the baby and put him there, he did it alongside the father of the baby. As in, was with the father, the father was a part of it and agreed with it before it happened. Mother just overeacted and freaked out, while everyone else was just having fun. It wasn't during the flight or anything like that. It was safe.

[Eisa]

What the fuck?

[Mytical]

Plaidman then that is another thing entirely. Kids are not as easily traumatized as some think. I've fell down stairs, been tossed around like a football..among other things. Despite my having few brain to mouth filters, and extreme shyness..I like to think I am a pretty well balanced person.