A Colorado mother flying abroad had shared on TikTok an irritating experience she had on board. According to her, a passenger in front of her scolded her special needs child for playing with a window shade.
Posted online by TikTok user Whatilovetodo, Emily explains that her child, Griffin, has Angelman Syndrome and “has the mental age of a 2-year-old.” She makes it clear that when they travel, she and her husband do their best to accommodate others by doing when they can to keep disruptions to a minimum.
According to Emily, Griffin had been playing with the window curtain, which was easily accessible to him since he had the window seat. “It was maybe 10 times opening and closing it in a 20-minute span.” She then claims a passenger in front of her reached back, closed the shade, and told her child, “No more,” along with a thumbs up.
Emily wrote on TikTok, “He wasn’t hurting anyone. He was simply enjoying his window.” Though she tried to explain to the passenger her situation, she was given a “dirty look” after using the bathroom. “The entitlement from people is disgusting,” Emily argues. “Our family deserves to go on vacation. And we’re not going to stop doing things because of people who just don’t get it.”
How viewers are reacting to Emily’s TikTok video
On TikTok, hundreds of commenters ranged from support for Emily’s situation, while some shared that it was much too inconvenient to be around people with disabilities.
“I would have hated a kid behind me playing with the window,” one user wrote, seemingly avoiding the point that the child had special needs. This started a thread, with several commenters calling out the OP for being inconsiderate. As one commenter put it, “OK and? Not your window, get over it.”
Another TikTok user’s comment drew more debate by saying, “I understand both sides.” However, this led viewers to argue the woman in front of Emily was both “entitled” and was in no position to “discipline” a stranger’s child.
Others offered alternative solutions that would have made everyone happen. “If you care about the people around you then you pay for up front seats,” one user suggested. They added that they have an “autistic child” and do this every time they fly. Another recommended Emily put her child with special needs in the middle.
Some viewers shared their own experience, one of whom revealed the nasty way people act towards children with disabilities. A mother shared a story of her autistic 4-year-old having a “meltdown” at a hotel. Another mother had witnessed the scene, who then turned to her child, saying, “If you ever acted like that I’d smack you silly.”
While Emily’s TikTok video saw an outpouring of support for her, many understood that being around other people means being more understanding, especially when it comes to special needs children. Sometimes traveling abroad means dealing with uncomfortable situations, like children being kind of annoying. Kids can’t always regulate their emotions, but adults can.
