A few months ago I was on a trip to Myrtle Beech. I was prepared to not enjoy the trip as I was already irritated by the extra money I payed for my luggage, the long line to get into security and the long wait before I boarded the plane, as I had got there extra early to make sure that I had plenty of time to get through said security (OK and I admit it I am not always Ms sunshine at 6:30 am).
When I got on the plane, I noted with increasing disappointment that I was surrounded by families with small children. Now I was sure this trip was going to be miserable!

This thought must have been pretty clear by my expression, because when a young tired looking mother of 4 holding a squirming, but adorable youngster passed my seat she smiled and said..."I know, before I had kids I felt the same way" Some how that made it all OK. It was only a couple of hours, I thought to myself, I can handle that!

I was increasingly impressed as I watched the parents (all quite young) do everything humanly possible to entertain the kids. Dads included. Two of the families, it seemed, had never flown with the kids before.

The kids were loud as usuallykids are, but mostly it was exclamations of excitement at the sights outside the plane, and of the games they played. The smaller ones seem to either fall asleep or looking into their parent's eyes and gurgle contentedly. Not one of them kicked the back of my seat!!!!

Then something went wrong with the air conditioning, normally I am freezing on the plane, today we were all boiling. The cabin crew was ontop of it. The told us all that there was a problem, that they appologized about it and kept us updated about what they were doing to fix it.
Then as we decended I discovered I had a cold I was unaware of, and spent the next few mins in excruciating pain as the plane landed in Myrtle Beech.

All in all I enjoyed the trip, that I had been so deterimined to feel miserable about prior to boarding the plane.

Perhaps it was the simple statement from the young mom, noting that she understood that the kids might make noise and disturb us, but also letting us know that to a certain extent there was only so much she could do about it. Perhaps it was the fact that all those kids, even under difficult conditions, were remarkably well behaved, perhaps it was that the cabin crew, were cheerful, helpful and completely understanding of our discomfort. Perhaps it was a combination of all those things.

I never thanked those parents that day, and I wish I had. I had the same feeling as I watched a mother and her kid yesterday. The kid was transfixed by a large chocolate santa, you could tell he really wanted it. His mother called him once in a normal tone, then a second time in that tone we all know means mom means buisiness.

As I watched in surprise the aproximately 6 year old, gave one last loving glance at the santa, carefully put it back making sure it did not fall, then without a word or backward glance ran off to join his mother.

I was impressed!

It seems that parents typically get noticed if they do something extraordinarily good, or bad. Those parents that do a good job often (in my opinion) don't usually get the credit they are due.

I don't know if you are all doing something different, or if I am just noticing you more, but whatever you are doing is working! Because the stories I just told are two of many I have been noticing these days.

I would have liked to thank and complement so many of them, but I never had the chance, so here are my thanks and complements to all of you.
Parents everywhere, keep up the good work, some of us childless jerks (and I can't speak for all of us) do notice and appreciate your efforts. :)