Long-haul flights can be uncomfortable without the added factor of confrontation. Unfortunately, one father-daughter duo had to deal with a cramped plane and a child whose parents neglected to control him on top of the discomfort of travel.
An airplane flying against a sunset background | Source: Shutterstock
A few years ago, during a long night flight back from India, a family found themselves embroiled in a conflict with the family sitting behind them. The father and his then-14-year-old daughter were seated in front of a trio: a couple and their son, who was approximately 9 or 10 years old.
The plane ascended into the night sky, but the tranquility of the journey was soon disrupted by the the little boy behind them repetitively kicking the daughter’s chair. Initially, the father addressed the issue with a polite request for the boy to cease his kicking. The boy stopped, but only for a short time before he started again.
An upset child on an airplane | Source: Shutterstock
In a strategic move, the father reclined his seat fully, disturbing the boy’s mother seated behind him. When the mom and her husband protested, seeking the intervention of a flight attendant, she asked if the man wanted to keep his seat reclined. The father responded in the affirmative and the flight attendant confirmed he could do as he pleased.
The couple then exchanged a few whispers, which led to their little boy no longer kicking the young girl’s seat. However, her father kept his seat reclined for an hour so that he could be sure the couple had learned their lesson.
An airplane passenger sleeping in a reclined seat | Source: Shutterstock
Many people were entertained by the story. One person suggested that the father should have waited until the couple had received drinks and then reclined his seat fully, causing the drinks to spill on them.
Another person shared that many people wouldn’t understand how something was impacting others until they were directly impacted by something themselves. The commenter shared that since the couple couldn’t feel their son’s kicks in the chair, they couldn’t care less about how it was affecting someone else. However, when their comfort was compromised, they knew they had to do something.
A frustrated male airplane passenger | Source: Shutterstock
Some people even shared similar stories to the one this poster shared. One woman shared that she had been on a flight on her way back from Egypt when a man was seated behind her. He was indignant that a woman should be sitting in front of him, which led to him aggressively kicking her seat each time she moved.
At one point, the woman leaned back slightly, prompting the man to call a flight attendant over. The man screamed that a woman shouldn’t be allowed into his space. He pushed her seat as hard as possible in an effort to straighten the seat and no longer have it near him.
A sleeping female passenger on a plane | Source: Shutterstock
The flight attendant told the man that the woman was allowed to lean her seat back if she wanted to. The woman’s husband offered to switch seats with her, but she remained steadfast in her resolve to stay in her seat for the seven-hour flight.
Another Reddit user shared that they were 18 when they traveled from the US to the UK. They sat in front of a child who was kicking their chair and causing general discomfort. The traveler politely turned to the child’s mom and asked if she could tell her child to stop kicking the seat.
A mischevious child on a plane | Source: Shutterstock
The child’s mother shrugged and said her child could do what he wanted to do. The commenter replied that they could also do what they wanted and that unless the mother wanted things to get ugly, she should reign her child in. The person said they would embarrass the woman if she did not control her child.
The mother seemed nonplussed, so the traveler stood up and shouted to the plane that they were having an issue with the child. They then asked if anyone else was experiencing the same issue or if the child’s mother just didn’t know how to parent. The woman became enraged, but the person did not care.
A sheepish woman avoiding eye contact | Source: Shutterstock
When the flight was over, the traveler walked into the airport and was greeted by their friends. The mother and her son walked past the group with their heads down, not saying anything.
While these parents didn’t know how to control their children on the plane, one mother was not even allowed to get on the plane with her child. Read the full story here.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Am I Wrong for Teaching My Daughter-in-Law a Lesson after She Made My Wife Pay for a Cleaning Service?
Am I Wrong for Teaching My Daughter-in-Law a Lesson after She Made My Wife Pay for a Cleaning Service?
After my daughter-in-law humiliated my wife by making her pay for a cleaning service after a week of babysitting, I knew I had to teach her a lesson about gratitude. When the opportunity arose, I devised a plan to show her exactly what my wife had endured, turning the tables in an unforgettable way.
Hi, I’m Jacob, and I have a story to share about my daughter-in-law (DIL). My wife and I have always been close to our son and his family. We love spending time with our grandkids and often help out when needed.
Elderly couple and their grandkids | Source: Pexels
Our relationship with our son and his family has always been strong. We see them often, share meals, and celebrate holidays together. We feel lucky to be involved in our grandkids’ lives, watching them grow and supporting them whenever we can.
As grandparents, we take pride in being there for our family. Whether it’s picking up the kids from school, babysitting on short notice, or just offering advice, we’re always ready to help. We know how hard it can be to juggle work and family, so we do what we can to lighten the load.
Happy grandparents | Source: Pexels
A few weeks ago, our son and DIL had to go on a business trip. They asked my wife to babysit for a week. She loves spending time with the grandkids, so she agreed without hesitation. She packed her bags and moved into their house for the week.
While she was there, she took care of everything. She cooked meals, helped with homework, and made sure the house was tidy. The kids had a great time with their grandma, and she even did extra chores to help out. When she returned home, I was eager to hear all about their week together.
Sad elderly woman | Source: Pexels
But something was clearly wrong. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she looked like she had been crying. I asked her what happened, but at first, she didn’t want to tell me.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” I asked gently. She shook her head, avoiding my eyes.
“It’s nothing,” she said, her voice trembling.
I wasn’t convinced. “Please, tell me. What happened?”
Concerned elderly man | Source: Pexels
After some coaxing, she finally opened up. “Right before our son and DIL returned, she called me. She said I had to pay for a professional cleaning service.”
I was stunned. “What? Why?”
“She claimed the house was a mess and it was unacceptable,” she said, her voice breaking. “But I took care of the kids, cleaned up after them, and even did some extra chores.”
“And that wasn’t enough for her?” I asked, feeling my anger rising.
Upset woman | Source: Pexels
“She said it wasn’t,” my wife replied, tears streaming down her face. “I felt humiliated, Jacob. I didn’t want to argue and risk damaging our relationship with them, so I paid the cleaning bill. I thought I was helping, but she made me feel like I failed.”
Hearing this made me furious. “You did them a huge favor, and this is how they repay you?” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “This is unacceptable. You shouldn’t have had to go through that.”
Elderly man in a sweater | Source: Pexels
She nodded, looking defeated. “I just didn’t want to cause any trouble.”
“I understand,” I said, trying to stay calm. “But this disrespect needs to be addressed. I need to teach our DIL a lesson about gratitude and respect.”
And so, I started planning how to make sure this would never happen again.
Elderly man with a tablet | Source: Pexels
I spent a few days thinking about it and came up with a plan. I decided to give my DIL a taste of her own medicine. I called my son and DIL and offered to babysit the kids for a weekend. They were thrilled and quickly accepted my offer. They needed the break and trusted me completely.
The plan was simple. I would document the state of the house when I arrived, take care of the kids for the weekend, clean the house thoroughly, and then present them with a bill for a professional cleaning service. This way, they would understand what my wife went through.
Messy bedroom | Source: Pexels
I arrived at my son and DIL’s house on Friday evening. As soon as I walked in, I took pictures of every room, documenting the cleanliness and order. The house was already in good shape, but I wanted to make sure I had proof of how it looked when I arrived.
I spent the weekend with my grandkids, having a wonderful time. We played games, read stories, and enjoyed each other’s company. I made sure to clean up after ourselves, keeping the house tidy throughout our time together.
Grandfather and his granddaughter | Source: Pexels
Before my son and DIL returned on Sunday evening, I went into action. I cleaned the house from top to bottom, making it look spotless. I vacuumed, dusted, scrubbed, and polished every surface. By the time I was done, the house was immaculate.
When my son and DIL walked in, they were pleased to see how clean and organized everything was. I took a deep breath and decided it was time.
Neat room | Source: Pexels
“Hey, can we talk for a minute?” I asked. My son and DIL exchanged curious looks but nodded. I showed them the pictures I had taken when I arrived.
“This is how the house looked when I got here on Friday,” I said, scrolling through the images on my phone. “And this is how it looks now.”
They both looked puzzled.
“Dad, what’s going on?” my son asked.
Couple arguing | Source: Pexels
I took out the bill I had prepared. “I’m handing you a bill for a professional cleaning service,” I said, handing it to my DIL. Her face turned red with confusion and anger.
“Why would we need to pay this?” she snapped.
I stayed calm. “This is what your mother had to go through after she babysat for you. She did you a favor, took care of your kids, and you humiliated her by making her pay for a cleaning service. I thought it was only fair that you experience the same thing.”
Couple argues | Source: Pexels
My son’s eyes widened, and he turned to his wife. “Is this true?” he asked her.
She stammered, “I… I thought the house wasn’t clean enough. I didn’t mean to upset her.”
My son sighed, clearly disappointed. “You should have appreciated what Mom did for us. She didn’t deserve that.”
Upset concerned old man | Source: Pexels
Turning back to me, he said, “Dad, I’m so sorry. We’ll reimburse Mom immediately. This will never happen again.”
My DIL looked down, embarrassed. “I’m sorry, too. I didn’t realize how much I hurt her.”
I nodded, feeling some of the tension ease. “I hope this experience helps you understand the importance of gratitude and respect.”
Happy elderly couple | Source: Pexels
Since then, things have been a bit tense, but I think my DIL got the message. My wife and I continue to help out with the grandkids, but now there’s a newfound respect for the efforts we put in.
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