Mom With 'Nervous' Infant On Flight Hands Out 'Little Goodie Bags' To Passengers Onboard

Jul 23, 2019 by apost team

Flying internationally or across the country can be nerve-wracking enough. Cramped on a plane with a hundred strangers is never an ideal situation for a multiple-hour trip. There are also the stereotypical passengers that we can’t help but hope that we aren’t sitting next to when we board the plane: the chatty Cathy, the salesman trying to push a deal through mid-flight and, of course, crying little ones.

While children are incredibly adorable and likely bring a big smile to your face, it’s human nature to have your patience worn a little thin on the 14th hour of your overseas flight.

In this story from 2019, one mother who was flying with her infant child didn't want to be the person who brings a crying baby on board and makes the journey difficult for others. So she planned ahead for the 10-hour flight she and her baby took from Seoul, South Korea, to San Francisco, CA.

It was her 4-month-old baby Junwoo's first-ever plane ride and the nervous mother anticipated the worst. So to ensure that their fellow passengers weren't too disturbed if Junwoo couldn't control his emotions while on the flight, the mom prepared goodie bags filled with candy and a note "written" by the infant for others on the plane. She handed them out before the plane's departure, and instantly the pair's fellow passengers' spirits were lifted.

One passenger named Dave Corona took photos and wrote about the incident on his Facebook page, which led the story to go viral. Let's take a look.

Moms know that it is no simple task to take care of a small baby on a long flight. It becomes particularly hard if that flight is a lengthy international flight. It becomes nearly overwhelming if that particular overseas flight happens to be the child’s first experience with air travel. Parents know that taking care of their babies on a plane can sometimes lead to unexpected hiccups that leave them in a tough predicament. Of course, no parent wants their kiddo to bother the passengers around them, but what can be done? If a baby wants to cry, it certainly will cry. No amount of coddling and kisses can stop a fussy baby or toddler from being uncomfortable on a lengthy plane ride.

In Feb. 2019, Corona was preparing himself for a particularly long flight from Seoul, South Korea to San Francisco, CA. It would be a 10-hour flight, and there were many passengers. One of them was 4-month-old Junwoo and his young mother who was taking him on his very first trip. She knew that taking a flight across the world would be a big event for her baby.

She knew there was a chance that little Junwoo might feel fussy and could potentially disturb the other passengers on the plane. However, she came prepared with little treats that she hoped would make the flight more enjoyable for everyone on board. Inside the bag were some authentic Korean candies and a fresh set of earplugs. There was also a note "written" by Junwoo that explained his situation to the other passengers.

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The note read:

"Hello, I'm Junwoo and I'm 4 months old. Today I am going to the U.S. with my mom and grandmom to see my aunt. I'm a little bit nervous and scary (sic) because it's my first flight ... which means I may cry or make too much noise. I will try to go quietly, though I can't make any promises.. Please excuse me." 

It also said that the mom prepared "little goodie bags" for the passengers, which contained candy and earplugs, and to use them "when it's too noisy because of me." The small gesture was truly touching for the passengers, and Corona, who works as a cameraman, including for KGO-TV in San Francisco, took photos of the goodie bags and posted them on his Facebook. Everyone on board couldn’t help but admire the young mother for her thoughtfulness. 

The photos of the goodie bags went viral due to how sweet and considerate Junwoo's mom was to their fellow passengers. However, it did contribute to an ongoing discussion about whether or not parents should do such things on flights. Rebecca Dube penned an article for Today back in 2014, in which she pointed out that babies cry, and that adults shouldn't "expect a lollipop for not being a j***." It's a fair point. Although parents like Junwoo's mom are well-meaning, the trend of parents apologizing for their babies being, well, babies, has meant that some people will be expecting such courtesies when flying with families, setting up a precedent that not everyone will be able to uphold.

What do you think about Junwoo's note? Do you think it's alright for parents to make such gestures or is it unnecessary? We would love to hear your thoughts! Then pass this on to those you know so they can weigh in too.