Hahaha, too amusing. We're a family airline with a FUN-luving attitude. Sorry you were so distraught on one of our flights. We give everyone the freedom to fly, even those 14 months old. I'm sure you took a good two minutes during the boarding process getting those "books" out of your bag, but that aside, next time check in earlier. That would allow you an A boarding group prior to family boarding, catch the first or last flight of the day, everyone's asleep, bring noise cancelling headphones or earplugs, don't want to buy the Kindle? Buy the Bose headphones and enjoy silence. Pick a window seat next time, more families prefer windows for either thier carseats, or because it allows them a "corner" in which to hide. Stick to the front, families, though it should be completely opposite, go straight to the back because they think it'll be less bothersome for others. It's not, it's quieter in the front and the back can pick up some pretty nasty bumps in turbulence that can make it uncomfortable for those infants, and dangerous. Sorry for the trouble you had to go through, I'm sure it wasn't any better for the parent(s). Come prepared next time. And remember one thing, and if it's the only thing, please know that asking a flight attendant to tell the parent(s) to control their child is the most insensitive, uncomfortable, and selfish position to place them in. Thanks, and hope to see you on board!

This kind of snide attitude is what makes me dread flights with my family which includes an autistic child. You're sarcastically tolerant, while no doubt shooting all sorts of bad vibes to the parent of this kid that you've decided is an ill-behaved nuisance.

We pre-board due to disability (thanks Southwest, we love you!) and we make a point of isolating my son as much as possible (we sit around and in front so that there's no seat kicking a stranger and no on the same row strangers). We're lucky that as a family of 5 we can do this. I have no idea what I'd do if we weren't all traveling at the same time. We have lots of in flight distractions, but he will talk and it's not going to "sound normal." How many glares have I had to put up with? He doesn't look disabled, so there are angry strangers who resent our pre-boarding. He says things over and over again, so people who are trying to read are distracted. You know, I wish you'd put on some noise canceling headphones, turn off judgements and read your book.

Sorry that you're flight wasn't the book reading nirvana you were hoping for. Our post vacation flight are often so stressful when we're around all this disapproval that my vacation relaxation is totally erased.

Dave, I'm on your side in this, but you've brought the angry Mommy Bloggers over here, now and I want to you stop it!

@ a parent: I'm sorry if my post sounded rude; it was meant to be light-hearted. As someone who has taken many cross-country flights with my own children, I know that it can be very stressful for parents as wel. My niece has the right attitude. When she flew from L.A. to Baltimore with her infant, she clothed him in a shirt that read: "Congratulations! You get to sit next to me!"

@Dave -
Sorry if I misinterpreted your tone, it's a bit of a sore subject for me (obviously).

Well, I'm firmly on both sides of this issue, as a dedicated reader and as a parent. I'm also hearing-impaired, so I have the option of turning down the volume in my hearing aids, but I don't have the choice of wearing noise-canceling headphones. Not all disabilities are visible, as someone has already pointed out. The last trip I took there was a small child directly behind me who kicked the back of my seat all the way across the Atlantic. I said nothing because the mother of three looked as if she was barely holding it together.

Dave, What I'd like to know is, how is Noah's Compass, and how can I get an early copy?

Lisa, I enjoyed Noah's Compass. Like some of her other books, it has a relatively simple plot but some interesting twists. As always, she makes us feel for her characters. The book will be released in January.