An entitled mom thought smashing my daughter’s iPad would end her son’s tantrums. But what happened next left her in a panic she never saw coming. Karma works fast, even at 30,000 feet!
I’m Bethany, 35, and I had no idea a two-hour flight could turn into such a whirlwind. My five-year-old daughter, Ella, was happily watching cartoons on her iPad as we settled in for takeoff, headphones on, completely content.
“You comfy, sweetheart?” I asked, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Ella nodded, her eyes glued to the screen. “Can I have juice later?”
“Of course,” I smiled. “Just let me know when you’re thirsty.”
As I reached for my book, I noticed a family of three across the aisle. Their son, around Ella’s age, was already fidgeting and whining.
“I’m bored!” he groaned, kicking the seat in front of him.
His mom tried to calm him. “Remember, no screens this trip. Be a good boy.”
His eyes locked on Ella’s iPad, and I had a feeling this flight was about to get a lot longer.
About 20 minutes in, the mom leaned over with a tight smile. “Hi, I noticed your daughter’s iPad. We’ve decided to keep screens away from our son this vacation, and it’s upsetting him. Would you mind putting it away?”
I blinked, surprised by her boldness. “Excuse me?”
“It’s not fair to him,” she repeated.
I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, but my daughter is using it to stay calm during the flight.”
Her smile faded. “Wow, really? You’d rather ruin our trip than give your daughter a break from the screen?”
“She’s quietly minding her own business,” I replied. “Maybe your son could do the same if you brought something to entertain him.”
The woman huffed and glared, but I turned back to my book, determined to ignore her. As her son’s tantrums escalated, the dirty looks continued.
“I want that!” he screamed, pointing at Ella’s iPad. His mom leaned in, whispering, “I know, sweetie. Some people are just selfish.”
I tried to block out the chaos, focusing on my book, while Ella, blissfully unaware, continued watching her show.
Then it happened. In one swift motion, the entitled mom knocked into Ella’s tray, sending the iPad crashing to the floor. The screen shattered on impact.
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