To have told this woman that the world doesn't revolve around her kid?

[FatFacedDog]

Sat on a plane, window seat. In front of me, a kid aged about 5/6. The way the windows were placed I had one slightly behind me (which I would have to crank my neck to look through) and one in front of me which I could see through perfectly.

Long flight.

As the plane starts driving towards runway the kid in front decides to close all the shutters of the windows he can reach meaning the one in front of him and the one behind him (mine!). I didn't say anything at this point as I a) assumed his mother would as that wasn't his window to prat about with and b) the staff would ensure all shutters were up for takeoff anyway.

So the staff walk down the aisle and see "my" window with the shutter down and tell ME sternly to do the shutter up as has been requested already. I said "I didn't put it down!" And hastily push it back up. With this the kid spins around and says "hey! I want that closed!" So I said nicely "well it has to be open I'm afraid". His useless mother paying no attention. He reaches behind him to close it and I stop him and say "no! It's to remain open!".

At this point he whines to his mother that I keep opening the "curtain" when he wants it shut so she said "you can close it when we start flying". It was my window!!!

So once up in the air he spins around, gives me the look and slams the shutter down. REALLY irritated at this point I open it back up and say "I'm sorry, I'm keeping my shutter open for now". He screams and shouts at his mother that the horrible lady behind won't let him shut the curtains. She turns around and says "sorry, he really likes them closed". I say "well he can close his shutter but this one is mine and I like them open". She gasped dramatically and said "are you serious? He's a child!".

Now I'm proper fuming at this point and said "well maybe this is a great opportunity to teach him about respecting those around him". He snaps back "what do you mean by that??" And I say "that the world doesn't revolve around him!".

Now sensing the whole thing was snowballing I say "look, im sorry but it's a long flight and I'm claustrophobic, I can't sit for 7 hours with my shutter closed".

She spun back in her chair and snapped at the kid "just leave it open, some people are just selfish!".

SO wibu??? DH seems to think so!

Mavis - tbh i am playing devils advocate and think the op is NBU

Of course YABU. Next time don't fly if you're so fucking claustrophobic you can't handle your shutter being closed. How would your claustrophobia have handled someone like me, who gets migraines on planes and so often has to pull down shutters? I wouldn't have argued with you - I probably would have turned around and thrown up all over your lap.

You were being as entitled as the mum with the kid. Selfish the lot of you.

The OP was spoiling for a fight right from the point she unnecessarily snapped at the crew member that she hadn't put the shutter down. The reason it snowballed was the OP.

Of course she should have the shutter open if she needs it to be open. However, there were far better ways of handling it.

do random children get to dictate if her fold down table is up or down or what movie she watches?

Those are items specific to one passenger. The windows are, in fact, shared.

Oddly enough, plenty of adults think they get to dictate whether a passenger reclines their own seat or not.

YANBU

Of course YABU. Next time don't fly if you're so fucking claustrophobic you can't handle your shutter being closed. How would your claustrophobia have handled someone like me, who gets migraines on planes and so often has to pull down shutters? I wouldn't have argued with you - I probably would have turned around and thrown up all over your lap

Wear a fucking eye mask is you are in dangerous of throwing up if you see some sunlight.

@FrancisCrawford @kokusai Unfortunately for me I travel in business class because have to work during my flights (twice monthly, 6-8 hours). Not everybody has the luxury to sleep on their flight.

Good luck to the mum dealing with her spoilt brat in 10 years time.

Can't you tell your work you're medically unfit to fly, runloganrun?

Why do your needs trump those of others? Particularly claustrophobics for whom the mere act of getting on a plane is torture!

Round of applause, OP!

You did quite right - makes me annoyed that people think their children should get their own way with everyone because they're children. Absolutely you were right to stand your ground .... his mother has a very rude awakening coming when he's a bit older

Well done for keeping your cool. Sounds like he gets his self centredness from him mum.

Bet everyone around you was silently cheering you on!

Of course YABU. Next time don't fly if you're so fucking claustrophobic you can't handle your shutter being closed. How would your claustrophobia have handled someone like me, who gets migraines on planes and so often has to pull down shutters?

ROFL that you can't see the irony of this!

OP, YANBU - good for you for standing your ground.

Good for you. You handled that perfectly, OP.

Next time don't fly if you're so fucking claustrophobic you can't handle your shutter being closed. How would your claustrophobia have handled someone like me, who gets migraines on planes and so often has to pull down shutters? I wouldn't have argued with you - I probably would have turned around and thrown up all over your lap.

How about you don't fucking fly if you get migraines on planes but are stupid enough not to use an eye mask. Your migraines don't trump OP's claustrophobia.

OP you've handled it better than I would have.

How wonderful to have migraines where you can work at the same time.

You did the right thing op , the child sounds very spoiled.
In future when you are flying I'd pick an aisle seat. I suffer from mild claustrophobia when flying and being in a window seat is the worst thing for me. I'd rather be at the aisle and have to move to let people out than feel hemmed in in the window seat

Also interested to know why your dh thinks you were being U.

YANBU at all!

That mother is raising an entitled brat.

Yes, people on here say you should say that but it's a fact of life that some parents think the world revolves around their bloody offspring. Bets those kids turn into the obnoxious adults who piss everyone off in daily life too.

Some of the threads in AIBU are so obvious, like this one. Of course YWNBU, I really wonder if people post stuff like this for the virtual brownie points?
Sadly I don't think things like this are always obvious on MN. There's many a thread I've seen and OPs have been shouted down for even daring to suggest a child has been rude or badly behaved (bonus points if "you don't know the history / armchair diagnosis of additional needs gets raised and it turns into a heated bun fight between people saying some NT kids are badly behaved and others saying their SEND child clearly isn't with the obvious 'some NT and SEN kids can be amazing, some NT and SEN kids can behave appallingly' being missed.)

Round of applause for Billben and gleam

OP YANBU.