We could all use a little bit of patience and kindness this busy travel season. I get in a zone and I forget there are people around me – I just go into my routing when I hit the airport. In the door, hit the CLEAR line and PreCheck, then the lounge if I arrived too early before boarding just in time to have enough bin space in the overhead.

My life of travel was a solo thing for a long time, or an ‘adult thing’ on holiday with my wife. As a dad with a still-three year old I am learning a new world. She’s great, but she did have one meltdown in the fall at the end of a Hawaii trip less than 30 minutes from home. Her temper tantrum consisted of telling me “I’m going to take my mask off, daddy, and the police are going to come get you!”

My wife is aware of the people around us and when they need help, a kind word, assistance with a carry on. I try to be more aware too. And maybe that’s why this twitter thread struck me, because it seemed like every trip by a parent with a small child. It’s the mundane travel of ordinary parent life. And it’s the little things that can just seem hard.

I quickly hit the flight attendant button and grab my "just in case" towel that I keep on hand to try and begin damage control. When the attendant comes, I ask him for napkins or towels. When he comes back I asked him to take the mostly spilled cup to aviod futher spilling.

— CT (@A_Regular_Fella) June 1, 2022

Luckily I had a plastic bag and tossed the partially full cup of juice in there after stuffing it with the used paper towels as the attendant stillhad not returned. Once I got the spill contained I shifted to get my child changed into dry pants.

— CT (@A_Regular_Fella) June 1, 2022

…as it clearly wasn't a priority. He then began some nonsense abotu not being able to because he didn't have gloves on. I reminded him that he had one glove which should have been enough for one cup.

— CT (@A_Regular_Fella) June 1, 2022

As I'm waiting along comes Mr. Helpful who quickly says "excuse me" and then proceeds to push his way past me making physical contact. When I call him out on it all he says is that he said "excuse me" I don't think he is familiar with the concept of acknowledgement or concent.

— CT (@A_Regular_Fella) June 1, 2022

I’m not going to fault the flight attendant, they were like so many tens of thousands of their colleagues and they have bad days, too.

American Airlines says their corporate purpose is “caring for people on life’s journey.” Now, that sounds like the mission statement for an assisted living facility. But it is a reminder that each of the 2.3 million passengers carried on that airline over Memorial weekend alone isn’t just a ticket number or a seat assignment.

We are all going somewhere, we are stuck inside a metal tube and for a few hours our fortunes and life stories are intertwined. I often say flying is ‘small d’ democratic, bringing together people of all kinds, with their own backgrounds and dramas and misunderstandings. And we all just need a little more patience and grace, Me as much as anyone.