mommy tantrum

Back in July we flew Northwest Airlines to Minnesota. We left at 4am for our 6:30am flight. By the time we got to our gate my daughter's diaper had already leaked so we made our first clothing changes for the day. The first hour on our flight it was time for another diaper change. Northwest Airlines has not added changing tables to their planes and it was full flight, so I asked the flight attendant where I could change my daughter's diaper. She suggested in my seat! Hygienically this did not sound like a good idea, but I had not choice. As I made my way back to my seat juggling Little 'Ny on my hip I overheard the flight attendant making a snarky comment to another passenger regarding my "outrageous need" for a changing table.

My husband was so irritated by the incident that he took the dirty diaper to the flight attendant to throw out for us. She was so appalled that he did this and demanded that he throw it in the bathroom trash. Another flight attendant was in the way of the bathroom and my husband asked her to move. When she finally got her to move she thought he made a rude comment to her. Once he got back to our seat she came storming up the aisle and demanded he apologize to her. When he wouldn't she threatened to call the air marshals on him. This public humiliation lasted 15 minutes until she stormed off.

About an hour later my daughter woke up from her nap and puked all over me. Thinking I was a "prepared mommy" I had packed a t-shirt in my carry on for one of these "just in case" moments, but I didn't pack an extra pair of pants. As I ran down the aisle to the bathroom I came face to face with this same flight attendant. For some strange reason she wouldn't move out of the way for me to get out of the bathroom. She acted like I was like wasn't even there. After a few minutes of trying to get her attention to move out of the way I finally pushed her aside. Turns out she was on her way to yell at my husband more.

By the time I got back to my seat I was working on 4 hours of sleep and reeked of baby pee and vomit. All I could do was cry. When we finally exited the plane we were approached by airport security. My husband told them our terrible experience with the flight attendants, other passengers supported our side as witnesses and when the security offices turned to me I just let the tears flow. In between sobs I told them I was soaked in pee and vomit, I told them I was humiliated, I told them how uncomfortable the NWA staff made the flight, and I told them they started our vacation out in the worst way possible.

Next thing we know we had $400 worth of airline vouchers in our hands ... hence our vacation in Chicago!