Flying in 3 weeks time with my girls to spend Christmas with my parents and brother on the Gold Coast.
I’ve never flown on my own with both girls. Generally one or the other will meltdown during a flight, usually I have another adult with me so it is easy to deal with… well easy for inflight meltdown.
I’m pondering making up some little business cards explaining my kids are on the spectrum and asking for patience and understanding….. and some packets of disposable earplugs. Then if a meltdown does occur I can just hand the card and earplugs over to anyone sitting near us.
Not sure how to word the card, I don’t want to give too much info but want to give enough so the people understand. I wouldn’t hand them out unless meltdowns were in progress, I don’t think random strangers need to know about my kids being on the spectrum unless it is impacting on them.
See meltdowns are a bad time to be talking to the girls, Heidi in particular needs me to be quiet and just provide her with the right sensory input, darkness, silence, squishes, whatever. Annie usually has to cry herself out without physical contact until she has calmed enough for hugs and logical discussion.
I remember reading somewhere about traveling with kids who are melting down inflight, one suggestion was that you will get more sympathy from fellow travelers if you appear to be trying to calm your child. It doesn’t matter if what you are doing is effective or not – and frankly how is a stranger going to know – so long as you look like you are trying to fix the problem. That makes sense and if it diverts antagonism away from my girls I’m happy to play that game.
But I’m also thinking of ways I can educate fellow travelers and make them feel more at ease. Particularly those in the seats close to us.
Which reminds me I had a brilliant idea of getting sleeping mask for Heidi’s eyes something that could block out all visual sensory input.
Should I be asking the Qantas people for assistance? Word up the flight crew before hand?
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