I have not been back to my home country for more than 3 years now
and would love to take my 18 months old son with me to visit my family
during the upcoming holiday season. Now, one HUGE problem is that my mother is yanking at me for
"not considering the child health" by taking him on the long haul flight to Asia
during a time of the year when the youngster is more susceptible to getting sick.
It will be end of Dec2013/beginning of Jan2014, if we travel.
So, how likely that my 18months will get cold/flu/(or ear infection) from taking a long haul trip?
I can only hope that none of the cabin-mates are sick in the flight.

Frankly, I was very suprised of my mother's reaction because she knows that
I had to cancel our initial November trip to visit them due to work schedule.
The earliest "I thought" I could visit home was next May2013.
But, I just discovered yesterday the great deal on the flight home over the holiday
so I contacted my parents, thinking they'd be thrilled to see us home so soon.
(Unfortunately, only one of them seems happy to see me home).

Besides, I have not seen my dad, sisters, nephews, grandparents (basically entire family)
and local friends for almost 3 years. My dad hasn't even met my son (we skype so he's seen the face).
It is not that my son is newborn and my son will be properly vaccinated and so on before bording the plane.

Is my mother's reaction legit? I can't stop feeling resentment toward her thinking she is overreacting.
My dad said "if you can take a time off to visit home, why not?"
My sisters all seem happy to have us home. ONLY my mother is bringing this issue up with me,
"How selfish you are thinking only about yourself, etc."
Oh, and believe me, to reason with her would be an excruciating task.
(being Asian probably contributing to her behavior, cultural thing).

Anyway, if you had taken your toddler on a long haul flight from USA to Asia,
how did your toddler do after the trip? We've taken my son@11months to Europe during this Summer
(No Cold/Flu season, so this issue was never raised by her), and he did not become sick at all.
But, winter is different story, right?