Originally Posted by
valve bouncer
Some parents just can't win. On a recent flight I was making sure my 8 year old young bloke wasn't kicking the seat in front. However, being 8 and being a longish flight it was ineviable that he would contact the seat in front a few times. I was watching him and admonishing him whenever he accidentally kicked the seat in front. At the end of the flight the guy in front stood up and said to my young fella sarcastically "thanks for kicking my seat all the way". I apologised, despite knowing that he wasn't kicking "all the way" and mentioned to the man that I had been telling him quite often to watch out for the seat in front. He said "Yeah, I heard you"
In that situation I don't know what more I could have done.
I incorporate by reference this thread on large passengers:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=670689
Bottom line: whatever it is that your child does (and I do not accept that because he's 8, kicking the seat in front of him was inevitable -- moreover, the fact that you had been "telling him quite often" suggests that he was doing it quite often), flying with your child is your problem, and not the problem of the person seated in front of him.
What is a parent to do? Ensure that their child doesn't kick the seat in front of them. How? Not my problem -- you're the parent. You do not have the right to make your problem the problem of strangers flying with you. No one may impose as a matter of entitlement -- that's simple courtesy.