O-mama - Opinionated Moms

AP Photo/Louis Lanzano

Jet Blue flight attendant, Steven Slater, made aeronautical pop-history on Monday when he cursed at passengers over the plane’s P.A. system, grabbed a few beers, released his emergency-exit chute, and slid to the tarmac below. Slater’s meltdown was reported to be triggered by a passenger who stood up to fetch his carry-on while the plane was still moving, leading to an altercation between the passenger and Slater. He now faces three criminal charges- reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and trespassing...and will most likely lose his job.  

MOMism: “The straw that broke the camel's back!”  Sometimes, even the most patient O-MAMAs lose it.  Call it the straw that break's the camel’s back, our boiling point, whatever...we are not exempt from the occasional freak-out.  As parents, our patience is put to the test day in and day out.  But when we are faced with these MOMents, we need to take a deep breath, re-group, sometimes walk away, and then come back to the situation with a clear head. 

Perhaps Steven Slater could have taken a lesson. In fact, in addition to being a mom, flight attendants do have a stressful job, too. There is no doubt that the “friendly skies” are not so friendly anymore.  There is a level of stress at airports that breeds frustration...we've all been there, it's painful.  The trek to the airport, the schlepp of the luggage, the lines to check in, the lines through security, getting a snack and mags before the flight because their are no more free lunches or movies...planes are crowded, uncomfortable, and flights are long...for everyone...even the camel who carries and rearranges bags in the overhead compartment, stores the water and can hold his pee for the duration of the trip!