Most parents brace themselves emotionally and physically when they have to fly with their kids.
While things like walking 15 minutes to the gate, waiting in line for security, or sitting in an uncomfortable airplane seat for hours may seem like minor annoyances to childless adults, parents have to do all of that while also managing their kids’ moods and tantrums.
In many cases, that burden isn’t shouldered by one person alone. More often than not, it’s two parents working together, taking turns and helping each other when needed.
Recently, however, one couple sparked intense backlash on TikTok after the mom, Leah (@leahston7), posted a light-hearted video about sitting alone with their two kids.
What Did the Dad Do?
In the clip, which has gone viral with over 3.7 million views, Leah films herself holding her baby while her toddler sits on the seat next to hers. She then flips the camera around to show the dad, who is sitting in the next row over on the aisle seat to her left, separated by airport bathrooms.
He smiles and waves at her. “The life of a dad,” she wrote in the video’s text overlay. “I think he planned it,” she added in the caption.
Commenters Find the Dad’s Behavior Concerning
In the comments section, viewers didn’t think the situation was acceptable.
“May this love never find me,” one user wrote.
“Absolutely NOT,” said another.
A third suggested a strategy. “Ask him if you can switch seats because you have to go to the restroom and then take his place… uno reverse.”
A commenter who said they worked in an airline had a different perspective. “Silly comments by so many,” they wrote. “As a flight attendant you can’t always sit families together. Let them be.”
Replying to another comment, Leah confirmed this. “I know it was just a joke he helped laods they just wasn’t any seats,” she wrote.
Why Are Commenters Upset?
Historically, childcare has been considered a woman’s responsibility exclusively. In the past 50 years or so, however, things have definitely changed.
Today, data shows that dads spend three times as much time with their kids as previous generations. In fact, it’s now considered normal to expect fathers to be just as involved in their children’s routines as mothers are.
After all, we live in a time when single-income households are increasingly unlikely to make ends meet. With both parents in the workforce, both typically have the same amount of “free time” to spend with their kids.
Even so, women are still considered the primary caregivers for infants in heterosexual relationships. According to The Guardian, the “modern” dad spends around 71 minutes per day on childcare, while moms spend significantly more, averaging 162 minutes.
That context may help explain why the video sparked such an uproar in the comments, though it’s still worth remembering that it’s an eight-second snapshot out of their life, making it difficult to make a fair judgment.
@leaheaston7 I think he planned it
♬ original sound – deliriumdays
The Mary Sue has reached out to Leah for comment.
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