Business & Travel

We left cloud 9 for a bit, but we're back now. For a bit. The boys actually did quite well with all the flights and layovers and such. Well, except for Elliot's rolling around, screaming tantrum on the floor at the gate of our initial return flight. So much for the idea of removing him to allow him to finish his tantrum where he can't disturb others. Sure, let me just grab his older brother, our 3 backpacks, the stroller and my carry-on and rush with the screaming child to . . somewhere, to finish his fit. Sure.

I expect, and do my best not to tolerate, some impatience and inappropriate social behavior from my children, but from grown men? Come on people. Let me explain. Near our departing gate (this was just prior to the fit described above), the men's restroom had been closed down for some reason. It was blocked off and a sign posted that said "Closed. Please use restroom near gate B10". Pretty simple instructions don't you think? It is an airport of course and I'm sure you'd run in to multiple men's restrooms on the way to baggage claim as well--choose your direction, you are bound to bump into a toilet sooner or later.

So, instead of patiently following those instructions, what did a whole host of gentlemen travelers decide to do? Use the family restroom of course. So, I stood there, with my carry-on baggage and stroller, breaking up fights between my two boys who needed respectively to pee and have a diaper change, waiting in line behind half a dozen men doing their business. Now, one would not assume that if the men's room is closed, that it would be appropriate to file on into the ladies room, right? So why is it okay to use the family room? Because men are allowed in there perhaps? Okay, point taken (men with their families however). But why, in heaven would you assume that, while justifying your use of the inappropriate restroom, you should have priority over those for whom the restroom is intended? I suppose I could have used the ladies room, but I've found that my 6 year old child, that looks like he's 8 or 10, is generally frowned upon in ladies rooms. And, I try to avoid sending him alone into a crowded men's room for obvious reasons. Come on people!

So, when my children began to complain about the wait and that they needed to do their business, I loudly explained that the men's room was closed and all these gentlemen, rather than walking to the one down the hall, have chosen to use the family room, so we have to wait behind them. That garnered me a couple of smiles from the men ahead of me, but not one of them budged. Two other parents came by with their children during all of this and loudly asked "Is this the line?" before moving on to other restrooms. Both of them however, had a same-gendered single child and a diaper in hand--obviously traveling with another adult with whom they could leave their luggage and such.

The guy in front of me commented that there isn't a bathroom down there by B9. I explained that it is down the escalator by B10, as the sign indicated. Rocket scientist. Finally, his wife exited the ladies' room, gave him a questioning look, and he left the line with her, explaining the bathroom closure and mumbling something about the big hurry I was in. Big hurry?!?! Have you ever traveled with two small children with small bladders and little patience? Obviously not. And so, we were finally at the top of the line. At which point, I noticed that not only were the men using the family room, but they, for some inexplicable reason, had been using it with the door open (the toilet being conveniently located outside of direct line of sight from the hallway). What, does it not count if the door is open? And, I noticed the light was off. Do I even ask what is going on in there? Maybe, while berating the last gentleman, the first exited without my noticing. "Hello, is anyone in there?" "Yeah! The light went out!" That's to deter men from going in and out of the bathroom with the door open--the light only stays on so long. Most people turn the light on and shut the door, idiot. So he comes rushing out, leaving us of course to flush away his pee. Nice touch.

Things got better, I worked out my annoyance with the male gender and we went about our flight home. I need to clean the house and unpack, but I'm thinking since we're leaving in just a few days for our family vacation in Chicago (we're taking the train, thank heaven), I may not bother to fully unpack.