Soon after, EM’s son began crying uncontrollably—not from frustration, but guilt. Between sobs, he admitted he felt bad about Ella’s iPad getting broken, and EM’s expression shifted from smug to stunned. As I comforted Ella, a flight attendant—who had witnessed the ordeal—brought over a small stuffed airplane for her, softening the moment and bringing back a smile.
The attendant quietly assured me she would report the incident. EM, clearly shaken by her son’s reaction, attempted to reconnect with him, and when we finally disembarked, she caught my eye and mouthed a quiet “sorry.” Despite the turbulence on that flight, Ella walked off the plane hugging her new toy and asked with a twinkle in her eye, “Mom, can we fly again soon?”