Bless the Beast or Are They Children?

Dear Sky Steward,

I was recently on a flight in which a mother had 3 children with her. She could barely control them and besides being loud, they created one of the biggest messes I have ever seen. There were snacks, papers, even Q-Tips thrown all over the floor.

Is it right to treat the floor of an airplane as a garbage can? Can you tell the mothers out their that Jetiquette requires everyone to be aware of others that are sharing the space.

Thanks,
Unwilling Childcare Worker

Dear Unwilling,

The Sky Steward can feel your pain! He recently gifted a grey plastic bag to a messy mother in order for her to collect 'debris' from her children and the floor and place it where it should be. Trash on the floor or in seat back pockets is not just from traveling families; even business people are guilty. There are people who need to understand that they must consider others traveling around them or after them on a later flight in the seat they are occupying for short time.

Next time, tell the flight attendant you almost tripped on the trash. He or she will take it from there.