Author’s note: This true story occurred when tobacco smoking was permitted in designated areas at airports and on domestic flights within the continental USA.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we will begin boarding flight 4821 to Chicago shortly. All first-class passengers and anyone needing extra assistance may approach the podium at this time. Please have your boarding passes available, and thank you for flying with us today.”

When she heard this announcement, 15-year-old Vanessa extinguished her cigarette, secured her six-week-old infant into a neonatal restraint sling, and wrestled with an oversized purse and carry-on case while heading toward the gangway. Her baby’s whimpering grew louder and louder with each step.

The teen mother was grateful that she was able to reserve a seat in the smoking area which was limited to the last four rows at the rear of the plane. By the time the rest of the passengers were settled in their seats, Vanessa had placed her infant in the empty seat beside her and kept looking at the no-smoking light above her, desperately waiting for it to go dark so she could inhale another drag of tobacco.

Eventually, the plane was airborne, and the pilot turned off the no-smoking sign. Vanessa lit up immediately. Since this was her first flight with her newborn, she was unaware that air pressure on a youngster’s eardrums can be quite painful and cause bellowing screams. Vanessa pushed back into her reclining seat and stared at her child, hoping the cries would stop. The young mother, still a teen herself, had no clue how to stop the infant from howling.

“Excuse me, miss,” said the tall blonde flight attendant. “Is this your baby?” Vanessa nodded, glancing back and forth between the lit cigarette in her fingers and the ear-piercing cries of the child lying on the seat beside her. “If you hold the baby, it might stop crying,” the attendant suggested. “Really?” replied the young mother, who obviously knew nothing about giving comfort. “I’m positive it would help,” came the adult’s reassurance.

Vanessa, somewhat reluctantly, extinguished her cigarette and took the infant into her arms. The child quieted immediately, much to Vanessa’s surprise, and with a sigh of relief from the other passengers. “Wow,” Vanessa exclaimed as if this cuddling was some unwritten miraculous technique.

“Did you bring a bottle?” the attendant asked softly. “Yeah, it has water in it,” came the answer. “Why don’t you give it to me…” was the next suggestion “…and I’ll put milk in it instead.” “Okay, I guess,” said Vanessa reaching into her bag. “Does the baby have any allergies?” asked the attendant gently. “Allergies?” asked Vanessa, as if she had never heard the word before.

Thus the dialogue and the instructions on child rearing continued throughout the flight until the plane was about to touch down at O’Hare Airport in Chicago.

“Thank you,” Vanessa whispered in gratitude, as she was gathering up her things. “You know so much,” she added with an embarrassingly jealous grin. “My pleasure,” replied the attendant, suppressing an awkward half-smile. She wondered what circumstances prevented Vanessa’s mother from passing on the mother-to-daughter wisdom that most moms shower on their daughters, long before the first grandchild is born.

Holy Homework: Besides the traditional greeting card, let’s also send a thank-you note to the wonderful woman who gave birth to us for passing on the caring love of motherhood to all future moms-to-be. Happy Mother’s Day.

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