Children should be seen. Period.

I read an article this morning that there is a whole contingent of people who want to ban children from flying on business commuter flights.
Let me tell you, that set my ire off like little else has recently. When you start telling me that I can't take my kids somewhere, I get narrow-minded with a quickness.

I make my children behave. Mine aren't perfect, but they WILL behave in public or they know what awaits them at home.

Having said that, I have seen some kids who make me understand completely why some species eat their young. I get it, really I do. But these people who want to ban children from restaurants, airplanes, and department stores make me reaaaaally upset.

The problem I have is where does it end?

While we're banning children who may be loud, lets go ahead and ban fat people, blondes and smokers. Take those right off the top. I mean, really, who wants to eat next to a chunky blonde?

Then we'll remove those with chronic halitosis and those with illnesses that cause them to cough. They're super annoying.

Let's not forget those of other races and religions. I don't want to sit next to a black Catholic guy on my flight!

Hmm... anyone else? Oh yeah, old people and those with disabilities... take them out too. Since we're excluding the very young, let's exclude the very old too.

See where I'm going with this?

For the record- the above paragraph was an example only. I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with Catholics, blacks, blondes, or fat people; especially considering I meet two of those criteria!

I do have a problem with stupidity.

Frankly, I really don't care if you're on a business commuter flight or at a business dinner or just shopping for your girlfriend, my children have a right to be in the same airplane, restaurant, or shopping mall as you. Just because you haven't learned tolerance doesn't mean my kids should be banished to a dark corner.

The whole "children should be seen and not heard" philosophy is archaic and ludicrous, in my opinion. Children often have insights that adults fail to see. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'd rather have the company of my children than many adults I know.

The whole point I'm making is when you start segregating people for whatever reason, you're setting a dangerous precedent.

Sorry for the rant but when you start messing with my kids, my inner Mama Bear begins to roar. And let me tell you, she can be ugly when she needs to be. You do not want to come between a Mama Bear & her young for a reason.

Personally, I'm proud to be a Mama Bear.