“No food for this row. Our son gets upset when people eat near him.” That’s when I’d had enough. I looked up and said clearly, “I have Type 1 diabetes. If I don’t eat now, I could pass out. So yes, I will be eating.” The surrounding passengers turned to look.
The parents were clearly embarrassed — but still didn’t back down. The mom even snapped, “He has needs too. It’s called empathy.” I looked at their son — eyes glued to his screen, munching on Skittles — and said:
“He seems fine. And your empathy shouldn’t come at the cost of my health.” The flight attendant returned with my snack and soda, and I ate in peace. The rest of the flight passed in silence. No tantrums.
No chaos. Just a reminder that sometimes, standing your ground isn’t selfish — it’s necessary. Because no one’s comfort is more important than someone else’s health.