I'm a mom who flies in business class while my family stays in economy. We see it as a lesson on feminism.

• On a recent flight with my husband and two kids, aged 5 and 7, I went to Bussiness Class by myself. 
• I wanted to show my sons that women are not confined to be or do certain things.
• My kids were so excited when we landed, and my husband got to parent them during the flight.

Amid the cacophony of boarding passengers, my husband waved at me, leading our two boys, ages 5 and 7, towards Economy while I turned left into Business Class. A flight attendant cast a surprised glance, undoubtedly questioning why I was sitting apart from my family.

Recent viral TikToks and articles have sparked debates about the fairness of fathers sitting solo in Business or First Class while their wives and children remain in Economy. Being inherently contrarian, I decided our family would flip the script and do just the reverse on a recent 12-hour flight from London to Mauritius. 

I wanted to show my sons that women belong everywhere

Indeed, the setup was unconventional, but there was a method to the perceived madness. It wasn't about embracing luxury for the sake of it. Instead, it was about my boys witnessing their mom confidently relishing a different space on the plane, thereby understanding that traditional norms and expectations should not confine a woman's place. I want them to grow up understanding that women, too, can independently "turn left" onto a plane. And can do so alone. 

This intentional departure from traditional family dynamics served a dual purpose: it was a lesson for my sons in challenging societal norms and a testament to my adeptness in navigating the intricate world of travel rewards — a skill I honed through my business, Expat Points, a points and miles website for international Americans.

The perplexed looks I received as I settled into my business class seat sans family didn't faze me. I regarded this as a valuable lesson for my boys, my unique brand of sky-high feminism. More than just relishing a comfortable flight, I aimed to show my sons that women are as deserving of economic privileges as men. This, I firmly believe, is how we shape the next generation into a society that genuinely endorses gender equality. 

I also want to acknowledge that my kids have a different upbringing to min

In Economy Class, my husband was parenting, further debunking the outdated notion that men merely "babysit" their children. We try to instill in our sons that comfort and luxury are not exclusive to men and that they should not take such privileges for granted. As a person who first boarded an international flight at age 19, I am acutely aware that my third-culture children have a childhood experience vastly different from mine in Maine.

I experienced international First Class for the first time when I traveled alone with my eight-week-old son from London to Maine. The only points seat available at the last minute from London to Boston was in first class, and I snapped it up. That flight was life-altering.

Mid-air, I documented my postpartum thoughts in my notes app, "It's incredible to have walked down a separate entrance reading 'first class' with you strapped to me in the wrap. I'm always proud to be your mother, but this made me proud of myself." I was the lone woman in that first-class cabin, plus one traveling alone with a newborn. It felt like a challenge to another all-male space, mirroring my experiences in numerous previous jobs.

When I disembarked from the plane, I waited for my boys. Their excited chatter about their flight experience away from Mama affirmed that the journey had served more than create memories — it had imparted a life lesson they would remember.

Challenging conventions and breaking norms is often an integral part of teaching our children. My brand of feminism might have unfolded 38,000 feet up in the clouds, but these small steps inspire real change. I'm hardly a modern Susan B. Anthony, but it's moments like these that I hope will mold my sons into men who not only comprehend the concept of equality but also incorporate it into their lives.