What if my mom, who lives on the east coast, and hours by plane away, died suddenly and I’m unable to find a sitter?

You stay home.

What if the situation was reversed: the people who took planes were predominantly those with kids, and you needed to go somewhere?

Kids aren’t a problem. It’s screaming infants.

What if someone imposed a 5 year travel ban on you?

It was 10 years. I served 9. Now what?