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Original poster

Parking, what would you have done?

27 replies

BecomeStronger · 07/12/2020 19:01

I got home, opposite a school, at about 2:15 today and my drive was blocked, by a big Merc 4x4. I'm not going to suggest that all drivers of these vehicles are inconsiderate, but on occasions when my drive is blocked it always is one of these Grin Since Covid the school run seems to be spread over about 2 hours at each end of the day and everyone wants to park right by the gate so they can wait in the car till the last minute/with multiple children.

Anyway the driver was in the vehicle so I indicated and waited for them to move, which is what usually happens. They didn't so I gave a little toot. Woman opens the driver's door to show me she was feeding a tiny baby.

I drove round the block, parked elsewhere and walked home, about 2-3 min walk, no real hardship, but that also means there were plenty of places nearby that she could have parked without blocking my drive.

I took the view that having a new baby is hard work, we all make decisions we regret and there was no point making her life more difficult than it needed to be or bringing unpleasantness into mine by insisting she move.

Anyway, with a nod to another thread this eve, does that make me a wet people pleaser or just a decent person, not too concerned about a minor inconvenience if it helps someone out?

OP posts:
Marmite27 · 07/12/2020 19:03

If she was blocking your drive, tiny baby, or no tiny baby I’d have insisted she moved.

Just because she has a baby doesn’t mean she can block access to tour property or inconvenience you!

Jojo19834 · 07/12/2020 19:03

Good on you, ignore the other thread

Runmybathforme · 07/12/2020 19:06

Well, she was being a cheeky cow, you were very generous in your response. Who knows, if the baby’s was that tiny, she may have been really stressed and knackered. You did the right thing.

Meredithgrey1 · 07/12/2020 19:06

I wouldn’t have asked her to move, but would probably, when she opened to door, have said something to request she didn’t park there again.

IsFinnRogersDead · 07/12/2020 19:06

I think I would have got out, told her it was my drove she was blocking, taken a photo to send to her head teacher, and if she was still feeding the baby, told her I'd drive around the block once and then would be sitting there with my hand on the horn until she moved.

ShirleyPhallus · 07/12/2020 19:06

Really disappointed in this. Sounds like you were very nice, appreciated she was probably a bit desperate for a space and probably quite stressed, and that you acted like a reasonable, normal person.

Where is all the “I was fuming” / accusations of hysteria / threatening to phone the police / and asking WIBU to write a note to her. Even better, an open letter “to the woman blocking my drive”

MN is going to the dogs

propertyhell · 07/12/2020 19:08

I'd of done the same as you. Yes she shouldn't of parked there but I'v been there feeding a tiny baby in the car so wouldn't want to disturb that.

olympicsrock · 07/12/2020 19:10

You were wet I’m afraid. She should have at least apologised

Original poster
BecomeStronger · 07/12/2020 19:13

@olympicsrock

You were wet I’m afraid. She should have at least apologised
She did apologise as I walked back and said she never normally does it which suspect is not true

What would I have gained by insisting? It was going to take her time to get baby back in carseat and move. I doubt I was any later getting into my house as a result of my short walk.

OP posts:
Grenlei · 07/12/2020 19:14

Bloody hell OP you're a much nicer person than me. I would have waited for her to move.

However my view is probably coloured by an encounter I had when travelling by train once. DP and I walked to our ,(booked) table seat to find a couple and their baby spread out all over it. She basically played the 'i've got a little baby' card and made it clear she wasn't moving. Luckily there were a number of other free seats. Which of course begged the question WHY had she sat in a seat which was clearly reserved? (Much like this woman parking across a drive rather than in an actual space). Just CF-ery.

Finfintytint · 07/12/2020 19:15

I don’t think it makes you a wet people pleaser. It makes you someone who can see perspective and it didn’t inconvenience you that much. If the issue is persistent and does actually impact on you then I’d have words.
I’m assertive when I need to be. Doesn’t mean I’m a pushover.

Original poster
BecomeStronger · 07/12/2020 19:16

@Finfintytint

I don’t think it makes you a wet people pleaser. It makes you someone who can see perspective and it didn’t inconvenience you that much. If the issue is persistent and does actually impact on you then I’d have words. I’m assertive when I need to be. Doesn’t mean I’m a pushover.
Yes, if she'd blocked me in when I needed to be somewhere, she'd have known about it Grin
OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 07/12/2020 19:17

taken a photo to send to her head teacher

Yes!! Here it is!! The kind of batshit hysteria I was here for. Sending photos to the head teacher. Goodie. What next.

Countdowntonothing · 07/12/2020 19:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Indoctro · 07/12/2020 19:20

You are a nice person pity more weren't like you

She could be a first time mum, had a screaming baby in the back and pulled over as quickly as possible to feed the child

I know when I was a first time mum when baby started crying and I couldn't feed instantly I used to panic and get really upset

Good on you for being a decent human being

Anyone who said they would of made her move..well you are not a nice person

Original poster
BecomeStronger · 07/12/2020 19:25

All parents go through the newborn stage. You are not special

It's because I'm one of the parents who went through the newborn stage that I felt the need to show a little kindness. Not because any mother is more important thay anyone else but because it's hard for everyone. I remember being stood at a carpark machine with a toddler and a crying newborn. My 50p kept getting rejected and I hadn't got another. A lady gave me 50p. I could have cried. I don't see the harm in paying these things forward occasionally.

OP posts:
laudemio · 07/12/2020 19:29

I think it makes you decent person. I hope Id have done the same in your shoes. Pre-kids I might have taken a different view.

Bourbonbiccy · 07/12/2020 19:29

I think you did the right thing.
It wasn't a massive inconvenience to you, to let someone off for making a mistake.

She apologised, was feeding a baby and it just wasn't that important to you. I try not to let these little things annoy me, not everything needs to be a battle.

Countdowntonothing · 07/12/2020 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Disfordarkchocolate · 07/12/2020 19:31

I'd have asked her to move. She didn't have to park there.

Bourbonbiccy · 07/12/2020 19:31

You also made her day, she probably seen the indicator and thought "her we go" an argument and then to meet someone so reasonable and kind probably improved her day.

She then might have been a little kinder to the next person she sees in that position,

Original poster
BecomeStronger · 07/12/2020 19:37

@Bourbonbiccy

You also made her day, she probably seen the indicator and thought "her we go" an argument and then to meet someone so reasonable and kind probably improved her day.

She then might have been a little kinder to the next person she sees in that position,

Yes, this is exactly it, spread a little happiness, do unto others, what goes around comes around etc

I can't believe the number of people who say they would make a big fuss just for the sake of it, with nothing to be gained from it? How would it help anything?

I'm sad that choosing to be kind is so disapproved of.

OP posts:
PanamaPattie · 07/12/2020 19:43

You are too soft. I would have kept my hand on the horn and shouted "move your fucking car" - but I get the rage every time someone parks on my drive.

Original poster
BecomeStronger · 07/12/2020 19:45

@PanamaPattie

You are too soft. I would have kept my hand on the horn and shouted "move your fucking car" - but I get the rage every time someone parks on my drive.
Would that really have improved your day though? It must be exhausting to be that upset all the time.
OP posts:
Finfintytint · 07/12/2020 19:48

PanamaPattie, why is being compassionate for a few minutes being soft? Shouting and tooting shows you are intolerant of other people’s failings. Give a little and you might not be so raging.

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