to think it's rubbish to have parking rage at another school mum.

[noseynoonoo]

This morning I was taking my chiildren to school. I usually park in a road that has parking on both sides so cars have to wait at one end whilst the line of travelling cars come through. Today I was travelling through whilst there was a car at the end. Towards the end of cars I saw a space and took it. Cue mum in car at other end flashing her lights and saying something to me. I'm no good at lip-reading but checked I hadn't parked over a drive way and all seemed ok. I got my children out by which time she was out of her car having a go that it was her space, that she had been waiting for it etc. I explained that I had not realised that she had the intention to park there and since she wasn't indicating there was nothing to suggest it. She expected me to put my children back in the car and drive off to vacate the space. She then said that if I parked properly we could both fit in (clearly not the case because her car was huge and there was just 2metres left) and then starting saying, 'It's people like you...'

Now frankly, I have had a rough few weeks and don't need the antagonism. There were other mums around and I felt embarrassed that she was trying to get me into an argument (I stayed very calm) and my children had to experience it. On top of that, we have children at the same school - we're going to bump into each other. I understand that she might have been stressed but surely IANBU to think you don't started kicking off to other school mums.

Sorry Spagbog - fathers too!

If the school gates are not open, you put the radio and spend 5 or 10 mins chatting with your child. You remember that? Chatting?

You could even get them to read for you whilst you tick it off on their reading records. It's no big deal to sit in your car for 10 mins waiting for the gates to open.

And unless the school is in the middle of the field, then there WILL be other streets to park on. Parking restrictions are usually enforced right outside the school, whereas neighbouring streets won't have as many restrictions.

You could even park outside your local store (if the primary school is in town) and pick up some things like fresh bread, a newspaper etc before walking them to the school gate.

There are lots of solutions but that's not what parents want to hear is it? They want reassurance that THEY are totally reasonable whilst everyone around them is not. That THEY have ultimate parking rights whilst everyone else can go to hell.

Says Pagwatch.

There are always going to be different ifs, buts and maybes according to where the school is and what their rules on supervision are.

But I think in general this problem would be lessened a lot if some parents just put themselves out a bit more.

I also think (actually I know) that some parents are so used to driving their kids everywhere, they have a skewed idea on just how far some pre-schoolers/toddlers/kids in general actually can walk.

Then again, it's the sort of thing a child has to be allowed to build up to (walking long distances)

Disclaimer

You'll notice words like 'general'...'some parents'...'I think' in this post so if anyone's about to type a 15 paragraph justification as to why their child whines about being tired after a couple of minutes, there's really no need

There aren't always 'a few streets away' to park - where my dd's primary school is, there's the road it's on and then surrounding areas which are university badge only, yellow lines, or residents only.

There are lots of valid reasons to drive a child to school, some may need to do it every day, some once in a while, and some never. If you have a car, you're at liberty to use it when you need to. That's the point.

Anyway, people hovering for spaces is very annoying in any context - they clog the place up rather than just driving on for the next space, and if they don't indicate you have no way of knowing they are after the space. I took on behind a car in Sainsbury's which waas blocking the way - I assumed it was someone picking someone else up as not indicating, but he was actually intending to reverse into the space at some point, it transpired when he bawled at me.

it was a 4x4 by the way

But that's my point, although 10 mins chat is lovely and perfectly reasonable, if you have to get off to work it might just not be practical.
Can't believe I am posting on this when mine aren't even at school yet. Obviously when they are I will be a perfect dropper-offer.

Guinea pigs cannot wear thongs as they have no arse-cheeks

They can...ever since the charity "Build-a-butt" was founded to raise money for out of work Bulgarian lap dancing Guinea Pigs.

A simple implantation procedure and a 3 day stay at a health spa to recover.

Oh lordy

Says pagwatch

Spag I'm volunteering at a school at the moment and the gates don't open until a certain time, however there is a fab little caff two doors down (I got a wolf whistle one morning - made my day!) and they do a roaring trade in mums buying a cup of tea and then lurking with DCs until the gates open.

OP YANBU. My parents used to have to drive us to school so I totally sympathise about walking not always being possible.

Spag parents in general do ask others to keep an eye on their child if they have to shoot off to work.

Car parking rage does not just happen at school gates.

Recently I parked in a local car park. Almost immediately there was a loud bang on the car roof. I got out to be greeted by a woman shrieking that she was going to park in that space.

I had not seen her. She appeared to justify her right to this place because she had travelled from Newark (about 50 miles away). It did flit through my mind to trump her by saying I had travelled from somewhere even further. The harang continued.

My son counted 3 spaces that became available and then were reoccupied whilst she was engaged in haranging me. Mad! However after events like this
I am always concerned that I will return to find my car keyed. The irrational act of an irrational person.

:o worra that's a justgiving page I would like to see

Mind you, I had to drop in dd2's acceptance form at dd1's school yesterday so was there at 8.50, and I saw a little shit who I remember being excluded in year 6 last year year 7 child who I know lives about 2 minutes away being dropped off next to the main door, in the Emergency Vehicles Only area... now that is lazy.

Absolutely there are some lazy parents who could find a better option, just as there are some people who drive into town when they could walk, cycle or get a bus. Not true of every parent, every day, who drives, though.

"I have to drop the kids off and get to work"

Then arrive at the school ten minutes early. You can't leave until the gates are opened anyway so it won't make you late for work.

"There are no nearby streets to park the car"

Again, arrive 10 mins early, bag your space and stay in the car chatting until the gates are opened, then you can leave and give your space to those who have arrived just on time.

"I can't walk with my young baby/toddler"

Not saying that everyone should walk, if you need to drive there are still solutions that will save you a lot of stress on the school run.

"I'll get blocked in if I arrive early"

Then arrive early and park a short distance away so that you cannot be blocked in.

"My guinea pig refuses to wear the pink glow-in-the-dark thong I bought it"

Refuse to feed it until it wears it.

"Rhubarb keeps getting my name wrong"

Just admit that you have spelt spagbog wrong.

The area outside our former primary school's gate is clearly marked as NO PARKING. The HM had on several occassions reminded parents to respect the sign. Well one day the Year 6 teacher got dropped off by her DP and guess where he parked while they had their "have a good day, miss you, kiss kiss' goodbye?

Lets just say, some of the moms (obviously those whose DCs had finished Year 6) were keen to bring this up with the HM especially after all his lectures on the subject.

It is not just the mums that are at fault.

BTW, all that came from Pagwatch.

I was trying to load a toddler, a baby and a stubborn buggy into the car the other day. A woman pulled up to wait for the space and, despite the fact that she could see me strapping children in and loading shopping, she felt the need to wind her window down and inform me that she was waiting. She then asked me if I could take any more time.

The answer to that question was yes. I most certainly could take more time and I did.

I suspect she won't be asking that again in a hurry. I even ate some toffee...

I am on fire this morning.

YANBU. Other mum sounds like a tosser. Just ignore her from now on I reckon.

Indeed it's not just 'mums' at fault

It's every lazy, inconsiderate fucker who thinks they're entitled to a door to door journey.

And talking of lazy, inconsiderate fuckers who think they're entitled to a door to door journey...has anyone noticed how the amount of cars seems to almost double when it's raining, cold or windy?

I don't know why it's the school run that always engenders so much ire and the need to tell people why and how they could do it differently. If I mentioned parking at the supermarket or at work I doubt everyone would start in with 'why do you have to drive, why does anyone have to drive' stuff.

Sometimes we cycle, sometimes we walk and sometimes we drive. According to what works that day. Probably the same for most people.

Re all those who suggest a parent should aim to arrive 15 minutes early, have you ever tried to get yourself, and a couple of kids out of bed, fed, dressed and at the front door complete with bags, packed lunch etc AND be 15min early?

has anyone noticed how the amount of cars seems to almost double when it's raining, cold or windy?

Yes. Another really weird thing I've noticed is that when it snows, suddenly people start wearing wellies, and on rainy days all of a sudden they conveniently start using umbrellas. It's almost as though people base their decisions about how to go about the day based on the prevailing climatic conditions. The hypocritical bastards

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=fire+extinguisher&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=bP8&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&biw=1533&bih=426&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsr&tbnid=l1-lwjxrhbuKTM:&imgrefurl=www.shiresecurity.co.uk/security-products/fire-extinguishers.htm&docid=3uir15xmz5YnzM&imgurl=www.shiresecurity.co.uk/images/security-products/fire-extinguishers.jpg&w=450&h=360&ei=eoRgT56ILova4QSZqKi1Dg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=943&vpy=112&dur=1234&hovh=201&hovw=251&tx=103&ty=183&sig=108662288709243445600&page=1&tbnh=84&tbnw=105&start=0&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">For Pagwatch

Re all those who suggest a parent should aim to arrive 15 minutes early, have you ever tried to get yourself, and a couple of kids out of bed, fed, dressed and at the front door complete with bags, packed lunch etc AND be 15min early?

God yes of course

Haven't most parents with school aged children?

SteamingNit The difference between school parking and supermarket parking not being an issue, is because lazy school gate parkers put children's lives at risk for their own selfish reasons.

Pusheed - presumably you manage to get yourself up and kids ready in time for whenever school starts. So if school started 10 mins early presumably you'd have to make sure you were all up and ready 10 mins early wouldn't you?

And yes, we all do that which is why we are all on this thread. We all know about getting kids up and ready and we all know that it is possible to get them up and ready 10mins earlier - we manage on the odd days that they DO have to be there early, like for a school trip or something. It's just that some parents can't be arsed and would rather whinge about not finding a parking space each morning than actually getting out of bed a mere 10mins earlier.

love, Pagwatch x