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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be a little peeved?

76 replies

savethedramaforyamama · 07/05/2014 09:46

Ok so I was dropping the kids off at school this morning and I briefly blocked someone's driveway. I had just got the two big kids (8 and 9) out of the car and had left the baby (11 months) in her carseat as I only have to see the big kids across the road as they make their own way into school from the gate. Anyway I was about to help the kids across the road when this woman marched up to me from taking her kids into school I assume and starts shouting at me saying didn't I read the sign that says her driveway needs 24hr disabled emergency access, I apologised profusely, she carried on shouting saying it was illegal to block someone's driveway, I apologised again and as I already had the kids out the car and just had to see them across the road (which took 5 seconds) I thought this would clear her driveway quicker than putting them back in the car and moving it. Anyway next thing I know she is at her window taking a photo of me! I was already back in my car at this point pulling out of the space. Now I know I was wrong to block her driveway even for 10 seconds (which was literally about how long I was there) but is there any need for her reaction?

OP posts:

Noregretsatall · 07/05/2014 10:13

I loathe 'driveway blockers' with a passion since we have to put up with it consistently from our neighbours. It's selfish and inconsiderate however short the time span and however noble a reason you feel you have... So yes YABU. She was prob taking photos for evidence since she was fed up with it...

At least you apologised...

OnlyLovers · 07/05/2014 10:13

YABU. Perhaps you were the latest in a long string of people blocking her drive and you got the sharp end of her feelings about it, but you shouldn't have done it anyway.

Park somewhere else and make your kids walk a few yards.

bauhausfan · 07/05/2014 10:15

No - you were in the wrong.

Davsmum · 07/05/2014 10:16

It could have been worse for you - Years ago when a neighbour repeatedly blocked our drive, my OH came home and blocked him in so he could not get out.
When the neighbour knocked on the door to 'tell' my OH to move his car - OH said 'ok I will be out in a minute when I have finished having a shave'
He left the neighbour waiting for him to come out for 30 minutes.

BuzzardBird · 07/05/2014 10:16

YABU. The woman was right. Selfish parkers piss me off too.

whois · 07/05/2014 10:17

Ha ha I can't believe you think you're the one who has been hard done by. Super selfish (and illegal) blocking her in, never mind that they need disabled access you shouldn't block anyone in ever!

Why on earth did you block her driveway in the first place?!?

Selfish, rude, lazy, 'entitled' are all words that could be attributed to you here.

Original poster

savethedramaforyamama · 07/05/2014 10:17

I'm not asking for sympathy and as I said I know I was in the wrong. I understand that she probably does get this on a daily basis living opposite the school gates and that I possibly bore the brunt of her annoyance. I usually am there earlier and often do walk my children to school. I do not feel I am entitled to anything and not that it excuses me but I did not see her sign that said she needed 24hr access. I just don't like people being aggressive, so maybe I was wrong in asking your opinion on here as I am getting a lot of aggression again. I have never once said that what I did wasn't wrong

OP posts:

Isabelleforyourbicycle · 07/05/2014 10:18

YABU. Don't do it again and perhaps spread the message amongst fellow parents not to park in front of her house. Do that woman a favour, as you were in the wrong.

sharkshorts · 07/05/2014 10:18

Sign or not, you shouldn't park in front of a driveway. The law states it, and most sensible people would not do it

BuzzardBird · 07/05/2014 10:19

Your DCs seem to have completely changed age since you posted last month

BuzzardBird · 07/05/2014 10:20

There doesn't need to be a sign, it is the law and a common courtesy not to park on someone's entrance to their house.

AtrociousCircumstance · 07/05/2014 10:20

OP people are just answering your question - you are unreasonable in feeling peeved.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 07/05/2014 10:20

Well if you know you were wrong I'm not quite sure what you're asking.

gamerchick · 07/05/2014 10:21

You don't park in front of a driveway full stop. Even I know that and I don't drive.

DIYtrainee · 07/05/2014 10:21

If you think we're all being aggressive, then just maybe have a think about how annoying it was for the woman whose driveway you blocked!!!!

We're all pissed and we're not the ones personally affected.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 07/05/2014 10:21

And a sign shouldn't make any difference, you shouldn't park in front of someone's driveway.

BuilderMammy · 07/05/2014 10:21

The sign is irrelevant. You don't park across driveways.

If you know you were wrong and can understand why she's so frustrated, why did you post?

DoJo · 07/05/2014 10:22

No, but you asked if you were unreasonable to be a little peeved, and the overwhelming response is you are. If you know you were in the wrong, then how can you be surprised that this woman is annoyed? And it shouldn't matter whether you saw the sign or not - blocking someone into their drive is selfish and unreasonable whether they have a sign up or not. She might be aggressive because she has a constant stream of people like you thinking that it will be ok because they are only doing it once/for ten seconds/haven't seen the sign, and because they all thought she should just suck it up and let them because they 'normally' wouldn't. Whereas she doesn't care about that, she just wants her drive clear.

MyPrettyToes · 07/05/2014 10:22

If you know you were unreasonable, why bother posting? And yes, you were unreasonable to be peeved. She, on the other hand, was completely reasonable to be pissed off at you.

BrunoBrookesDinedAlone · 07/05/2014 10:25

You don't like aggression - stop behaving aggressively yourself. You know, blocking people's driveways and then basically telling them you'll move when you've finished what you're doing.

Hopefully she'll be taking the photo of your kids to the school so they can give you a warning.

Literally ten seconds? Wowee. The Usain Bolt of the twatty parking world!

SlimJiminy · 07/05/2014 10:30

I agree with the poster who said if you want to feel better, take the owner of the driveway a nice bunch of flowers and apologise again. Admit you were being selfish and hadn't considered the fact that many other parents might be doing the same thing to her on a daily basis. Promise her it won't happen again. Be nice. Accept that you were being unreasonable to be a little peeved when you were quite clearly in the wrong. I bet that'll make you both feel loads better.

Original poster

savethedramaforyamama · 07/05/2014 10:33

Ok I'm sorry everyone, I shouldn't have posted, I deserve all I'm getting thank you for your opinions which I now are right, I shouldn't have put peeved in my title it was the wrong word to use, I'm not peeved about it I'm upset as I am not the kind of person you are all describing me as. But I know I was wrong and I will again apologise to the woman later

OP posts:

Bahhhhhumbug · 07/05/2014 10:34

I live on a busy road near shops and have a drive with dropped kerb and white painted H bar.

Everybody has a feckin excuse. I feel that womans pain. I have resorted at times to 'water' my garden with a hosepipe and 'accidentally' sprayed one of the entitled 'rules don't apply to me' knobheads.

YABVU

Teeb · 07/05/2014 10:35

You obviously do thinnpk you're entitled as it seems perfectly fine for you to break the law because it makes your life more convenient for 10 seconds (hyperbole much?) of your time.

She wasn't excessively aggressive, I.e physical with you. Diddums for you if you can't handle the consequences of your actions, I'm sure it's the best lesson for you though as you are unlikely to do it again.

ALifeOfPie · 07/05/2014 10:37

OK everyone the OP has retracted so can everyone stop laying into her now? Lets not let this be a thread where people carry on posting YABU diatribes for pages and pages after the OP backs down!

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