to feel annoyed about this note left on my car?

[somedogsdo]

Arriving back at the car park after swimming lessons with kids in tow, I find the following note attached to my windscreen:
'Thanks to your stupid parking, I couldn't get my son in his car seat!'

Feeling really annoyed as, whilst I understand this person's frustration, I really wasn't parked that close - and was definitely well within the double white lines separating the parking bays.

I admit I wasn't centrally in the bay as the car to my left was slightly to one side (although again - still inside the bay) and I left room when parking so that I could open doors on both sides of my car. All got out with plenty of room (i.e. No squeezing/squashing).

Thinking back there probably wouldn't have been room to open the car doors to their full extent (i.e. 90 degrees) but definitely enough room to get out comfortably (and I'm curvy girl so need a bit of room myself!)

Now, I've been in the other driver's position myself - struggling with getting child in seat and not being able to open door fully for easy access. I'm a big fan of the extra large baby/child spaces that enable you to do this. But I wouldn't blame the driver of the next vehicle unless they had parked really close and outside of their own parking bay. So I was quite shocked and annoyed to have that note left on my car when it was parked inside all lines of the parking bay (and I mean inside, ie not touching any of the white lines - which are double lines between spaces to allow a little extra room between spaces)

I'm probably just being over sensitive as have stinking cold and feeling bit fragile today.

I wondered if the driver thought I should have parked in another space entirely? But it was dark when we arrived so I wouldn't have even realised they had child seats - and to be fair, most people in the car park do as we're all taking our kids swimming. (Mine are in boosters now so I don't need the strap-in variety.) The car park was about 2/3rds full so I suppose I could have used another space. But we were late so I just picked a space close to the pool, parked in it, got kids/swim stuff out both sides with no problems, dashed in and was faced with the 'your stupid parking' note when we got back.

Should I have been more observant and left the space free? I don't like the idea that I've caused somebody a problem but am equally feeling annoyed as it feels rather unjustified.

What do you think?

If you were parked well, then they were just being a twat.

What car do you have? Many old car parks have really narrow parking spaces that just don't have room for wider cars to park next to each other.

Don't worry sadly we live in a country with tiny car park spaces so more spaces equals more profit

They were being an idiot. Be thankful you're not the kind of person who gets irate enough to leave a snarky note over a minor inconvenience. I'm assuming as they weren't there they did get the child in unless they used the roof rack

As someone posted upthread, the person turned into a wankbadger for the afternoon.

Do not make that your problem.

I agree let it go but I have been tempted in the past to do similar.

Our swimming lessons have nightmare parking - every week it is a challenge. We all have permits so I know it was another swimming parent who parked so close to me I couldn't get into my side - admittedly I was pregnant so needed a bit more space but I am not sure many could squeeze in through the 6 inches she left me!

I did manage to get toddler in to the car and then scrambled in through the passenger side etc but not easy at 38 weeks pregnant - I had parked on the end of a row to minimse this risk but they choose to park tight next to me so a third of their car was over the access road as well!

Luckily I didn't have any paper with me!!

Best windscreen note I ever saw was in St Ives, the Island car park, on the afternoon of New Years Eve(IFSWIM). Parking is a nightmare there at the best of times and someone had parked their car over two spaces. The note simply read 'Twat'. I still snigger about that now.

I bet they had a 4 x4 or some largeer SUV wagon, there was a report a while ago saying that cars had got larger whereas car park spaces remained the same..

Let it go

Pour yourself a glass of wine and have a listen. Getting kids in and out of swimming is a nightmare. I still get flashbacks!

My son has a pile of passive aggressive leaflets he puts on windscreens when someone parks over the line. At the top there is a large line drawing as in a kiddies colouring book. The message suggests that practising colouring it in might help the offender learn to keep within the lines as they clearly have problems in that direction.
He does admit that BC he probably was just as inconsiderate in his parking. Now he is a dad he realises just how thoughtless he was.

That video is fabulous.
And op,you're saying to us what you could have said to the person who left you the note. You missed your chance. Enjoy that video!

I have to be honest and say a couple of times recently people have parked so close to me that I've had to climb in via the passenger seat. It's supremely annoying when you can see the car next to them hasn't moved and there is plenty of space. It's so inconsiderate.

Ive not left a note though, it's not worth it, and i always assume it's some total tosser who did it on purpose, or seriously shit driver. So I can understand why someone is annnoyed. I'd just let it go though. However, when I park I always make sure there is enough space to get in and out of the car next to me or I don't park there.

Oh I understand why you are upset. That sort of unfairness upsets me to. Try this...

They probably have a huge 4x4 or SUV...tell yourself they should get a car they can drive. Or in this case park.

Or amuse yourself thinking of the horribly stressful day they must have had in order to let parking get to them...it was probably really bad...

I would have been upset too and I really struggle to just shake things off so it would have chewed me up for the rest of the day.

I remember going to the GP with one of my dc's- I think it was for jabs. There is no parking at the surgery so I ended up parking a walk away in a public car park. I came back to the car and there was absolutely no way on earth I could get the car seat in, (he was on the wheels) I could barely fit myself in the door. I had to leave him on the pavement, pull my car out and then run back and put him in. - I didn't leave a note.