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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Car Park Space

159 replies

NotSoEasyLemonPeel · 26/10/2023 15:46

I went shopping today. It’s half term so very busy!

I thought ooh that’s lucky last child and parent space. anyway the car a little in front pulls and she had no children with her!

I find a space pull up and I can’t get my LO out the car. I’ve got a travel system, LO is only a few months so their seat clicks onto the pram.

So… I very childishly go round and park behind the person who parked in child space. Ultimately blocking her in.

When I return just short of an hour later, to say she was raging was an understatement. I loaded shopping and LO into the car without saying a word. I was called a bich, cut. Before I left I said to her, you say you were just popping in for one thing, so it was quicker for you to park here, you’d been gone 15 minutes by the time I’d parked and left, so that’s not a quick stop and I couldn’t go in at all because you took a spot I needed.

Anyway, no idea how long she was waiting for me, I’m quite surprised she didn’t phone the vet police! I know I was being unreasonable and very childish but please think before you park in a space others may genuinely need!

OP posts:
TheSpruce · 26/10/2023 19:21

This is how it played out in your head, isn't it? Whilst you stewed on it and hoped how it should have went down.

JamMonster · 26/10/2023 19:30

I think you were a bit unreasonable but equally I really hope she’s learned her lesson because I get so annoyed about this. If I was the person you blocked in, I would have been embarrassed to have been caught out rather than swearing at you in front of a child, so ultimately I don’t think you should lose any sleep! I would be worried if I were you that people can be violent, so I really wouldn’t repeat this in the future. I’m applauding your vigilante Batman behaviour on this occasion which I would 100% tell people was due to sleep deprivation in hindsight! 😂

Cheesecakefiend · 26/10/2023 19:30

endlessfall · 26/10/2023 17:16

Expect they have been given them, regardless of how unworthy you consider them to be.
There are usually clear signs stating who they for.

It is irrational to imagine that encouraging people to ignore clear signage about who spaces are set aside for will do anything but encourage people to ignore the signs for people you consider suitably worthy.

Show quote history

My wider point is that us mothers should not be entitled to a special little car space, just for producing a child 9 months after having sex. It's a ridiculous idea. Surely it's obvious that much needed spaces that are near to shops entrances should be reserved for disabled people, not mothers. The fact that OP feels so entitled to one says it all really.

TeaGinandFags · 26/10/2023 19:32

You were petty and puerile and I admire your style.

While she sounded off she would have got into trouble had she made an official complaint.

I hope you got home safely bc sleep deprivation and driving make poor bedfellows.

feelingalittlehorse · 26/10/2023 19:35

Patiently waiting for the obligatory parking thread diagram

drums fingers

Jifmicroliquid · 26/10/2023 19:36

I’m more confused about how you didn’t block the aisle by parking behind her? At the very least, you must have caused disruption so close to the supermarket, which is arguably a bit of a stupid and dangerous thing to do.

C8H10N4O2 · 26/10/2023 19:39

Did everyone in the car park give you a round of applause?

minou123 · 26/10/2023 19:44

C8H10N4O2 · 26/10/2023 19:39

Did everyone in the car park give you a round of applause?

I was just about to post the exact same thing. You beat me to it😀

Come on Op, you didn't do this.
It's something.you probably would have loved to have done.
But no mother would put her baby at that sort of risk.

ForfarFourEastFifeFive · 26/10/2023 19:47

If you’d done that at my local Tesco, they would have had you towed for abandoning your car.

Seriously, if you’re going to put the baby in a pram, just park at the furthest corner of the car park where there’s nobody else, and then pram the baby to the shop. You don’t need to be as close to the shop as these spaces are inevitably placed. Or get a smaller car, so you can park in a normal space and still open the doors wide. I have a small car, and can open my doors to their furthest extent in a normal space.

Meeting · 26/10/2023 19:50

Yeah, sure.

Oh and you're not entitled to a P&C space.

ViaRia01 · 26/10/2023 19:55

It surely would have been more sensible, more reasonable and less confrontational to just catch up to her when she was leaving her car and ask her whether she truly needed it and if not could she move it and let you park there…?

I do understand your frustration and annoyance (it really bugs me too whenever I see it) and I don’t think you deserve all the awful responses you’ll get on this thread… but I don’t think you really went about it to best way for either of you tbh.

Poppysmom22 · 26/10/2023 19:56

I'm currently parking in p&c spaces because I need the space to get my crutches out and get into my wheelchair (which is temporary). I'm not disabled so I can't park there but I can't get out of the car with the crutches in a normal space.

SkinnyMalinkyLankyLegs · 26/10/2023 19:58

Good, see how she likes being on the end of selfish behaviour.

ViaRia01 · 26/10/2023 19:59

Why do these threads always get into a debate about disabled parking…? OP said nothing about disabled parking spaces and it’s entirely irrelevant…
I too often feel frustrated when childless people park in p&c bays but if they show their blue badge I don’t feel frustrated as they’re entitled to park there and they need the space. It’s not rocket science.

nocoolnamesleft · 26/10/2023 20:06

Poppysmom22 · 26/10/2023 19:56

I'm currently parking in p&c spaces because I need the space to get my crutches out and get into my wheelchair (which is temporary). I'm not disabled so I can't park there but I can't get out of the car with the crutches in a normal space.

Yep. When I was hobbling on two sticks I couldn't use blue badge as it wasn't permanent (thank god), but could neither get in/out in a tight space, nor walk the longer distance from the ordinary parking spots to the supermarket entrance.

AutumnFroglets · 26/10/2023 20:11

ViaRia01 · 26/10/2023 19:59

Why do these threads always get into a debate about disabled parking…? OP said nothing about disabled parking spaces and it’s entirely irrelevant…
I too often feel frustrated when childless people park in p&c bays but if they show their blue badge I don’t feel frustrated as they’re entitled to park there and they need the space. It’s not rocket science.

You must be reading a different thread to me, only one person has mentioned being temporarily disabled Confused

IWasFunBeforeMum · 26/10/2023 20:13

Good for you!

AgnesX · 26/10/2023 20:14

Good for you... This happens in so many places. Hospital car park spaces are like gold dust and it has me gnashing my teeth when I can see blue badge spaces hogged by non blue badge holders.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/10/2023 20:19

This would only work if BOTH of you were driving Smart cars.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/10/2023 20:24

AgnesX · 26/10/2023 20:14

Good for you... This happens in so many places. Hospital car park spaces are like gold dust and it has me gnashing my teeth when I can see blue badge spaces hogged by non blue badge holders.

I took my mum to hospital , she has. Blue Badge for mobility but typically she couldn’t find it. My Dad had sold his car on and she thought it was in there.
I drove and dropped Mum and Dad off then went to find a regular space.
One of the Nurses said I should just have parked in the Blue Badge space 😲. I’d have been strung up !

ScroogeMcDuckling · 26/10/2023 20:28

minou123 · 26/10/2023 19:44

I was just about to post the exact same thing. You beat me to it😀

Come on Op, you didn't do this.
It's something.you probably would have loved to have done.
But no mother would put her baby at that sort of risk.

Show quote history

Sadly mothers do put their child in this danger all the time.

They use their prams to try and get cars to stop by putting tge pram in the camber of the road, but staying on the pavement themselves.

some new mothers are awful bullies using their babies as a weapon to manipulate

ViaRia01 · 26/10/2023 20:30

@AutumnFroglets yes, fair enough… not lots of talk on this particular thread. I probably jumped the gun a bit there. I was thinking of several other threads on this topic and when I saw the post that began “you’re a mother, not disabled” I wrote my post.

I just don’t understand why disability and access for disabled people is often brought up on the threads about p&c bays. As though parents having the perk of a few wider spaces makes them selfish and ignorant.

Citrusandginger · 26/10/2023 20:39

We all make up fantasies about what we'd like to do to total strangers that piss us off.

Being proud of a fantasy in which you behave like a dick is another level of weirdness though.

warriorofhopelessness · 26/10/2023 20:45

What a horrible, smug post. Sometimes things get in your way and you have to suck it up. You’ve no idea if that woman was making an urgent errand for health reasons, had sick family member at home, was on her break. It’s an incredibly childish thing to do to block her in.

Terrifyingface · 26/10/2023 20:52

WithManyTot · 26/10/2023 19:11

So, A) 99%, not 100%
and B) There is a chance some'one' could park on 'one' side of your car, the chance some'two' would park on both sides at the same time is considerably lower. Nobody in this life can expect absolute certainly, other than one thing.... two if you include taxes ;-)

Show quote history

Appreciate what you’re saying and I’m not defending OP but the point I was making was that with 2 under 2 having one side blocked in was a nightmare as I needed to get two babies into their seats.