I blocked someone in school run

[Anxious404]

I blocked a car in on the makeshift car park which I fully realise makes me the ass. First time I've ever done it.

When I'd got out and got the kids out and bags on, the man showed up. I had thought I wouldn't impact anyone as it's about 60 seconds total for me to run the kids to the gate and back. He had a toddler with him and started complaining, quite rightly, so I apologised and said I'm sorry, can I run these to the gate, I'll be about 60 seconds, while he gets his toddler in the car seat. He said yes OK but pulled a face.

When I got back he'd just finished getting the toddler in and I thanked him/apologised again before driving away but he just gave the world's dirtiest look. I realise I was in the wrong and being cheeky. But now feel very awkward especially as I'm a dinner lady to his son, I'm not sure he knows though.

Should I apologise again when I see him next or just leave it? Next time I will just find somewhere else to park, feel awful.

Is there a dropped curb?

Anyway stop over thinking it. Everyone is stressed in the mornings trying to get the kids off to school. Trying to get to work. As son as you said you would be very quick he was ok . Yes he gave you a look . But don't take it personally its just moring stress

I think this is modern life but sone people would have parked further away, made themselves later rather than blocking another car.

I hate being blocked by another car, it says "my rush is more important than your time". It is making someone else take the consequences for you being late.

I'm sure I've done it too but it's kind of indefensible. Also, you're lucky he only pulled a face, some people might have really shouted at you - not defensible of course but it would have been nasty for you.

Agree as above.

Obviously it would have been better if you'd unblocked him before dropping your kids off rather than making him wait even longer- irrespective that it was only a minute.

You apologised, you won't do it again. It's over.

I had thought I wouldn't impact anyone as it's about 60 seconds total for me to run the kids to the gate and back

Yes this is what every ignorant parker says...I'm only going to be a minute.

He didn't have to wait at all though

Yes he did. She asked him to wait another minute while she did what she had blocked him in to do.

It’s not the point really. She blocked him in. She shouldn’t have - I would have told her to move.

Moral of the story don't block people in if you don't want people to be annoyed with you. Park further down, it's hardly going to hurt you doing a few more steps!

It’s done, you apologised, move on. He’s probably forgotten about it.

Just leave it. You apologised, he was still pissed off one minute later - and will probably never think ANYTHING about you again.

There's a book called 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff' which you might find really helpful with overthinking.

Exactly - I think thats so rude - your time is not more important than anyone else in the car park.

If you had arrived earlier (like they did) you wouldn't have needed to block them in.

What if they had an appointment they needed to get to??

But he was strapping the toddler in and wouldn't have been able to go anyway

It's a very relevant point though, the fact he wasn't inconvenienced by it in the slightest is a major part of the story

I would just never, ever chance it. Even in a dire emergency. Then you never end up in a situation like this.
The 'ooh, it will only take a minute' excuse has left you feeling stressed and upset and has taken up way more of your headspace than if you had never done it in the first place.

So many people overreacting to being inconvenienced for a very, very short time.

This is our school car park. You can see it's really small. I've added red boxes to show how many cars are in it at pick-up and drop-off. So lots of people blocked in for a few minutes.

We walk but I've never seen anyone in the least bit bad-tempered about needing to wait to get out. It's just how it is with a small car park.

First time I've ever done it.

No problem, but why did you do it @Anxious404 ? What inspired you to do it that day?

I realise I was in the wrong and being cheeky.

Did you feel it would be ok to be 'cheeky' because you somehow know his son in some capacity?

Next time I will just find somewhere else to park

Could you surely not have done that also 'this time'? What were the circumstances which made it ok to do it the first time?

FFS he couldn't have driven away anyway as he hadn't finished strapping the kid in before OP got back. I wouldn't give it anymore thought OP, you didn't inconvenience him one bit and you've already said you won't do it again

What if the teacher grabbed the mum for a chat over something important?

But he potentially didn’t strap toddler in straight away as no one likes sitting in a car all strapped in and ready to go. He probably faffed around for the minute it took OP to take her kids into school then only started strapping the toddler in when he saw her walking past. And what if OP got to the gate and the teacher asked to have a quick word with her or her child fell over and needed tending to.

OP purposefully put her needs above someone else’s. And even tho she said she won’t do it again I reckon if the same situation happened in a week she probably would because ‘it’s just a minute’ and her convenience is more important in her mind.

in the grand scheme of things it’s pretty minor. OP inconvenienced someone, apologised and everyone moved on with their day. Not sure why it’s more awkward because the the man doesn’t know she’s the sons dinner lady… Hope she’s not hinting she’s going to spit in his food 😹

That very rarely happens at the beginning of the day due to timing schedules. Also, it didn't happen to OP.

But this didn't happen

School staff should be setting a better example, some parents are so selfish and don’t think of others on the school run but I think parents would expect an employee working at the school to know better than to join parking wars every morning!

But it could have, that's the point. Not that it didn't happen

But it didn't this time and OP has said she won't do it again so it's irrelevant

You have no evidence that she'll do it again.

There has been no suggestion that she'd spit in his food.

Disgusting post.