Called a "c*nt" in front of his kid over a P&C spot...

[SorryIParkedWrong]

Hi all,
Need a sanity check on an interaction I had yesterday that's still bothering me.
I used a Parent & Child spot yesterday at a quiet retail park. I know, technically wrong, but I was doing a massive haul for a house move and needed the boot space, and loads of other P&C spots were free so I wasn't leaving anyone without.
The issue happened when I got back to my car after shopping. I was in the driver's seat, engine on, and was just about to reverse out and leave.
A car pulled into the P&C space next to me. A woman got out with her young child and. She came right up to my window, which was cracked open, and said in a really aggressive tone, "You shouldn't be parked there."
Not wanting any drama or to explain my point to an emotionally enraged individual, I just said, "Ok," and put the car fully in reverse to leave. That's when she and the dad who appeared completely kicked off. Standing right by my car door, she launched into an absolute tirade.
She was shouting all sorts - "cunt," "fucking little shit," "look at your shit car," "fucking shit driving." All while her own young child stood there watching the whole thing.
I briefly stopped reversing, said through the window "I hope you have a lovely rest of your day," and then started to move again. She and her husband just kept going with the abuse, so I stopped the car again because I was just in disbelief. I looked at her and started laughing at the sheer absurdity and the level of her rage.
I know I shouldn't have used the spot. But AIBU to think her reaction was completely unhinged? Does my minor error give someone the right to hurl that level of personal, nasty abuse at a stranger, especially in front of their own child?
It honestly felt like she was just projecting all her life's problems onto me over a parking space. What do you think?

Jesus Christ.

To use the P&C spaces at my local shopping center you need to display a pass. The passes last 6 months. If you are parking in a P&C space and don’t have a pass (and don’t visit customer services to register your vehicle & get a pass before you leave) you get a ticket. It’s brilliant.

Half the people who park in those spaces are not parents or don’t have a child with them. The worst thing is to park in a disabled space. Plenty of people do that and don’t get abuse. Most Parents can actually manage in any parking space, especially when there are two of them.

Don't forget - there are people known to MNers who get a blue badge, free car and a free house for a bit of earache.

So.....park further away where it's always empty then 👍

If BB holders can’t find anywhere else to park they’re perfectly entitled to park in a P&C space. P&C are advisory only so no rules are being broken. Disability is not a choice - parenthood is.

I have applied for a badge. She's not entitled because she's not disabled every day, apparently.

But yea, I will carry on. Hope parking gets easier for you with more practice.

People voting YABU are basically saying yes, it’s fine for people to attack you for contravening a car park’s random rules. Which is the majority. Funny world.

Oh good grief, you can’t be that helpless surely. It’s a child, not an incendiary device.

Who cares who they’re for, elderly people who can’t walk far should absolutely use P&C bays.

So go to the far corner of the park where there are always plenty of bays.

My 15 year old has a blue badge he is neither elderly and he can walk for miles
There are many reasons why people might qualify for blue badges other than they are elderly and can't walk far.

Sorry i misread that.

Don't be silly, now. Disabled people with blue badges would not be fined for parking in a P&C space.

Nobody would be fined for parking in a P&C space. They’re advisory only and not legally enforceable. The only exception is car parks where a permit is required to park in them - but these will be clearly signposted.

Why do you discount the possibility of fully grown disabled people being driven to the shops, which is probably a more common scenario than disabled people driving themselves? Do you imagine they might be entitled to more priority than able-bodied children?

I know. I've been repeatedly saying so.

Right! Ffs, there's no legal entitlement to these spots, they're just a marketing shtick. The couple were insane.

She overreacted but you were acting selfishly.

Would you mind sharing with us some of the conditions people might have. Not to out your ds but genuinely to educate people. I would like to know for one as I always want to expand my understanding of others needs and what people might be struggling with without others knowing.

Kids take a while to learn to walk