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?

I completely agree they only need to offer a safe route, not necessarily the shortest one. There's some at a shopping centre near me that are closest to the doors, but not actually any wider son completely useless to anyone with an infant to buckle in 🤦‍♀️

But to ignore the fact they are P&C just because they are close isn't fair, the parents didn't choose the position of them.

I’m of the opinion leave the idiots to fight it out, perhaps that’s how we get back to less entitled behaviours. She shouldn’t have sworn, especially in front of her children but you know you’re wrong for parking there, perhaps you’ll think twice before doing so again!

Their behaviour aside (clearly not rational or proportionate), and the fact that you parked somewhere you technically shouldn't have disregarded too, you behaved in a totally ridiculous manner yourself and deliberately escalated things. You were leaving so why didn't you do that? You stopped 3 times, with the sole purpose of winding them up. Passive aggression gets you nowhere in this kind of situation. I am absolutely sure you know that.

There's nothing to stop you using a designated space in a car park belonging to the premises you're using. Parent and child spaces are not legally enforceable and are just a courtesy with more space either side.

Since you weren't taking a space she needed, she had absolutely no right to be annoyed at your choice at all, nevermind reacting like a lunatic.

People who go around thinking this is incredibly annoying regardless have too much time on their hands and are very self centred. We're all inconvenienced occasionally, have to wait, don't get the thing that would be slightly easier for us. How does it matter if we're all fine and everyone can manage.

She was insane, just absolutely unhinged behaviour. Her poor kid.

lots of people saying you shouldn't have used the space, but do people really care when there are lots free? I'd have been mildly irritated if someone used the only free p&c space, but if there were plenty going I just wouldn't care?

p&c spaces are nice and helpful and I'm glad when I get one, but not to the extent that I would have a serious issue with someone else using one as a rare one off because it was an enormous help to them.

Parking in a P&C space with no child is opening yourself up to a confrontation

How rude to criticise the way someone speaks! Mind your own business and stop patronising people!

This. I’m surprised so many people are somewhat justifying the behaviour. It seems completely unnecessary especially given there were other p&c spaces.

And let’s face it a couple like this don’t exactly sound law abiding themselves, but yet they’re aggressively enforcing and policing something that isn’t even law.

I really can't see how this is a big deal. There were loads of free P and C spaces and OP needed the extra room; they're just a courtesy provided by the store. Why does it matter? It's not like she stopped anyone else using a space.

Anyone can use a P&C space. They aren't protected by law and are just a courtesy. It's about time people started realising that. I use them all the time when ableds take up all the disabled spaces (which ARE protected!). I need the space for my ramp and wheelchair.

You were perfectly within your rights to use a P&C space and I'd have reported the couple to the police. Just don't use disabled spaces.

Because that's the only context in which I've ever heard people describe their shopping as "a massive haul"?

Still doesn't mean they are enforceable .

It would be interesting to see how much passion people have for P&C places if they were all located at the back of the carpark, not right outside the entrance. I'd imagine it would show which people really 'needed' it for practicality, and which just like the bonus.

I don't even look in other cars to see if they have a child in there.
Too busy cracking on with my own life.

both in the wrong. But you are an absolute c**t for parking in them spaces when you don’t require it, and she’s disgusting for behaving like that in front of her child.

I think if you’re going to be selfish be prepared to be called out for being selfish, & yes sometimes that might be by a nut.

There's no excuse for that language, but there's also no excuse for taking a parking space that isn't meant for you. Stop being so entitled.

There’s no extra ‘boot space’ in a p&c space, you just wanted to park there.

At least we agree that they aren’t ONLY for P&C but also acceptable for some one with a broken leg in a wheelchair or the very old and unstable.

I suggest ‘shopping for loads of stuff’ could involve 8 foot long ladders, flat packs and sacks of gravel (hypothetically) that are extremely unwieldy and dangerous to wheel across a car park.

my point is we shouldn’t be rigid in our acceptance of rules. Much like you feel the temporarily disabled are deserving to use a parent and child space even though they are not a parent with a child, I am suggesting there are other circumstances where someone can morally use the space.

whether the OP fits this isn’t something I could know as I wasn’t there. Nor do I know what she was dealing with or the car park.

a society that forgets the intention behind rules and sticks rigidly to the letter of the law is a society without compassion or humanity. This is the situation in some countries that are very rigid, transactional and litigious.

they have lost their sense of community

No one is 'c**t' for parking in 'them' spaces.

It is a shame they used such vulgar language in front of their child.
However, not only did you do the wrong thing because you felt entitled, you then passively aggressively antagonised them by saying have a nice day. Obviously this is going to enhance their rage. You then went a step further by laughing in their face as they expressed their upset and anger. They had a right to feel upset and angry and you had caused that situation and then when they react, you just laugh in their face. Wow quite frankly!

Absolutely. And I would struggle to think anyone would have a problem with you using a P&C space. I certainly hope not.

Bloody hell. Their reaction was out of all proportion with the minor sin you committed (which would have annoyed me, but no more than that.)

What can I say? They're not happy people and they found someone to take it out on. Were you really shaken up? I hope you're OK.

She obviously must have left the child behind in the hardware store to make space for the tat in her car.... silly woman!! :))

Then the foul mouthed, bad tempered, amateur parking police couple probably 'fostered' the poor abandoned child until the following weekend.... when they dropped them back to the store.

The mother now has to listen to her poor little child cursing like a sailor for the next few months/ years after spending a week with Mrs & Mr Foul Mouth.... .....
ah well karma is a bitch!!

P.s. the tat is great though!!