Altercation in carpark

[Icecreamsundaz]

I was in a supermarket carpark, I had put my baby in her carseat and had just loaded my groceries in the boot. A car parked in the parent and child space next to me and an older couple got out, early 70s I would guess, able bodied, no kids with them
I said "sorry do you realise thats s parent and child space" and I pointed to the markings.
Well his response was very rude in tone "I came here to do my shopping, not to dance around" ?? "It should be first come first served " and they stormed off. I was a bit taken aback, I said loudly but they were a bit away at this point so not sure if they heard me "god id hate to be so ignorant". I took a picture of their car. Not really sure what I was going to do with it, thinking I would think about it and perhaps report to management. I got into my car
The next he was at my window "you took a photo, its illeageal to take photos of other people's property, delete it." I ensured my doors were locked, he stood behind my car so I couldn't reverse out, she was at my windscreen taking photos of me. Eventually they moved and I got out.
Maybe I shouldn't have said anything but there were loads of other places they could have parked but the parent and child spaces are limited. Its very frustrating when I've all my kids and can't find a free parent and child space because people like this who dont need them take them and they don't give a shit

Well if it did, I would hope that the person responsible would own up. After all this is a thread about doing what’s right isn’t it ?

Yanbu but you are for posting about it on Mumsnet where everyone wants to argue. If the old couple were posting on here everyone would tell them they were arseholes. Mumsnet is a vipers nest so I wouldn’t post on here unless you want a fight 😂

That’s a disgusting way to speak about your mum, but you do you.

This reminds me of the occasion years ago when somebody parked in the only parent and child space, and DH and toddler DC had to park elsewhere. As he went past the car there was a solo woman getting out, so DH pointed out the space was intended for parents with children. The woman told DH that she had a child, so DH said, 'that might be true, but I'm pretty sure you're meant to have them with you!'

Op, you honestly shout have just left it rather than trying to be unnecessarily antagonistic.

I would have left it at the first verbal exchange, waited until I was sure they had gone and then left a note saying TWATS on their windscreen.

It's just as well I don't drive, really.

Agree.

Most supermarkets don’t have anything to do with the car parks attached to them - more often than not they’re controlled by parking companies. So even if it did register they wouldn’t do anything about it.

I don't think people have to prove they are disabled. But if someone is accusing a disabled person of not having the right to use a car parking spot isn't the logical response to point out that they are disabled, which comes with the added satisfaction of having won the argument and putting the accuser in their place?

Lol. I think i can understand why you ended.up having an argument with 2x 70+ couple.

Just like this reply - you feel you're right and that others are wrong - and you're not just ignoring and internally knowing you're correct, but instead insisting on your correctness and demanding that the world acknowledges that.

I'm sensing a career.in diplomacy is not on the cards for you.

Yea shes never done that tbf.

Ive changed my mind - i hope I never shit myself on that posters car bonnet.

🙄🤣🤣🤣 , because it’s so easy to prove right ?

Did you check and look whether they had a blue badge displayed before you started on them? You can’t just decide who gets to park in parent and child parking and knowing for a start that disabled badge holders have as much if not more right to park there too is one of them.
another is chose your battles! Never choose a battle when you have your children with you just in case the person you are having a go at turns aggressive!

They would have taken yours, as you were leaving, no?

I think you brought this upon yourself really. No he probably shouldn't have been parking there but in his 70's Id assume they found the walk hard. He didn't like being co fronted by you so decided to do it back....seems you didn't like it either. Maybe stop policing other people's behaviour.

Well, I’m almost 70, my husband is a bit older. Parked in a parent and child space last week - I had just opened the car door and immediately faced an irate woman shouting abusively at me for parking there. We had our fourteen month old grandchild in the back of the car - I have never felt so prejudged on account of age.

I agree. I have one but it's for a condition that's currently in remission so I don't use it even though I would love to.

It's actually far too easy to get one in my area by lying in the online.application, there wasn't even a check with my GP. But that's a different issue and also seems to be rare outside this area because I was accused of lying when I wrote about it last year.

Is that meant to be funny? I can see you are trying but you really aren't

Why do you use them?

Yeah, no one polices them. No one will stop you.

But I've had times where I just couldn't do my shopping because I wasn't able to park anywhere I would be able to open the door wide enough to get my toddler in and out.

Assuming your 9 year old is healthy and can walk/ get themselves in and out of a car, please stop using them if you don't need to.

Not opinion. It's a matter of fact that mother/child spaces are set aside for ... well the hard of thinking here will say "anyone" who wants to use them.

How bizarre. Megifer is a carer for her incontinent mum and instead of supporting her, you support the person who thinks Megifer’s car should be vandalised by a car seat wielding mum.

Did the Be Kind movement pass you by?

Couldn’t leave as had not finished her shift as car park police.

It’s 2026 and everyone is unhinged.

To comment on anything public is to open the box of crazy

Would love to read the George Orwell dystopian present fiction non-fiction he would create these days, would be depressing, hilarious, surreal and scary as hell all in one go

< slinks back to the shadows >

I’m tempted to start using them now, just to piss off entitled parents.

No I genuinely changed my mind 😔