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Original poster

row in parking lot with head teacher! (longish)

467 replies

sansouci · 01/10/2005 18:33

There is next to no parking by dd's school. Everyone complains but for the moment, nothing has actually been done about it, except for the police coming round & taking photos of pick-up & drop-off times. The yummy-mummies make it even worse with SUVs but anyway.

Yesterday when I went to pick up dd from school, I had to double park. I left my warning lights flashing to show that I was coming back soon. Unfortunately, dd didn't come to the car easily & then I got chatting with another mummy, as you do, forgetting completely about my precarious parking place.

On returning to the car, a group of angry women were clustered in front of the school & of course I apologised profusely to the one or two I had blocked.

One woman made a rather bitchy comment as I was charging by & when I saw her heading for her car a few minutes later, I asked her what she felt could be done about the parking. It's not my problem, she replied shortly. We got into an argument, which escalated, as things do on a Friday afternoon. She said, I'm a teacher at this school! to which I retorted, My daughter is a student at this school & if you're part of the staff, you should care about the parking problem! I wasn't rude, but I was very angry with her & she was angry with me.

I eventually roared off, furious and shaking, cursing the woman aloud. Do you know that silly woman? I asked DD. Yes, she said, she's the head teacher. Oh SH*T, I thought, Now I've done it.

How can I face her again? She'll be dd's teacher one day. I think I was right to be cross but I was at fault & certainly on the defensive. What do you think I can do?

OP posts:
Jimjams · 01/10/2005 21:53

The double parking is relevant though as it does kind of justify someone losing their rag.

QueenOfQuotes · 01/10/2005 21:53

the head of both DS1's school, and his nursery last year, both LOVELY people (and church goers too), would probably have made a "bitchy comment" had they seen someone double parked as you describe.....

We were constantly getting letters home from the nursery about parking, and we've already had 1 from DS1's this term.

hunkermunker · 01/10/2005 21:53

Make an appointment to talk to the head.

Apologise and say you were frustrated by the lack of parking around the school.

Offer some suggestions as to what can be done.

I don't know how to ask this without you thinking I'm being inflammatory, but why don't you know the head? Has she recently joined the staff?

philippat · 01/10/2005 21:53

so you double parked more than 500m away?

fimac1 · 01/10/2005 21:53

HunkerMunker

  • you do not HAVE to brave the school run every day, as my school have discovered from losing its car park in the last few weeks, quite a few of us are actually enjoying the walk - as are the kids - we are getting a school travel plan drawn up, which will help with the parents who are parking on double yellows etc at the moment, think outside the box a bit about how to get round their current travel method
harpsichordcarrier · 01/10/2005 21:54

blimey, forget Gina Ford/bottle feeding/WOHM v SAHM - what really gets things kicking off on here is parking...

Original poster
sansouci · 01/10/2005 21:54

Hunkermunker has got it almost perfectly in her last post... except for the fact that I was seated in my car and this person was standing over me, arguing.

Whatever. I am sorry for losing my temper. God knows we've all done it, right? This parking issue is getting everybody down & needs to be seriously addressed as soon as possible.

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 01/10/2005 21:54

(as an aside...QoQ, some of the nastiest people I know are very regular church-goers )

fimac1 · 01/10/2005 21:55

Edam

Don't know for cars but will check with dh and get back to you! He is a mine of (Transport) related info!

fimac1 · 01/10/2005 21:55

Edam

Don't know for cars but will check with dh and get back to you! He is a mine of (Transport) related info!

Jimjams · 01/10/2005 21:55

I was think that harpsichord- so is now the time to mention disabled parking... for free.... ?

misdee · 01/10/2005 21:55

you were both in the wrong, you for double parking and the head for being 'bitchy'

SueW · 01/10/2005 21:55

Parents who drive around DD's school's campus make the place downright dangerous. They park on the zebra crossings put in for the benefit of the children and I have no sympathy for those of them who incur the wrath of the staff, including the woman who was called in about cutting across the grass in her 4x4.

One child has already been knocked over whilst on campus by parent - and the parent whilst horrified by what she had done, can still be seen drving round with her mobile phone stuck to her ear. Downright bloody selfsih IMO.

QueenOfQuotes · 01/10/2005 21:56

yes - but these 2 people attend my church, and I've known them since DS1 was 18 months old, and they are both genuinely lovely people (although school had can seem rather "scary" if you don't know her well LOL)

harpsichordcarrier · 01/10/2005 21:56

QoQ - church goers not bitchy?? erm.... not sure about your logic there. Present company excepted, natch.

netter · 01/10/2005 21:56

You sound like many of the parents at dd's private school. I am appalled with how some of them park, its downright irresponsible. My dd is aged 3 and if you had blocked us in I'm afraid I would have rammed your car out of the way.

There have been occasions where I could not park and as I also have a baby is not practical to park further away and carry him. I have never been tempted to double park though, I have simply driven around the block until a space finally became available.

However you have admitted you were at fault but I don't think you have any right to be cross. I personally would apologise, but its up to you.

hunkermunker · 01/10/2005 21:56

Fimac - I don't understand why your post was directed to me?

edam · 01/10/2005 21:57

Thanks Finmac1, just interested to know what the gap is ? how much more dangerous 4x4s are.

Original poster
sansouci · 01/10/2005 21:57

What's even more worrying is the fact that other women whom I used to consider were my allies are in fact very far from that. I'd hate to flounce but I'm really surprised & saddened & wonder if I should look elsewhere for a soundingboard!

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 01/10/2005 21:57

Is your dd old enough to be embarrassed by her mum arguing with the head? If she is, no doubt she will retell the story many times to make you feel better!

fimac1 · 01/10/2005 21:57

Parking and cars are a very emotive subject

misdee · 01/10/2005 21:57

at anyone elses schools do parents park up 20mins before hand to get a good space??

Original poster
sansouci · 01/10/2005 21:57

"whom I used to consider allies" before I get attacked for my prose as well!

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 01/10/2005 21:58

SS, don't be like that.

Just because I like somebody I've never met doesn't mean I arselick if I think they've been a wally

Jimjams · 01/10/2005 21:58

nah sansouci- you should just admit that on this occasion you are wrong (double parking kills kiddies - that's why people get pissed off)

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