Kate de Brito
Monday, March 07, 2011 at 08:33am
Dear Bossy: Long time reader, first time writer here, and I’m writing to get some advice about whether or not I’ve crossed a line on the school run. I’m a pretty average mum to three girls, who is usually friendly and laidback … until recently, when something has snapped in the drive-through lane at school. It’s a pretty straightforward set up: There’s a one-way car park next to the school, with parks along both sides marked out.
In the morning, you can park along the left and the first half of the right hand side to take your kids in, but the second half of the right hand side is for parents to ‘kiss and wave’ (as in you pull up to the curb, your kid hops out and you kiss them goodbye and then they go in by themselves). In the afternoon, the whole right hand side is dedicated to this pick up lane, with a teacher standing with the kids to shoo them into the car as you reach the front of the line. There are notices along the right hand side stating the ‘no parking’ times, it’s in the school newsletter several times a term, and there’s flyers that come home every month or so with diagrams explaining it all. Seems pretty simple huh?
Apparently not. For the six years I’ve been doing the school run, there are always – ALWAYS – one or two cars parked in the drive-through part, blocking traffic. This means the drive-through cars have to queue in the middle of the car park around them, blocking the left hand cars from reversing, or backing the queue into the street, reducing it to a single lane. It’s especially bad in the afternoons, with the traffic sometimes reaching around the corner and down another street. Mostly, I would just sigh and mutter under my breath, or go look for a park and go in for the kids, but the last few days I’ve had enough, and have started having a (what starts as) polite word with these carparkers, pointing out that they’re in the wrong place and could they please move. I figure that if people can park a street or so back and manage to wrangle a schoolkid, a couple of preschoolers and a buggy into the school, or waddle their very pregnant bellies that far (yes it is a Catholic school) these people (usually dads) with just one to get into class can do the same.
Yesterday, there was another one there, parked right in front of a no parking sign, and I stopped behind him and waited. When he came out with his kids, he asked me to move. I asked him if he could read the sign in front of his car, and why he thought it didn’t apply to him. Long story short, he told me he was going to ram me out of the way if I didn’t move, and I was so angry I was fully prepared to call his bluff (but just in time the drive-through queue moved forward and I could get out of the way).
On the way home, after the adrenalin had died away, I was shocked that I would risk being rammed over something so stupid. But then this morning, some other idiot had done the same thing, and without thinking I wound down the window and said something similar. He cursed at me (but was shamed into re-clicking his child into their seat and moving away to park).
Now I’m looking forward to this afternoon’s school run and hoping someone has parked like a tool so I can have a go at them. I think my successes have gone to my head, and I’m worried I’m acting like I’m some sort of one-woman anal-retentive justice league. I’d love to know what you and your readers think; am I justified in telling off these selfish buggers, or should I just calm down and suck it up like everyone else does (even though my super alter-ego Car Park Girl is internally shouting “But it’s not FAIR! Everyone should have to follow the rules!")?
Yours, Steaming in the Car park.
Bossy says: You sound unreal. No seriously. I think we should be friends. I have similar grievances about pedestrian crossings. I get burned up about people in such a hurry they can’t wait the two seconds it takes for you to entirely cross the road. You know the ones? They graze your arse on the way past?
But having said that...while I’m sure it felt great to wield authority as a parking vigilante, I don’t think what you’re doing is working. While I’m sure your charm is considerable it is clearly not coming across. So you need to find another way to get your message through to the rule breakers.
You also need to be careful in these small suburban power struggles. Not only because these sorts of battles can occasionally result in someone getting hurt (cue embarrassing i-phone footage on 6pm news of school scuffle turned violent - or worse yet on YouTube). But mostly because this is a school and children should not have to see adults standing outside acting like...well like kids.
Adults should generally try to model good behaviour for the young ones. And while yes, that ca n mean standing up for things that are important and showing you know how to play by the rules, it is not helpful for a child to see their parent getting into standup fights over car spaces. It’s ugly.
So you do need to back off and find a less confrontational way to address the situation if only so your children don’t get teased at school for having “that crazy mum”. This might mean being gentler in your approach.
You could, for example, pop over to the car and say: “You might not realise but this is a no stopping zone in the afternoon.” And leave it at that. Most people will gladly accept this sort of information if you don’t back them into a corner. Hopefully they won’t try to get away with it again.
The other thing might be to print up some notes and pop these on offending cars. Again, try to be reasonable in your wording. “You may not have realised but this is drop off zone only in the afternoons. In future could you please park on the left if you have to go in to pick up”. Repeat. Every afternoon if needs be.
Another option might be to see if the local council is willing to be involved. Sometimes councils will send an inspector down to enforce school parking rules. They can book cars that are in breach of parking rules.
Finally, you could lobby the P & C for a name and shame file. If people are not getting the message ask whether its possible to run lists and numberplate of of cars who violate this rule in the newsletter. This is about child safety after all.
It’s easy to get fired up about things we believe in but sometimes getting worked up gets in the way of making real change. Gandhi wouldn’t have approved on ramming in cars. Most of all remember for your childrens’ sake it’s never a good idea to be the craziest mum in school.
123 Comments
You know what’s funny. For all the efforts of man to form a civilisation, it takes so little for humanity to revert back to their primal instincts.
We are and will always be savage animals.
Sincerely,
Mon 07 Mar 11 (08:39am)
Mon 07 Mar 11 (10:34am)
You could complain to school council, alternatively, i hear .22 bullets are damn cheap
Mon 07 Mar 11 (10:40am)
Man was full of himself when he thought he knew better than Mother nature. Naive assumption that we could be fair and logical.
She sets the rules one day she will force us to return to them.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (11:54am)
...and because of those primal insticts they will want to engage in threesomes… preferably not on the bonnet with an audience though…
Well heck how else were we gonna get it mentioned in here!
Mon 07 Mar 11 (12:05pm)
Indeed. Many atrue word. But hold on, FFS, why not stop giving yourself a heart attack and put your chubby little under exercised precious pampered fragile jewels on the freaking bus, let them ride or walk to school???!! Why is it that every child must have his or her personal manservant to collect him in the Range Rover? Seriously, you’re all fucked up. Just sayin’.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (12:13pm)
Wheel clamp. Keep it in the back of the car and chuck one of those suckahs on a mofo if they try it again.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (12:14pm)
“Vinny!, hit em with the bat”
Should be more Italians in charge!
Mon 07 Mar 11 (12:57pm)
Become friends? Bossy, are you serious? Umm, OP, you say you have been doing this for 6 years. Clearly the dumbasses of our civilistion can not be governed and controlled adequately under the stupid parking system that has been put in place. The system is ineffective and has been for 6 years. If anything, you should be cracking the shits at the school and/or local council. I don’t think the car park is a good area for aggression and out-of-haste decision making when there are kids scattered all over the place. Just park the car further away and walk to pick them up.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (05:05pm)
We have a ‘parcel pickup’ queue at my daughter’s school with similar issues, although ours is not only those who park and get out while in the pickup queue but also those who sail past the queue and cut in to pick up their darling. We have a traffic warden who does their best but gets ignored quite a bit.
The answer? The principal spent a day out at parcel pickup and noted the licence plate, make, model and colour of all cars not using the queue correctly/parking/pushing in/double parking and published it in the weekly school newsletter. She only had to do it once and the problem vanished.
Tue 08 Mar 11 (08:43am)
Here’s on i have used before,
first you need a mobile number that isnt connected,
Write a note
“Sorry I was in a rush to pic up my kids and I think i might have accidently brushed your parked car
<insert unconnecgted mobile number>”
They will think Oh No,
and then be franticly searching their car for the damage
then will try and call the number
and will get the “this number is not in use message”
Why not complain to someone at the school and ask them to come out and tell the people in the wrong spot to move?
That way, you still get to feel the satisfaction of justice being done, but you don’t have to be that crazy mum who yells at people.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (08:41am)
Mon 07 Mar 11 (11:44am)
Yes, this is the answer. You’ve got no authority and it shouldn’t be your responsibility anyway - putting notes on cars, talking to people etc will just give you ulcers. We had exactly the same issue at our daycare centre and it was really frustrating and ultimately dangerous because frustrated drivers do stupid things. I did my nana one day then thought screw it and talked to the head and to the council parking operations people. A few days later they put up new signs, then the next day had a blitz and booked about 20 drivers and it has never been an issue since.
.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (11:50am)
Every school needs a crazy mum, cause then you can issue them with a lollipop and put them at the pedestrian crossing. They get their power trip and the school gets the lollipop function staffed.
Win-Win
Mon 07 Mar 11 (12:12pm)
The problem here is I don’t think they are in the wrong spot, I think the OP and the school has just decided there is a system in place and expects everyone else to conform without understanding the road rules. She specifically states there are “No Parking” signs up everywhere but last I checked there is a difference between “no parking” and “no stopping”.
No parking generally means the driver can stop in that area for a couple of minutes but must remain with the car at all times, no stopping means just that, its a significant difference in this case.
Don’t get me wrong I hate people that break parking rules and I have in fact keyed peoples cars before who have parked in such a way as to inconvenience me (such as parking across a driveway), but in this case I don’t think they are actually breaking the road rules.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (12:21pm)
Sarah, you obviously don’t have kids.
At my daughter’s school, every week the school newsletter implores parents to stop being idiots in the school car-park. Every day, those disrespectful idiots continue their shenanigans.
Even having the police/grey ghosts roll up regularly doesn’t stop them. They revert to their idiocy the day after.
The local private school is even worse...these tools block the entire street in both directions for half an hour. As the car-park is too small, they block the road for a km in both directions waiting to turn in, completely preventing regular traffic from using. Not one of these tools has the sense or common decency to park by the side of the road to pick up their spoiled brats.
I’d love nothing more than to kick in a few door panels. But I and my wife don’t lower ourselves to their levels.
Unfortunately, school car-parks are where you really see how pathetic and disrespectful our society has become.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (02:11pm)
Sarah, I think your solution is the best. OP, make an appointment to see the principal and talk about the issue. Tell them that you’re concerned about your kids and others getting squished at the front of the school. Mention ‘duty of care’. Then suggest that they do exactly what they’re doing in the afternoon, since that seems to be working.
The principal or deputy principal, wearing their name tag, stands out the front of the school at that location and moves people on. It’s a pain that they have to do this, but this kind of safety rule has to be enforced, and parents are strangely still scared of ‘getting in trouble with the headmaster’, even 30 years after leaving primary school!
Senior executive school staff are really busy people who should be doing better things with their time than monitoring traffic, but the reality is that the morning car park is probably one of the most dangerous places for small kids dashing through spaces between cars. It will be too late once someone’s in hospital, or worse.
By the way - I was teased mercilessly at school because my father turned up one day wearing a name tag for his work and told off a group of kids. It’s not worth it for your kids to be hassled by some other kids because of your car park rants. They really have to stop.
You know it strikes me as being somewhat extreme but I get the frustration. But instead of attacking people as you do, then perhaps raise it at school level with the principal, the local police station and perhaps council. Whilst mostly I absolutely loathe revenue raising, on this particular issue it needs to be policed, just because of the danger it invokes and the immediate risk to kids.
Im sure our lovely local revenue takers (council/police) would the opportunity to make more money so I would bring it to their attention. Behaving as you do only puts you at risk of road rage and will only turn you into that one eyed monster everyone hates. I advise a more mature approach than that what you are currently undertaking.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (08:43am)
I’m not sure if you’re a parent, Bossy, but I can give you the tip, this just won’t work. The ‘offenders’ know damn well they shouldn’t be parking where they do, and they’re quite prepared to have said bad screaming matches in front of their own kids, also knowing that good parenting would be (as you quite rightly say) not to do that.
Sensible, the ‘name and shame’ approach would be fantastic. I would have a chat with whomever at the school does the newsletter, offering to record the rego plates of those people who think they’re more entitled to parking spots. They could be reproduced, without fear or favour, as a “nice note” to please not do it again.
Of course, I’m an argumentative prick, so I’d go buy myself a really cheap car that’s already a little banged up (but still safe, etc). Then, I’d do exactly what you did and INVITE him to ram his undoubtedle bought-on-credit SUV into it.
(I’ve done this before, not with the kids around, and it works a treat.”
Mon 07 Mar 11 (08:45am)
Mon 07 Mar 11 (10:35am)
Mahrat, Mahrat - You are just the thing needed lighten up a drearie Monday morning… I just had the biggest belly laugh at your last paragraph… I love it!!
Mon 07 Mar 11 (02:55pm)
“The ‘offenders’ know damn well they shouldn’t be parking where they do, and they’re quite prepared to have said bad screaming matches in front of their own kids, also knowing that good parenting would be (as you quite rightly say) not to do that. “
The offenders also think that their job / time is more important than that of the lesser-beings… good on you OP for not putting up with it. but follow bossy’s advice and soften your approach!
Mon 07 Mar 11 (02:56pm)
im with you Mahrat, insure it well and you will end up with a fully resprayed classic on your hands thanks to the arrogant twats who cant obey the rules. Everyone complains that Gen Y are “all about me” but they are getting it from somewhere. THEIR PARENTS....maybe
Mon 07 Mar 11 (03:55pm)
Love it - gold star to you Mahrat!
Tue 08 Mar 11 (10:42am)
6 years? OP has been putting up with rule-flaunters like this for SIX YEARS? I’d be nailing notices to people’s bonnets by now.
What’s worse than the pompousness and arrogance they’re displaying is the danger to kids. Adding this sort of chaos to school-pickup zones is risking kids getting backed over or run into.
Bossy had some good alternatives but I’ll add this one:
Get a hobby, or a part time job - its not healthy to be sitting at home hoping someone in the school car park will piss you off so you can have a go. Is that all you have by way of excitment?
Mon 07 Mar 11 (08:45am)
Mon 07 Mar 11 (02:01pm)
I agree, not healthy at all!
OP - for your problem parkers I suggest the following:
http://www.iparklikeanidiot.com/
Stickers you can attach to their cars without causing damage. I have a batch and can’t wait to use them
Tue 08 Mar 11 (10:33am)
Alicia, those are brilliant! I can’t wait to use them on the morons who park in front of my driveway - the driveway that every single resident of my apartment building has to use.
The world is full of “Special People” they annoy the hell out of us they seem to be attracted to roads around schools they block driveways, double park and park in no parking areas all because their life is much more important than yours.
Here’s how I solved the problem find a quiet road about 100mts away from the school, trust me once you get about 50mts out there’s no real problems finding these streets laden with vacant car parks arrive to pick the kids up at 3:28 instead of 3:31, now heres were it gets a little scary get out of the car and walk the 2mins to the school meet kids and walk them back to the car while you walk you can also talk to them about their day you can then load kids bags and everything else into the car hassle free and without risking life or limb.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:00am)
You sound like this dumb surf life bitch I ran into the other week.
Two weekends ago at burleigh, I was surfing the beach break right out the front of the surf club from about 6am.
Then the flags went up just after 8am and I was tired so I caught a wave in. Mind you I wasn’t between the flags, still just outside of them. And mind you I had been courteous enough not to run over the bathers swimming with no flags up at all, as much as I would have liked to.
Then some 17yo little surf life saving bitch had the gall to tell me not to surf between the flags. I might add I hate surf life savers. They think they own the beach and have a militant style of collecting donations.
Why didn’t you strangle her with your leg rope and bury her in the dunes I hear you ask? Too many witnesses thats why.
OP your only saving grace is that there are too many witnesses to make killing you worth it.
hope this helps.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:00am)
Mon 07 Mar 11 (10:51am)
Isnt that funny, I was at Coolangatta again on the weekend swimming in the surf and the amount of swimmers I saw making their way over to the surfers end of the flags and the surf life savers never said a thing. I notice they never tell the swimmers to get away from the surfers but the surfers almost always get told off.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (12:36pm)
I’m usually pretty patient but today I ache all over so I’ll bite, troll. As a lifesaver I spent 8hrs away from my family yesterday being smashed in an IRB training in rough oceans so that I can continue to qualify for the privilege of keeping you and your dear ones safe. Know this whenever you see anybody wearing the red and yellow: they don’t get paid a cent for what they do, but are charged an annual membership. They must qualify every year to wear the uniform: fitness, rescue techniques, first aid, cpr etc. Something like 90% of the lives they save are incidents away from the beach they patrol. Fundraising is often seen as a requirement of their membership, and doesn’t come close to covering operational and insurance costs.
What they do on the beach is mostly proactive: managing the water population against prevailing conditions before somebody needs to be rescued, treated or revived.
And every time we have to fill out the mandatory paperwork after treating some poor 5y.o. why was happily swimming between the flags when they got hit by the surfboard of mr/ms “sorry my legrope snapped it’s never done that before/it’s a free beach why don’t you f*ck off”, guess who’s held liable for not keeping the flagged area free of board-riders? Yep, the lifesavers.
Thank you to all those (the majority) who recognise the efforts of a great bunch of volunteers.
As for you sport, next time a simple thankyou and maybe a few dollars in the can will suffice.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (02:33pm)
I’ve typed like 3 messages then changed my mind about them all… so i’ll keep it short and sweet this time.
MattyD - COMPLETE MORON. How can you save beachgoers while riding a high horse ?
No one cares matty, hit lifeline up before eating the bullet.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (03:00pm)
hey Matty D, thanks.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (05:04pm)
BroG, mate if it’s a “high horse” to defend an organisation full of volunteers who put their own lives at risk to perform a STAGGERING number of rescues every year…
Then you must be riding underneath a frickin shetland. Which one of you is leaving the trail of manure?
Mon 07 Mar 11 (05:30pm)
Chihuahua: just fyi lifesavers often do encourage swimmers who have drifted/swept out of the flags to head back - we always try to set the flags up in/as the safest spot. But we can’t make people swim/stay there and we know it. On the other hand, we say to the swimming public “here is the flagged area, we are actively patrolling this spot and think it’s the safest place for you and your family”, so we have a duty of care to keeping surfers out (including our own rescue boards, unless it’s life&death;!). I know it’s not always ideal because sometimes the best surfing waves and the safest swimming areas coincide. Most surfers I know though are pretty understanding of the fact that SLSA is required by law to prioritise the safety of swimmers over their search for the best waves.
just a suggestion: that’s very kind. I don’t deserve your thanks but I know that was meant for all the good eggs who give their time to SLSA, SES etc.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (08:18pm)
@Matty D
My story relates to the OP and her self righteousness. The OP may hate the wrongdoers but it is the job of the Authorities to move people on. The life saver under question should have kept her pie hole shut because:
A: I wasn’t between the flags.
B: I was getting out anyway as they were putting them up.
C: Is not an authority figure.
D: I didn’t gouge, fin cut, or spear anyone, esp 5 year olds.
E: Spoke to me in a condescending tone, which if ever dignified with a response could only have invited my spiteful side.
Lets compare the similarities with the people who are parking wrongly:
A: They haven’t hurt any one;
B: Will eventually move on anyway;
C: The OP is not an authority figure;
D: OP probably uses a condescending tone;
Yeah they are annoying, but like the people the OP tells off I can relate to hating being told. The bit I really enjoy about this is how the OP likes to highlight that the main offenders are male. She must feel so empowered to speak down to a male. I wonder whether OP and the little life saver chick have ‘daddy issues’ and these verbal outbursts are some sort of deserved comeupance for the people with penises.
As for your funding, or at least your insurance, you are a victim of the common law system which places you in a situation where you have duty of care. Therefore out of the virtue of your existence, you actually owe people the service. I think that is even gayer than sydney, and its pretty hard to be gayer than sydney.
I wouldn’t begrudge any surf life saver doing there thing, except like I said, when they think the title gives them some sort of power to tell others what to do. Even if you are legally responsible that does not equal legal power. Volunteer lifesaver does not equal copper. Thats my point. There is method in my madness.
And they wonder why there is a generation of out of control feral brats out there being sprayed by capsicum spray by the long suffering police - you just have to look at who’s breeding them.
And yes I can sit in my Ivory Tower and judge because I chose not to add to the overpopulation of the world by popping out more unwanted ferals.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:01am)
Mon 07 Mar 11 (10:53am)
With that attitude, are you sure you’re not one of the feral brats you hate so much?
This lady has an issue with rule breakers… And there’s something wrong with that?
And don’t even get me started on the “long suffering police” comment. I wonder how wonderful you’d think they were knowing what they do to people when no-ones watching. My husband was assaulted by a speed camera operator for simply asking why the camera had gone off when he wasn’t speeding and I witnessed the whole thing.
Stay in your Ivory Tower with your pig headed attitude - I can’t believe you think children deserve to be capsicum sprayed!
Mon 07 Mar 11 (12:08pm)
You’re an unwanted feral
Mon 07 Mar 11 (02:56pm)
oh no, Why do We Bother.. you insulted the CHILDREN. You will now pay and be forever reprimanded by those who alas cannot take a joke.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (03:07pm)
Erws, Sure your husband was ‘simply asking why the camera had gone off’....sure he was.
PS Speed camera operators are public servants - they are not police officers. This change was made years ago.
Bossy, perhaps you should cross the road faster then.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:04am)
Mon 07 Mar 11 (10:57am)
Perhaps what’s brushing the boss lady’s backside is not actually a part of the vehicle.
Crossing faster may not help if the offending object can extend several feet.
I know the feeling, believe me, I know.
But consider for a second - inevitably, the guys you yell at are going to be going to the same school events as you - every parent-teacher night, school play, Christmas mass - you WILL run into these guys for years to come. Worst case, their kids will share classes with your kids.
Also, not everyone shares the same depth of interest in school rules. People who skim through the newsletter or only drop their kid occasionally will neither know, nor care about the parking ‘rules’. They’re simply totally unaware of them.
Tell them but make it nice and you can still enjoy school without having to avoid people.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:05am)
Mon 07 Mar 11 (04:02pm)
“...without having to avoid people”
Ummmmm, why would she have to avoid people? I have no problems telling off people if they’re doing the wrong thing, and no, I dont feel the need to hide my face later. I’m sure the OP will have no issues with showing her face at school events, and if she’s anything like me, probably throw in a comment about “oh, you’re the parent who doesnt seem to understand the parking rules”
You ask “is my building road rage ok?”
You already know the answer.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:06am)
Steaming, we all know the people. They don’t think the rules apply to them. Often they drive 4WD made by Porsche or Lexus. At my son’s old school, parents used to park in the handicapped spot that was needed by the lady whose daughter was in a wheelchair. People are assholes, really.
Having said that, if someone is a big enough asshole to hold up whole lines of people because their needs are more important that everybody else, they probably don’t care about your road rage or your politely worded note. Get the cops on them. Complain to the council, police and local MP.
And walk your children to and from school. Much healthier, much less aggravating.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:12am)
I agree with you OP but you’re going to be crucified here today.
Don’t take it to heart though anonymity brings out the worst in people.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:18am)
OP, this kind of thing should be done sparingly. For example, if a driver is texting whilst rolling slowly through a pedestrian crossing, I have been known to bang on their hood and scream “WALKING HERE!” It’s immensly fun, and they look a little stunned. BUt if I did it every time, I’d just look like an angry freak cruising for a fight.
The fact that you’re doing this in the same place every day means that pretty soon, people will recognise you and your car. Then parents wil start whispering. Then their kids will hear, then their kids will tell your kids, and they’ll be known as the kids of the psycho Parking Bitch.
You don’t want that, right?
Like Bossy says, speak to the council, at least you’ve got a chance of keeping it fairly anonymous. Otherwise, if the best part of your day is yelling at other drivers, then yes, you definitely need a hobby.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:18am)
I agree - it is so totally frustrating when people blithely park wherever they want, regardless of the clearly-posted rules. Cos the world is all about them, right?
Sure, some may genuinely not realise their error, but in my experience the majority just don’t give a sh*t.
BUT, I don’t think it’s your place to “fix” this at your school. Get the school to pop the notes on the windscreens. Get the council around to patrol, even just once. It’s amazing how word will fly that the no-parking rule is being enforced.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:19am)
Wow. I wish car parks were the biggest of my problems. Can we trade places?
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:20am)
I like bossy’s suggestion to leave a note, however I would get some butchers paper. Make a sign as big as the windscreen that says “Im a carpark dickhead”. Leave under the wipers so that everyone can see it, then move off to watch the embarrassment and humilitation on the dickheads face when they return to there car. I have a similar beef, as a new mum to a bub I really hate it when people without kids in prams/strollers use the pram parking. Note that it is called pram parking, not tradies parking or parking for families with children that are walking. Parents need the extra space that these parks give because you often need more space to open the childs door and strap them into their seat. plus you often have to use the backseat to put large packages/shopping because the pram takes up most of the boot. I find it is often men/tradies who are the worst offenders.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:21am)
Mon 07 Mar 11 (10:32am)
nicK, I LIKE it. The only thing is, touching someone else’s car. These are the losers that probably would try to sue you for vandalisim or something.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (10:39am)
Hmmm… a pram park isn’t the same as someone parking illegally in a disabled spot, or an illegal park of any kind. Because (as far as I’m aware) the pram park does not exclude anyone from using them - including tradies. It’s more of courtesy to parents. And one that I’m sure they appreciate for the reasons you outlined, Nick.
But I’ll admit, there is one occasion that I parked in a pram spot - there were literally NO OTHER parks in the shopping centre. And I rationalised that there was no equity in someone else (including a parent) getting the park over me. Of course, this does not hold true for disabled spots.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (12:55pm)
Nick, I always make a point of parking in the parents park. Why? Because you should not get a concession for having a kid. It was your choice and you deserve to deal with the hassle of having a kid. No way am I going to treat you any differently. No one chooses to be disabled so I would never park at a disabled park, but you chose to be a parent. Deal with it.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (01:06pm)
... But then, how often do you see people using pram parks and they don’t even have their little people with them?
Fact is, some people are just selfish, self interested twats who believe their needs/wants are more important than anyone elses.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (01:57pm)
Anna you make a fair point, I would just reiterate its better for parents of young kids to have pram parking as normal parks dont allow for much space to open doors. Now Im no ten tonne Tessy however I do like to avoid scratching the paint on the car next to me when I open the car door to put my son in.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (02:04pm)
Anna: You are a selfish idiot. Hopefully you are sterile and thats why you have the attitude that you do.
That is all.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (02:08pm)
@Anna
LOL - that is great. and so true. im definatly going to start doing that!!
Mon 07 Mar 11 (04:35pm)
why is Anna selfish? Because you chose to have children and she chose not to kowtow to you in awe and adoration as a result?
Mon 07 Mar 11 (04:45pm)
Anna you said people should not get a concession for having a kid, tell that to the government. The baby bonus, family benefit Part A, Family Benefit Part B, The single parent pension. Paid Parental Leave, Maternity Leave, free doctors visits for kids under 16. Tax rebates for dependent spouse and child and the list goes on. There are plenty of concessions for families, as pollies like to point out “working families are doing it tough” no one ever says “the poor old single people out there, paying more tax than everyone else. Yes it sucks, but its the way it is.
OP,
I’ll bet you find lots of things inconvenient.
Men find it inconvenient when women yell at them too.
You’re all trying to do the same thing - collect kids, so chill out.
Don’t you have other things to think about, like cooking, cleaning, ironing your husband’s clothes, mowing lawns and deciding on what colour lipstick for the BJ later that night???
A woman’s work is never done, so put more effort into the daily chores.
Karma will get the idiot drivers, and karma isn’t a red-faced woman hurling an incoherant stream of invective.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:22am)
Mon 07 Mar 11 (12:13pm)
ironmike, I always read your responses and laugh - usually alot. I was watching TV with my partner one morning and an old show from the 60’s came on, I think it was called The Virginian. The main character said: “Don’t argue with me, I don’t like to be argued with, especially by a lady”. My partner stood up and applauded. Those were the good ol’ days hey? He quickly sat down when the giver and taketh away-er of BJ’s gave him a “look”, no need for arguing.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (03:42pm)
Another classy response from Ironmike.
Not sure if you’ve noticed Ironmike but Karma is an abstract noun. That is it applies to a concept, an idea, not a solid object.
The only way Karma can get anyone is to act through a solid object. Which in this case might just happen to be a “red-faced woman hurling an incoherant stream of invective”.
OP needs to take a different approach, no question. But Ironmike needs to grow a brain, and a decent sized penis.
Ha ha I feel your pain Steaming!
It was like that at my kids school for ages. Add ‘got to get the other kids to their school’ and ‘get to work’ rage was not fun.
My kids school has recently developed a reasonably streamlined system down the (narrow) drop off and pick up lane. It is well signed and also has parents in the morning and teachers in the afternoon co-ordinating. It is a queue and there’s about 5 spots and everyone realises it is zoom zoom zoom there - kiss, drop off and leave. Quickly..All within the 40k limit of course and keeping an eye out for wanderers. If you need to walk the kids in, you park nearby. The neighbours must hate it!
But it works. The buy in and volunteering from parents (many dads in there) for the half hour morning drop-off seems to work brill. So go to your P & F (being a catholic school) and suggest your ideas.
As well as signage, our primary school also has fluoro vests for the assistants. Anyone trying to park in the zone gets a friendly word to move on.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:24am)
Mon 07 Mar 11 (10:29am)
Excellent advice Fiona!
Instead of being a whingy-whiner and picking fights as a means to vent your misguided control-freak frustrations, you could take affirmative action. Invest in a hi-vis vest, a pair of white gloves, a blue cap, mirrored shades, jackboots and a whistle. Thus accoutred in the vestments of authority, you will be able to command the respect you deserve and direct traffic to your OCD satisfaction.
Or you could suggest the school appoint a staff volunteer to perform said function and who, incidentally, also has the power to nick offenders’ toolboxes.
Mon 07 Mar 11 (09:29am)