I was left in tears after being threatened by a school-run dad over my car park – I was just minding my own business
A RUSHED mum on the school-run was left in tears after she was threatened by a dad over her parking – but she says she was only minding her own business.
Finding a suitable place to park near to a school can be a nightmare, especially at busy times of the day and if a parent is pushed for time.
One woman has confessed she parked on the white lines outside a primary school when she was dropping off her son and ended up getting into a massive row with a fellow parent.
The mum, who has not been identified, took to Mumsnet’s Am I Being Unreasonable forum to tell her tale.
She wrote: “Outside my son’s primary school the parking is a nightmare, near to the front gate there are some white lines where people aren’t supposed to park, but many do because parking is a nightmare/people are rushing etc.”
The mum added: “I have parked here a few times when in a rush, but never do if anyone is walking on the pavement beside the lines.
“Today I was in a rush to get my son and get home for a work meeting and parked here. Nobody was around, didn’t mount the pavement, all safe.”
However, she said that when she got into the car, one of the dads from the school approached her and “had a huge go” at her for parking on the lines.
He is said to have threatened her, “telling me that if his kid gets hit he’s coming for me.”
She claimed he was being “aggressive” and kept “talking over” her.
The mum added he wouldn’t let her get a word in and “kept putting his hand up when I spoke”.
She then pointed out that there was another man parked on the lines directly behind her, but he hadn’t said a word to him.
The mum continued in her post: “Now I completely understand that I should not have been parked there, but let’s be honest we are all human and we have all done this sort of thing or similar from time to time.
“Personally I just mind my own business and let people get on with things, I would only ever say something to someone if I genuinely believed a child’s life was in danger.
“I am a very careful driver and would never park there if anyone was nearby who could potentially walk out etc.”
She admitted she had “cried” because she felt so “humiliated”, adding: “It has also really bothered me that he chose to target a woman on her own and not confront the man in the car behind me, doing exactly the same thing as me.
“It was hugely embarrassing, all the parents were looking over as they came out the school, and he just would not let me talk at all. I never get into confrontations with anyone and for some reason cannot stop thinking about it.”
While many commentators agreed she had been in the wrong for parking on the lines, they said the man was also wrong for being “aggressive”.
One person wrote: “You know you shouldn’t have parked there so no matter who did and didn’t confront you about it, you know you are being unreasonable.”
Another said: “You shouldn’t have parked there. That’s all there is to it. The lines are there for a reason.”
A third person added: “You shouldn’t have parked there – everyone who does has some kind of excuse why they do it. It doesn’t make it ok. It’s selfish and entitled behaviour.
“He sounds unpleasant and a bully however his behaviour doesn’t excuse yours. Just organise yourself better so you don’t park where you shouldn’t.”
