Road Rage at the Elementary School
I’m about to head out of here in a bit to go pick up P and M from kindergarten. Yesterday, I was in the pickup lane and apparently taking too long getting the kids all buckled up, because a guy pulled up next to me and bitched me out about “holding up the line” – he said “You do this every day!” I do? I had no idea! Honestly, I didn’t know it was a line, as in, nobody gets to go until I move. We’re just parked in the fire lane! I’m not blocking any magical exit route or preventing their kids from getting to their car that I’m aware of? I thought it was a situation like at the old school, where you find a spot, the kids get in, and you pull away. I had no idea it was a LINE situation.
The kids started school in July. Here we are in the middle of November, and this is the first I’ve heard that I’m disrupting the whole zenlike experience of picking up children amidst mass chaos. I was embarrassed! And I felt really bad, like I was the pain-in-the-ass parent, spoiling things for everyone. God, no wonder the other parents never talk to me! They’re probably all gathered together having coffee, rolling their eyes and talking about the bitch in the minivan who holds up the line every day.
I left the school with my tail between my legs (uh, so to speak) and headed for home. On the way, I started thinking about it and I started getting pissed about it. I called Paul and told him about it, and he was ready to take the guy’s head off. In fact, he and I just got off the phone and I had to insist to him that he DID NOT need to leave work to meet me at the school so I could point this guy out to him. He maintains that even if I was in the wrong, it was pretty ballsy for the dude to come up and confront me about it, and yell at me. And he made me promise him that if anyone confronted me in the future, I would be less apologetic and polite and make more use of the phrase “fuck off.”
I really hope things go smoothly today and in the future. I hate making a scene and I hate making a spectacle of myself and I’d really rather just BLEND IN, y’know? We’re different enough as it is. Oy. Suburban middle class white men in SUVs are SCARY!
what a ballsy ass! I agree with your Hubby. tell him off next time!
I would think if that were true a teacher or someone at the school would have said something to you…..you should ask just to get clarification and if that is not the routine just flip the guy the bird next time and go on your merry way.
Even if it were true, he could have told you in a nicer way, YK? If it were me, I’d probably ask some of the other nicer parents there if you’re truly blocking traffic or if this guy is just an ass. I’m leaning towards the latter personally.
Amys last blog post..Count Your Blessings
Maybe he was bitter that he was late arriving to the school and just wanted to blame someone else for it.
And don’t take it personal, at least you take the time to make sure your kids are properly belted in. GO YOU!
Jacklyns last blog post..A good day, or a bad day…
I don’t understand why it’s so hard for people to politely educate and inform you of the situation rather than chew your ass out. Really, is it THAT hard to say, “hey, would it be ok if you pulled off to the side next time? You’re holding up the line” instead of “you do this every day!”
Not that I’m saying this is you at all, but I do have to admit, there are some parents out there who think their shit don’t stink. About a month ago, notes were sent home along with tuition slips informing parents to not park in the drop off areas then completely abandon the car to run the kids in. The drop off areas were intended for someone to quickly get out of the car, driver remaining in the car to drive off afterward. (I can’t help but think I might’ve pioneered that ‘movement’ since I was fortunate enough to get a handwritten note on my windshield one morning after dropping kiddo off.) You would think that with notes sent home, that people would heed the instructions, right? Ooooh no, those coveted drop off spots are still fought over every morning at drop off and pick up time with no one in their cars. Embarrassment from the hand written note forced me to park my car according to the rules, but it chaps my hide that here I am schlepping 2 kids across the parking lot and I see someone bouncing into the school from the drop off spot with just 1 kid in tow, disobeying the rules.
Next time, tell those assnugget parents to suck it!
you know, i’m reading your post, and all that’s running through my head is that scene from “mr. mom”! do you know which one i’m talking about? he’s dropping the kids off for the first time on his own, and he enters the school from the “wrong” direction, and all of the mommies are screaming at him: “you’re going the wrong way!! you’re doing it wrong!!”
in a previous “life”, i was a nanny, and i totally know what you mean by these psychotic people who seem to think there is a right or wrong way to do things, or a line or whatever. it’s a bloody school, and while i understand that there are days when two extra minutes seems like a lifetime, and maybe you need to get across town to pick up someone else or whatever, but it’s just not worth getting CRAZY over
Shawns last blog post..thank you
That’s bullshit, first off what kind of parent goes off on another parent in front of children? Second if YOU are always holding up the line than maybe HE should show up a little earlier so he doesn’t have to be inconvenienced? Right??? Our pickup line has three spots that are numbered 1,2 & 3. There is a teacher at each spot to help the kids in the car and the cars behind have to wait. There’s always someone taking longer than the next car and when that happens I pull up around them. No big whoop. Move on and get over it. I have a sticker I can mail you that reads “Patience”….. that would be funny for him to see that on your back window…..
I have been spoken to that way by a parent one morning when I apparently parked in her spot which she had won in a school fundraiser. I was definitely wrong but she ranted and raved like a lunatic even after I apologized numerous times. I finally told her I needed to have her stop yelling at me because I had other things to do but geez, try decaf woman! What kind of example are these people setting for their children by having a scene?
susans last blog post..Hang on Tight!
Susan – you just KNOW that parking spot was one of her proudest achievements. Ha! The most important thing in her life at that moment in time.
don’t let it get to you! he probably was just having a bad day and was a jerk by taking it out on you!
jennies last blog post..my list…
I used to get all upset and cry when these things happened to me. But now I just smile real big, wave, and keep moving.
Lisas last blog post..Work at Home Mom: Copywriter Needed for Marketing Assignments
You know what though? Even if that were true, that you were somehow holding up the line, what does he expect you to do? Throw the kids in the van head first and haul ass out of there without buckling them in?! I don’t care how much of a rush someone’s in, safety comes first dammit!
Sherrys last blog post..Here we go
happy thanksgiving! so much to be grateful for! have a great day!
I agree with everyone else. He could have definitely told you in a calmer way. I don’t know if I would tell him to fuck off or flip him the bird in front of your kids only because he could be a total mental case. I would definitely ask the school or other parents.
Congrats on the new house!
The Bossy Yankees last blog post..You know you are from Philly…if…