Never Underestimate Station Wagon Mom
There was nearly a Jerry Springer type altercation in the daycare parking lot yesterday at pick up. The lot is very narrow with room for about four cars in front and about six more cars along the side of the building. If you don’t snag one of those choice spots you have to drive up a small hill and park in the back forty and haul your kid(s) and all their artwork, etc. Caitlin loves to park on the hill because we pass by her class playground and she can yell at her friends and teachers. She’s a ham like that.
Well yesterday it was the equivalent of a parking perfect storm. The only thing that would have made it more Armageddon-esque is if it had been raining. But it was a picture perfect fall day and portrait pickup day so apparently every parent came wheeling in at 5 p.m. on the dot and it was more crowded than I’ve ever seen it in the three plus years I’ve been parking there. I sat like a vulture waiting for someone to leave and finally ended up parking on the hill practically in the woods. As I was parking I overheard a mom getting out of a station wagon saying to another mom something along the lines of “That bitch wouldn’t move her truck and I had to sit here for 20 minutes waiting for someone to leave!” Luckily no kids were within earshot. I had to laugh because I automatically knew of which bitch she speaketh. There are two moms who have the obnoxious habit of chatting in the parking lot and taking up two spaces while their kids play in the bed of the truck and all the while other parents are hovering and waiting for their chance to whip in a vacant space. I told the frustrated mom that perhaps she should talk to the daycare owner/director about it and that I would also complain about it. Then I saw station wagon mom this morning and she said she’d left the director a voice mail message. She said, “I’m sorry I was so mad, but it was like that scene from Fried Green Tomatoes…I’m older and I’ve got better insurance!” I like her. She’s got spunk. I’m hoping the director sends a nice innocuous letter to parents to the effect of “Please be considerate when dropping off and picking up your children and do not socialize in the lot as parking is limited.”
Tonight at pick up I didn’t see station wagon mom or pickup truck mom. I’m preparing myself for a Jerry Springer throw down some time, though. My money is on station wagon mom. How ’bout you?
