My DS did a crappy thing while driving tonight...

[poohandwendy]

We had to run to the store and my DS is driving with a learners permit. He turned into a lane in the parking lot and saw a spot open (on our side) right after making the turn...I saw someone waiting for it and as I was starting to tell him 'wait' or 'get out of her way' or something, he pulled into the spot! Oops. Well, by then he realized what I was saying and he thought I was telling him to hurry it up because he was in her way, just a miscommunication basically.

So, he felt really bad after I told him what a crappy thing that was to do and asked if he should back out to get another spot. Well, she was already gone by then and I told him just to not do that again.

So, we see her on the way in the store and I walked up to apologize and explain that he is a new driver, still learning the rules (he was also apologizing too) and she went OFF yelling something about 'he should NEVER be permitted to drive, blah, blah blah'...I just said "Nevermind" and walked away. All the while telling him he learned two things not to do a) do not take a spot someone is waiting for and b) do not flip out on someone who is apologizing to you...just let it go.

***Just wanted to add, he was not disobeying any rules of the road, was not speeding or anything and did not cross in front of her or anyone else to enter the parking space, if that matters***

So, what would you have done?

(go ahead and flame away, I most certainly can handle it, LOL)

 

[Parkers_girl]

There's always a way to learn a lesson, and one of the best ways is experience..but yes that's most def a crappy situation to be in. I could understand why the other lady would be upset, but at the same time she should have been a lot more understanding after you explained to her that he was a learner. If I was her, I would have shrugged it off, no big deal really!

 

[momrek06]

OP: As I am reading your Thread and before I was done reading it, I am saying to myself...OP will just have to tell DS about some "driving etiquette" as he is so new at this.....BUT wow, you did exactly that, then took it a step further and not only YOU but DS was trying to apologize and this person seems SOOO RUDE!!! SHEESH!..this WOMAN'S behavior tonight to you and DS was WORSE then your DS taking "her" spot.....I take my hat off to anyone who steps UP and OPENLY admits their mistake....but to have her "carrying on" so...RUDE

YUP, it was....R U D E!

Hey MOM: You did awesome! Keep up the good work. AND BTW: you are a braver person THAN me...I would NEVER drive with my two DS'....I left that lovely task to DH

 

[Feralpeg]

He made a mistake. He's learning. It sounds like there was nothing else you could have done. It is a shame the woman wasn't willing to listen and accept his apology.

If it makes him feel any better, tell you son that I did a stupid and not very nice thing yesterday. I was at the Hess station across from DTD. A guy in a pickup pulled in just in front of me and pulled to the far set of pumps. I started to pull in after him. I was half way in, when he starts backing up. I honk at him and tell him to pull forward. I pull up and get out of the car. Only after I got out of the car, did I see that the far pumps were out of order. He pulled out and around to another set of pumps. I waved at him and said "Sorry". He just kind of glared and ignored me. I really felt bad. We all do stupid things we later regret. At least he is just learning. I've been around for a long time!

 

[clh2]

Geez, I hate when rude people are out shopping.

No flames here, your son committed a little faux paux, and you both tried to apologize. You most likely taught your son a lesson today, he won't soon forget - regarding taking a parking spot someone else feels they should have.

Luckily, when she "goes off on the clerk after the clerk wishes her a nice evening" she will forget about the parking lot incident. I swear, some people just choose to have a lousy day.

Just remind your son that good manners cost nothing, and also show what kind of class a person has. The other woman also showed what kind of class she has.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Your son has youth for an excuse for his mistake. What was that witch's excuse? Your son did learn a couple of lessons and one of them is that adults can act like damn fools sometimes! Sorry he had to experience that--she may have been mad, but she was in the wrong for going off on him when you were trying to explain and he apologized.

 

[poohandwendy]

LOL, thanks guys. What he did was definitely wrong and I did feel that i should apologize too because as the licensed driver, what he does IS my responsibility and he was trying to do what I said, he misunderstood what I was telling him. He thought I was telling him to hurry up and get in the spot because he was in her way, what I meant was that he need to get out of her way because she was trying to get into that spot!

But, on the other hand, after we both apologized and she was just irate, I was not going to grovel with someone is looking for a fight. kwim?

 

[Southern4sure]

I feel for ya. Im in the same boat with my son. It is tempting to create a magnet sign for when my son is driving to warn people he is "learning" to drive. Such rude people in this neck of the woods.

 

[poohandwendy]

I feel for ya. Im in the same boat with my son. It is tempting to create a magnet sign for when my son is driving to warn people he is "learning" to drive. Such rude people in this neck of the woods.

That is so true here. It's really hard to get the point across that he should be driving 25 or less (the speed limit means limit, not minimum speed) when almost everyone who gets behind him tailgates impatiently and sometimes they even flash their high beams. It's frustrating.

 

[kilee]

I don't think any flames are in order. You're trying to teach your child "courtesy rules" if you want to call them that. He made a mistake, we all do. I think the lady was a little off kilter, heck you tried to apologize. I wouldn't give it another thought.

 

[Keli]

People like that really aggrivate me. It's just a parking spot for heaven's sake! You apologized and so did your son. The woman was way out of line in being rude about the whole thing. I just can't imagine being so upset that you would be rude to someone that is apologizing in the first place.

 

[HaleyB]

I think your son made a mistake, and the lady in the parking lot did something that was wrong. His was not on purpose, hers was. She should know better than to make anyone feel worse when they are trying to say sorry. Shame on her.

You did exactly the right thing. Being a teenager learning to drive is stressful enough without some crazy lady yelling at you. Being the Mother of a teenager learning to drive is something much worse than just stressful... Kuddos to you both.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

No flames from me - your ds didn't realize that he shouldn't have pulled in & you taught him. Too bad that the other person was so unforgiving. I think you handled it well. Life is too short. We learn our lessons and go on.

 

[Planogirl]

Maybe the lady'd had a bad day. You handled this perfectly IMO and she was unreasonable.

 

[horseshowmom]

I think your son made a mistake, and the lady in the parking lot did something that was wrong. His was not on purpose, hers was. She should know better than to make anyone feel worse when they are trying to say sorry. Shame on her.

You did exactly the right thing. Being a teenager learning to drive is stressful enough without some crazy lady yelling at you. Being the Mother of a teenager learning to drive is something much worse than just stressful... Kuddos to you both.

I agree with this completely. You tried to make it right, and she acted like an idiot. She has no excuse for her behavior. As others have said, it was just a parking spot. People who get that excited over something that insignificant need to deal with some of the real life problems that some people have to deal with.

 

[Tamarap]

Recently there have been a couple of occasions where I have gotten frustrated with drivers in our neighborhood and more than once DH has pointed out that he thinks they are teens learning to drive and I immediately let it go and then feel bad for being so critical.

 

[luvmydogs]

Very classy on your part to apologize for your son's error--an innocent mistake with no malice behind it. She, on the other hand, had no excuse to behave so poorly once you explained your situation. If I were her, I would have accepted your apology and thanked you for showing your son the importance of being accountable for one's mistakes (how much responsbility and accountability do we actually see anymore--by both children and adults?!).

You took the high road and taught your son a few good lessons in the process. I think it was *she* who did a crappy thing.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Wow two lesson from one event. What a bargain!!!

 

[Chicago526]

Sounds to me like th woman deserved to have the spot taken from her to begin with!

People like that are always looking for a fight and I find it's best not to give them one. I'm in customer service and while 99.9% of my customers are perfectly polite and professional, I do get the occasional crank. I kill them with kindness, the meaner they get the nicer I get! It drives them up a wall, they want someone to argue with and I won't stoop to their level, so they get even more mad! And what are they going to do, complain to my boss that I was being nice to them?

You did the exact right thing, your DS made a mistake, you pointed it out, then tried to apolgize. Good for you! :

 

[rayelias]

If that would've happened to me, I would have been SO !!!

Until you (and your son) came up to apologize. That was a VERY classy thing to do.

Everyone makes mistakes - I make so many every day sometimes I'm amazed I made it this far! So, when you and your son came up to explain and apologize, if it were me, I would've been understanding and forgiving (and impressed that you took responsibility for the honest mistake). I think most people would've just blown it off, which would've made the situation worse.

IMHO, you're doing a phenominal job raising your son with traits and qualities like that. I wish more people had similar upbringing.