Teaching our oldest son to drive has been one of the most hair-raising, not that I have any left, and rewarding experiences this year. It has been a joy to watch him improve and grow each time he gets behind the wheel. However, we still struggle to teach him how to park when so many other adults are clueless at the task.
The other day, we were shopping at the local Target. We picked a spot, only to find that someone’s oversized Escalade had taken up half the spot. Why anyone needs an oversized Escalade is beyond me. However, if you have one and cannot park it in a single spot, you should be forced to park in your own lot. Either that or they should have to pay a fee for parking in multiple spots.
As my son and I were driving around, we started to notice that there were more and more clueless “parkers” out there. We saw the “My car is too fancy for anyone to come near it, so I will take up two spots” in the same parking lot. When we stopped to pick up food, we saw the “I cannot park between the lines-person” and the “I do not want to park too close to the curb person.” It was a spectacular day for bad parking as we also found the elusive “Perpendicular Parker” on our way home.
However, the most dangerous parking situation is when we park in a lot between two normal-sized cars, only to come out later and find two sky-scrapers parked on either side of us in such a way that prevents the driver from seeing anything as they try to exit their spot and enter the roadway safely.
Those of us who drive a normal-sized car need to stand up. If someone wants to park in multiple spots, charge them a fee. If someone wants to drive a large skyscraper, provide them with their own lots, making parking a safer adventure for the rest of us.
Let’s be adults and teach our children, by our example, that parking is an essential skill to learn.
Just Be Better
Stay Healthy, Stay Strong.
Everyday is an Interview 