'I'm sick of 'entitled' parents gatekeeping parking spots'

"I shall continue to park wherever the hell I want."  

You've never truly known parking lot pain until you become a parent; I've found this out the hard way as a new mum.

Parking transforms into an Olympic-level sport the moment you have to wrestle a pram into your boot, and consider all the factors such as distance from the store and safety of your kids.

But one woman doesn't think that should take preference over anyone without kids.

Kendall Boyle says she’s hit the brakes on parents who believe they’re entitled to certain parking spots that make life a little easier. 

“The entitlement of these mamas,” she titled her TikTok rant about the issue.

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RELATED: Melbourne mum sparks debate on pram parking etiquette

"That's for a mum with her kids"

The self-proclaimed ‘vocal millennial’ was responding to another mother’s opinion about car parks.

In the original clip, the mother argued that parking spaces next to trolley return bays should be reserved specifically for parents - even though there's no signage.

“If this spot is open and you’re shopping, it’s not for you. That’s for a mum with her kids,” she stated.

Kendall’s response? Blunt.

“No,” she begins.

“I can park in that spot if I want to without children. It is not an assigned or designated parking spot.”

@k_boyle

The entitlement of these “mammas” 🥰 #entitlement #mamabear #parking #shopping #childfree #childfreebychoice #parkingspot #parents #parentsoftiktok #parenting #greenscreenvideo

♬ original sound - Kendall - Vocal Millennial

Kendall clarified that the only parking spots anyone can legitimately call dibs on are those marked for handicapped individuals, expectant mothers, or emergency vehicles.

“The entitlement of ‘mamas’ like you is exactly what makes me want to say I’m going to exclusively use the handicap-accessible stall in bathrooms.

“I probably won’t, but if I was petty enough, I might,” she jokingly adds.

Kendall made it clear: no allowances will be made.

“I’m going to continue to park wherever the hell I want,” she declared. 

Image: TikTok/k_boyle

RELATED: 'I parked in a parent and pram parking space without kids'

"It's a luxury, not a right"

Her stance sparked debate in the comments.

“I hope when you have kids you NEVER find a close parking spot, every door you go through with a stroller opens inwards, and I hope your child has an atomic blowout in the middle of grocery shopping,” one viewer wrote, implying that Kendall won't understand until/unless she's a parent.

But many agreed with her, such as this person: “F*** people and their crotch goblin. No one has to cater to you cause you popped out some spawn." 

And this viewer: “I parked there on purpose today after seeing this." 

As a mum myself with a 19-month-old son, I don’t feel entitled to any spot in the car park.

Sure, battling a pram is easier when I land a parent spot, but life’s too short to get annoyed when one isn’t available. 

My husband will almost always grumble when he sees someone getting out of a pram spot without a child — but I remind him that we’re not entitled to it.

It’s a luxury, not a right. 

Any spot where my back passenger door isn’t blocked by a cement pillar? That’s a win in my book. 

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"I won't park next to a trolley bay"

The Kidspot team revealed that they tend to avoid these spots altogether, for a totally different reason.

“I purposely leave those spots empty - not for anyone in particular, but because people are pigs with trolleys and always end up hitting your car with them,” Leah said.

“I'd never think to leave those spots intentionally for parents, but I'd also never park there unless I was desperate - solely because I don't want to be next to the trolley return bay,” Cassidy agreed. 

Elizabeth admitted she’d never considered saving those spots for parents.

“I have never really thought about saving them for parents, cause the next person (without kids) will just come along and grab it, anyway."

What do you think? Tell us your thoughts on our Facebook page. 

Originally published as 'I'm sick of 'entitled' parents gatekeeping parking spots'