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I don't think it was *right* to park in the handicap spot, even with the director's blessing. It is not up to the business owner to define handicap. The guy was being a jerk, but if I were one of the people who make the effort not to park there, even with small children, I'd be annoyed at someone who did park there and wasnt handicapped. Also, men don't know how it feels to be pregnant.

We have a similar situation in our daycare parking lot. If there are no spots available, the cars just make a bee line and wait for the next available spot. There are some cars, who park in the handicap spots even though they aren't handicapped, and it gets people annoyed, and eyebrows are raised.

The man didn't need to berate you in front of the children. However, I think you were wrong and so was the director. She has no business telling you that you are an exception to handicap parking. Just because two handicap spots are open and you take one doesn't mean the other isn't needed during the time you park & unload or pick up your LO.

Guy definitely sounds like a jerk but to echo pps I would never park in a handicapped spot. If there are issues with snow/ice or inadequate parking at school I'd have that talk with the administrators.

I think
1. Yea you were wrong
2. Dude sounds kinda rude
3. Just have them come out and grab your daughter since they offered if it's slippery.

So that dude was a jackass. I mean if he needed the spot then I get it, but just to out someone to out them I don't get. And you have the buildings blessing.

But, contrary to what everyone else has said, I honestly probably would've done the same thing, given that the other spot was open. On a normal day, no I wouldn't park there, but if it was following an ice storm where salt trucks haven't gone in and LO is acting up and I need to carry them in to get on with my day. And I know I am going to be in there for all of 2 minutes. Yeah I would do it if I was that pregnant.

@Mrs D: if you need that spot it is not hard at all to get ahandicap permit via your OB. It would be temporary but falls are a huge risk in pregnancy and I'd rather not risk falling on ice.
Legally he could have you ticketed despite what the director says you have permission to do. I would file for the permit.

I don't think you were in the wrong. There was still a handicap space available. The guy was just a jerk. I didn't have problems walking during my pregnancy, but some women do. I think it's nice that the school said that you can park there. Why risk slipping in the ice. I wouldn't feel bad using it as long as there is still one available and your not park there for more than just a few minutes.

You shouldn't park in a handicapped spot ever unless you have a placard, regardless of the director's blessing. But we've all done things we shouldn't have done and that definitely includes that guy for chewing you out. Very rude.

Since nobody usually uses those spots legally, I would absolutely get the placard just as a big old F YOU to Mr. Douche Bag.

I'm not one to make a big deal, but I also would have made a huge scene by bursting into loud pregnancy tears about him being a complete asshole to a very pregnant lady. It's OK to make things easier on yourself, your safety and baby #2's safety is really important.

In the daycare's we've used, it was kind of normal for people to use the handicap spots when all the other spots were taken. I never felt comfortable doing it, but I didn't really judge those that did.

The guy was way out of line to be *that* rude to you. I don't care if you were in the wrong or not - people need to mind their own business.

I'm actually very surprised at the responses saying you should not have parked there. You're 36 weeks pregnant, to me that IS a handicap! You're not physically able to do the things you would do if you weren't pregnant, therefore...handicapped. The dad was obviously out of line and huge jerk but I really cannot believe how everyone is saying you should not have parked there. 9 months pregnant and having to carry your toddler on icy/snowy ground is absolutely a valid reason to park in a handicap spot. Something quite serious could happen if you were to fall!

@Trailmix: I think if she wants to park there she should go ahead and get the decal. Just because someone thinks they are handicapped doesn't mean they can just use those spots. You have to follow the process. And you're right in most cases a doctor would issue a temporary pass.

@Trailmix: if she feels she is handicapped enough to use it she can simply do the paperwork to get the proper tag. I've broken my leg before - definitely a handicap, but I never parked in the spots because I didn't bother to get the paperwork done for it. It's pretty simple, if you don't have a tag it's illegal to park there.

You never know, maybe it was very personal to him? I try to look at things from a variety of perspectives. Once when we were moving, DH took one of the two handicapped spots (this was years ago). I didn't realize, I was busy inside. DH was loading the truck, that was the closest spot.

Shortly thereafter I brought something out, and admittedly we didn't have help and it was taking us longer than we expected. A woman came out and literally screamed her head off and said horrible things to DH, including, "you better hope you don't end up disabled." I was pretty shocked and didn't really know what was going on, she was approaching him as I came out. I told DH he really shouldn't have parked there and he moved the truck. Turned out she was the mother of a disabled son who lived in our building. I felt bad. I guess you never really know where someone is coming from and maybe he has a wife, mother, son, sister, friend, who needs to utilize those spots and has struggled with it, maybe in his own way he felt offended/ disrespected.

Maybe I'm just blah blah blah and everyone is collectively rolling their eyes.

While I agree that handicapped spots should be used only by those with a tag, I also don't think it's such a big deal in this particular situation. It's a daycare facility not a shopping plaza. The odds of two handicapped cars entering the lot in the 5 minutes it would take for you to run in and grab your daughter are slim to none, and on top of that you had the directors blessing. I understand it's the law, but seriously that dad was a little over the top and should cool his jets.

Obviously, it's not legally allowed, but that guy needs to get a grip!

Was it wrong? Technically. Was it immoral? No.

I would feel worse if I was the guy who yelled at you. That actually had consequences for someone, not just theoretical ones. Jerk.

An interesting question I just thought of (at least, I think it's interesting) that is sort of specific to this "I'm just running in for 2 minutes" situation. So the alternative is that she sits and waits for one of the non-accessible spots to be free, right? Just on the off chance that somebody who needs the spot comes (or in this case, two spots). But why is it not ok for somebody who needs one of the spots to have to wait? Obviously in the mall or something it's not ok because it could be hours, but given the high turnover of the daycare parking lot, it seems to me to be the same kind of question as "If all the other stalls are taken can you use the accessible stall". I don't have an answer for this, it just occurred to me - either way, somebody has to wait a few minutes.