Parking-lot parents

[Anonymous]

I’m guessing OP has one kid and/or just noticing this with his/her oldest kid who I’m guessing is probably older elementary age (i.e., the age when neither kids nor coaches want parents hovering around vicinity of practice). Small talk with other parents is exhausting for an introvert like me after full day of work. And I’m an AM workout person, so perfectly content to read my Kindle, power though work emails, or horror, even crawl in the back of the car and sleep during kids’ PM activities. And with traffic what it is in my area not worth it to go home.

[Anonymous]

We do it so you can have a moment to feel superior to someone in your otherwise sad, miserable life. You're welcome!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do it so you can have a moment to feel superior to someone in your otherwise sad, miserable life. You're welcome!

[Anonymous]

For sports practice, waiting in car is acceptable. I might watch a couple practices, but kid probably doesn’t want me there so I usually go for a walk in neighborhood that is adjacent to school.

My judgment with people in their cars is not the act of sitting in car, but those who keep the engine running for an hour or more while parked. So rude, self indulgent and just bad.

[Anonymous]

I love napping in my car. No one can bother me. It’s quiet.

[Anonymous]

I’m lucky enough to have time to drive my child to events. But I do not have unlimited time and I have to work. So I sit in the car when I want to catch up on work or media.

I am a grown up with real responsibilities.

People like OP are awful. You have no idea why people do what they do. Leave them alone.

[Anonymous]

OP's question requires context. What kind of event? What is the activity? Are parents even expected?

I know a few parents who butt into things where they aren't invited, and the adult running the event is too polite to ask them to leave. They think no other parents are there because those parents don't care or aren't "as involved." No, they just understand the boundaries better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed more and more parents at my kids events who spend the whole time just sitting in their vehicles in the parking lot. Some of them never even get out of the vehicle at all, then just drive off.

What is wrong with these parents?

Antisocial misanthropes, most likely.

We’re just adept enough to avoid subjecting ourselves to the unwanted company of strivers who insert words like “misanthropes” into their everyday conversation.

I stay i the parking lot because I’m massively busy with work and being the admin assistant of my kids’ lives, but also because sometimes when I join the parents, I get an icky sense that they are like this parent, who uses the term ‘striver’ but despises the term ‘misanthrope’ (TF is wrong with you?), or that they are like that other poster, the one who finds small talk with me to be pretend and drudgery. Those posters say they stay in the car but I see them in the bleachers too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m lucky enough to have time to drive my child to events. But I do not have unlimited time and I have to work. So I sit in the car when I want to catch up on work or media.

I am a grown up with real responsibilities.

People like OP are awful. You have no idea why people do what they do. Leave them alone.

I am not awful! What a rude and ignorant thing to say about someone you do not even know.

I am simply trying to wrap my head around the people who become parents, then treat their offspring like an inconvenience; as if they are just checking a box a never really wanted a child in the first place.

Sitting in the car during your child’s performance really screams out you are “there” because you have to be (but dont really want to be there).

You are there in your kids life, but not at all present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m lucky enough to have time to drive my child to events. But I do not have unlimited time and I have to work. So I sit in the car when I want to catch up on work or media.

I am a grown up with real responsibilities.

People like OP are awful. You have no idea why people do what they do. Leave them alone.

I am not awful! What a rude and ignorant thing to say about someone you do not even know.

I am simply trying to wrap my head around the people who become parents, then treat their offspring like an inconvenience; as if they are just checking a box a never really wanted a child in the first place.

Sitting in the car during your child’s performance really screams out you are “there” because you have to be (but dont really want to be there).

You are there in your kids life, but not at all present.

Wow you really do suck. Wrap your head around that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m lucky enough to have time to drive my child to events. But I do not have unlimited time and I have to work. So I sit in the car when I want to catch up on work or media.

I am a grown up with real responsibilities.

People like OP are awful. You have no idea why people do what they do. Leave them alone.

I am not awful! What a rude and ignorant thing to say about someone you do not even know.

I am simply trying to wrap my head around the people who become parents, then treat their offspring like an inconvenience; as if they are just checking a box a never really wanted a child in the first place.

Sitting in the car during your child’s performance really screams out you are “there” because you have to be (but dont really want to be there).

You are there in your kids life, but not at all present.

OMG. Are you trolling everyone right now? The peak rude and ignorant thing written in the thread so far is accusing strangers of “treating their offspring like an inconvenience; as if they are just checking a box a never really wanted a child in the first place” because they don’t spend 10 hours a week watching their 10 year old wait for their turn to hit a ball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed more and more parents at my kids events who spend the whole time just sitting in their vehicles in the parking lot. Some of them never even get out of the vehicle at all, then just drive off.

What is wrong with these parents?

Antisocial misanthropes, most likely.

We’re just adept enough to avoid subjecting ourselves to the unwanted company of strivers who insert words like “misanthropes” into their everyday conversation.

I stay i the parking lot because I’m massively busy with work and being the admin assistant of my kids’ lives, but also because sometimes when I join the parents, I get an icky sense that they are like this parent, who uses the term ‘striver’ but despises the term ‘misanthrope’ (TF is wrong with you?), or that they are like that other poster, the one who finds small talk with me to be pretend and drudgery. Those posters say they stay in the car but I see them in the bleachers too.

Translated: “I’m upset you won’t spend time with me, so sour grapes!”

[Anonymous]

Not everyone wants to talk to you, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve noticed more and more parents at my kids events who spend the whole time just sitting in their vehicles in the parking lot. Some of them never even get out of the vehicle at all, then just drive off.

What is wrong with these parents?

Antisocial misanthropes, most likely.

We’re just adept enough to avoid subjecting ourselves to the unwanted company of strivers who insert words like “misanthropes” into their everyday conversation.

I stay i the parking lot because I’m massively busy with work and being the admin assistant of my kids’ lives, but also because sometimes when I join the parents, I get an icky sense that they are like this parent, who uses the term ‘striver’ but despises the term ‘misanthrope’ (TF is wrong with you?), or that they are like that other poster, the one who finds small talk with me to be pretend and drudgery. Those posters say they stay in the car but I see them in the bleachers too.

Translated: “I’m upset you won’t spend time with me, so sour grapes!”

How self-centered and narcissistic to read that into it.

[Anonymous]

Did OP ever come back to explain what she meant by "events"? It's totally normal for parents to drop off or wait in the car during sports practices, or even if their child is in the school play and they have 4 different performances, but agree it's odd if a parent doesn't attend their child's once a semester dance performance or stays in the car for a basketball game instead of sitting on the sidelines and watching.