Lecturing Strangers on Manners

So...I'm definitely a mom.

Today something happened to me that has happened to me many times before. I was trying to find a parking space at an extremely busy lot at the hospital. I was running late to meet my parents there and there were no spaces! The only way you could get a space was to wait for someone to leave. Isaiah was at his limit- he was just starting to complain... BINGO! I spotted someone walking towards her car. YIPEE, our wait was over! I put my signal on and followed behind- but not too close- I didn't want to crowd her. I was in position. As she backed out- something happened. The car in front of her in the alley started to back up! This guy was jockeying to get my space! The space that I had so patiently waited for! I did the polite honk and wave, sorry dude- this one's mine, I've been waiting for it. I couldn't believe it, he was still backing up. I did the outright honk. DUDE- this is MY SPACE- MOVE ON. I could not believe this. He didn't even acknowledge me and he actually stole my space. WHAT THE $#%* is wrong with people! I felt the rage pulsing through my veins! I was beyond mad. But I stayed calm and waited for them to park.

Now, normally- I would have given him a dirty look, muttered "jerk" under my breath and moved on (years ago I would have given him the bird and yelled profanity out the window and then moved on). But I felt the NEED to let this guy know (as if he didn't already know) just how inconsiderate he was. He and is way too young for him girlfriend (w/ way too much makeup on) walked out of the car AS IF nothing was the matter. "Excuse me- that was extremely rude, you saw that I was waiting for that space." I said in an even tone. "I don't know what you're talking about- I was there the whole time." he lied. I proceeded to explain to him the whole sequence of events. A feeling of embarrassment and guilt washed over both their faces. He started to argue again, but something told him to stop. I was giving him the eye- the one your mom uses when she sees right through you. "Okay, already" he said like a scolded teenager(although he was a grown man- probably older than me). I could tell he wanted to say sorry- but he didn't. Nonetheless, my anger dissipated and turned into a sick kind of pride. I never had this skill before- the guilt that only a mother can put on you! This is the best new mama skill I've acquired so far! I'm sure I'll be using it for the rest of my life! I've had many years on the other end of the guilt trap, but now how the tables have turned! Aha ha ha ha (evil laughter).