Ingrained in my brain is the habit of being careful when I open my car door if I'm parked next to someone. I think it comes from my Father :). I think most people are careful. Kids are not. Even if I tell them 5 seconds before. And then ask why they didn't remember. Anya says: "Mom, I can only remember things from a long time ago." But then the mini-van was invented. Sliding doors! No more child-induced door dings. But we haven't crossed that bridge yet. We are still cruising in our sedan, 3 car seats crammed in the back, dinging doors all over Atlanta.
We were recently at the library. I parked as close to sidewalk and entrance as I could. That's one of my parking strategies with 3 kids in tow. When I do this, I know there will be cars on both sides. But I don't care if I get door dings in my 1999 sedan. Otherwise I'd park far away :). And take up two spots.
While Anya and Austria were getting out of one side, I was getting Olympia out on the other side. The car next to the side Anya and Austria were getting out of, also had passengers leaving it. A mother and her daughter. The mother was trying to cram in an entire bagel before she entered the library. Through a very full mouth, she yelled to Anya and Austria, "Watch your door!" I felt bad because I wasn't paying 100% attention. She left and I went over to survey the damage. Nothing. Good! Then I decided to take a look at her car. Just for fun (though it doesn't matter if it is a piece of junk, you still shouldn't door ding!). Rusted bumper. Cracked leather seats, with a towel draped over them. Some scrapes, some dings on the exterior. Older model, say 1990 something. Or even 1980 something. Oh well. I guess she doesn't know about taking two spots way over on the other side of the lot . . .
The guilty (but cute) girls:
