A mom asked people without kids to avoid parking in close spots at stores. Instead of agreeing, thousands of people said they would now park there on purpose just to prove a point. The drama started when a TikTok user named @livmesty posted a video telling people without small children to stop taking spots near the entrance.
She said parents should get those spaces. Another creator, Calico Calcifer (@cal_cifer_2.0), saw the video and completely disagreed. According to Motor1, Calico said that if a spot isn’t legally reserved, anyone can use it. Her response got hundreds of thousands of views and started a huge debate about parking rules.
Calico said in her TikTok video that the request made her want to park in those spots even more. She explained that you can’t know if someone with a child will need that spot later. She made it clear that her answer was no. Many people agreed with Calico. They said drivers shouldn’t have to police themselves based on courtesy alone. Unless a space is officially protected by law, like disabled parking under the Americans with Disabilities Act, it’s open to everyone.
Legally protected spots are totally different from courtesy spaces
The U.S. Department of Justice says ADA spaces are the only parking spots protected by federal law. These spots need special signs, certain widths, and access areas. Stores can enforce these by law.
Big stores like Walmart, Target, and Kroger sometimes add spots for pregnant women, veterans, or parents with small kids. But these are just suggestions, not real rules. Store management forums confirm these are “customer service amenities, not directives.” This means stores can’t legally tow people who park there.
This lack of legal power caused a lot of anger. People without kids felt the original post suggested authority that doesn’t exist. Commenters responded with sarcasm and defiance. One person wrote, “first come, first serve. it’s not a handicap spot, it’s open, and it’s fair game.” Another wrote: “Parents act like the government forced them to have children. Yall it’s a lifestyle choice!”
The debate grew beyond just parents versus non-parents. Many people talked about invisible disabilities and chronic illness. They said they need close parking but don’t qualify for a disability placard. They found the idea of giving up spots to parents harmful and unrealistic.
29 percent of American adults live with some form of disability. Many of these conditions cause pain that comes and goes or reduced endurance. For these people, close parking is a real necessity, not just convenience. Some people face serious health scares that doctors initially miss or misdiagnose, making their need for accessibility even more critical.
The broader conversation about parenting challenges continues to evolve online, especially as mothers share stories about protecting their children in difficult situations. This parking debate is just one example of how parenting expectations clash with public courtesy standards.
Published: Dec 10, 2025 02:13 pm