Most frequently, I get the sympathetic shrug as another mother jumps into the already occupied aisle and attempts to unpack her children’s things simultaneously as we play car door ballet. Sometimes, I will just let her take over the aisle rather than attempt the dual loading which I know is impossible.

Or sometimes, I will hear the mother say to her child loudly, “Well, it is busy here, but don’t worry we’ll be home soon.” Or “We have to wait for these people.” And I will hurry as fast as I can.

But today was in a class in and of itself.

I had my front door open, and the van’s side door open. I was throwing lunch boxes and art projects in the front door, then backpacks through the side door, and was about to place Spliggle in his carseat (through the side door) and fold up the stroller once it was emptied of the rest of its contents.

(I know better than to unpack the stroller before putting Spliggie in his seat because the first priority after ridding my arms of extraneous supplies is to get him out of the aisle for his own safety.)

As I lifted Spliggle up, a lady closed my front door, opened her front door, and pushed Spliggle’s stroller away (so it rolled towards the street) to open her daughter’s door.

The power in the aisle had shifted. She now had both doors blocking the aisle. I was between both, attempting to put Splig in his seat.

I moved her daughter’s door slightly so that I could retrieve the stroller. I threw the remaining contents of the stroller over the front seat (because I could no longer access my front door!) I then folded the stroller in the super-tight space that this lady’s car doors had left me. I manipulated around her daughter’s door, buckled in the Cat on the other side, and got in the front seat.

I chose not to turn on my car because I didn’t have any intention of backing up while this lady’s daughter was in the aisle. I didn’t want to put a child in jeopardy!

Once the daughter’s door was closed, I turned on my car and waited for the woman to board. (Again, why start to back up with someone so close to the car?)

I started to pull out carefully (looking for other parents and small children) as soon the woman shut her door.

She beat me to the punch, somehow turning her car on as she entered (maybe it was already on?) and peeling out backwards. She gave me a smug smirk as she drove away.

Okay lady, you won!

A couple minutes later, I saw her SUV heading off to the neighborhood with three-million dollar homes. I guess her inconsiderate, rude, and selfish behavior has led to some nice dough. But life won’t be so grand if you are in jail after running over someone’s kid with your irresponsible and reckless behavior.

I just don’t get it. Are those thirty seconds really that valuable? Are you really so cruel as to throw my son’s stroller in the street? What if my son had been in the stroller? What if another car had hit the stroller? Why are you so fricking important?

Yeah I am angry.

On the good side, I have a Secret Pal from my local mother’s club who has been very generous to me. Heath bar, Twinkies, a lime-coconut candle, some lime-coconut bubble bath, and some Twix have been left on my door step the last couple weeks. She also has been sending me adorable little e-cards.

In the midst of my busy work schedule and the stupid-ass-I-want-to-pound-her-into-the-ground bitch, it is fabulous to be remembered by my Secret Pal. Thank you, whoever you are!

(Meanwhile, I’ve had a blast leaving little goodies for mine!)