A mom on TikTok thought she was posting a simple request about parking lot courtesy. What she got instead was thousands of people vowing to do the exact opposite out of pure spite—and the debate hasn’t cooled since.
The clip from creator Calico Calcifer (@cal_cifer_2.0) starts with a clip from another creator (@livmesty) admonishing non-parents for parking in spots near entrances, since she believes parents with small children deserve the closer spots.
In a stitch of the clip, Calico reacts to this request with incredulity. She takes the position that these parking spots are for anyone, regardless of whether they have children. Hundreds of commenters were ready to march behind her in solidarity.
"Do you know how much this video makes me want to park in those spots? Which are completely open spots, by the way," Calico says in the clip that’s been viewed more than 400,000 times. "All these spots are completely open, and there's no way of knowing if someone's going to have a child with them at the same time and need that spot that I'm even going to be at the grocery store. To put it as simply as possible, no."
Commenters Reject "Courtesy-Only" Parking Spots
Calico’s frustration clearly struck a nerve. Within hours, commenters flooded the thread to reject the idea that anyone should self-regulate their parking habits unless a spot is formally designated. Many echoed a common sentiment: unless the space is regulated by law, such as disabled parking protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is open to everyone. The U.S. Department of Justice confirms that ADA spaces are the only federally protected parking categories and require specific signage, space widths, and access aisles.
Beyond those legally enforceable spaces, major retailers often add "courtesy" categories such as Expectant Mother, Veteran, or Parents With Small Children. Stores including Walmart, Target, and Kroger use these markers as guidelines, not enforceable rules; even retail management forums note that these spots are "customer service amenities, not directives," and cannot legally be enforced by towing violators.
That distinction fueled much of the backlash. Many childless drivers argued that the original post implied authority that didn’t exist, and commenters responded with escalating levels of sarcasm and defiance.
One reply summed up the dominant mood: "Aside from the handicapped spot, I will park wherever I want."
As the thread grew, a new wave of commenters pushed back from another angle entirely: disability and chronic illness. Many said they rely on close parking despite not qualifying for a disability placard, and the idea that they should defer to parents for unreserved spots was both unrealistic and harmful.
One user with chronic pain wrote, "I will park the closest to the entrance as possible. Because I NEED IT." Another commenter with degenerative disc disease chimed in to explain that invisible disabilities make strict courtesy rules impossible: "I don’t necessarily ‘look’ like someone with a health issue…but I try to park closer. I’m not full-on to the point where I need a handicap placard yet."
Medical research backs up the prevalence of invisible mobility issues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 29% of American adults live with some form of disability, including impairments not outwardly visible. Many of these conditions cause intermittent pain or reduced endurance, making proximity parking a functional necessity instead of a convenience.
Should Parents Get Special Parking Treatment?
Perhaps the most surprising contingent of supporters who commented on Calico’s post were other parents. Dozens of moms of two, three, or even four children commented to say they don’t expect non-parents to leave close spots open.
"As a mom of 3 little I approve of this," one wrote. Another added, "Having children doesn’t give you special treatment… some people are just entitled."
The thread quickly morphed from a debate about parking to a referendum on generational expectations around parenting. Several commenters noted that parenting culture has shifted over the last few decades, influenced heavily by social media. Recent studies suggest platforms like TikTok and Instagram can amplify entitlement and create unrealistic norms in public spaces.
Those responses collectively dismissed the idea that parenthood automatically grants priority in parking lot etiquette, which routinely ignites online arguments because it touches nearly every driver’s daily frustration: limited space, unclear rules, and the feeling that someone else might be getting an unfair advantage. Behavioral science research often cites parking as one of the most emotionally charged aspects of driving, triggering territorial behavior and competition for scarce parking spaces.
This clip distilled all of that into a single moment: Who deserves the coveted front-row spot, and who gets to decide?
Calico’s final line may have captured the viral spirit best: "I will park wherever there is an open spot because those spots are not reserved for any type of person." For many viewers, that was the end of the discussion. For others, especially those tired of online parenting PSAs, it was a rallying cry.
And for everyone else, it was one more reminder that parking etiquette is one topic guaranteed to divide the internet as much as politics, parenting, or culture.
Motor1 reached out to Calico via email and direct message. We also contacted the creator of the first video, @lilmesty, who has a private account. We’ll be sure to update this if either responds.
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