Daycare Drama: How One Office Owner Gated Off 24 Parking Spots in Epic Malicious Compliance
Parking wars: they’re not just the stuff of city nightmares or sitcoms. Sometimes, in the most unsuspecting suburban office park, you’ll find a saga worthy of a Netflix mini-series. Enter the tale of an 8-person company, a daycare next door, and 24 hotly contested parking spots — with a twist of malicious compliance that left one side grinning and the other... well, walking through grass.
Imagine owning a small but professional office — lawyers, CPAs, the works — in a spacious building. Your lease? It gifts you exclusive rights to a whopping 24 parking spaces. More than enough, right? Except, as any seasoned office-dweller knows, space is less about need and more about power. And in this story, power was about to be put to the ultimate test by a daycare’s parking ambitions.
When Nice Guys Park Last
Our protagonist, u/RelativeSalad1409, never minded sharing. For years, daycare parents and staff freely used his company’s ample parking, while his own team took up less than half the lot. The sight of happy toddlers and harried parents was just part of the morning scenery — until one day, the tables (and the parking spots) turned.
After a few late arrivals, our office owner decided to do as the Romans — or in this case, the daycare staff — did: he parked in their lot. The first day? No problem. The second? A death glare. The next week? His distinctive old blue truck was towed, without warning, at a $600 cost.
When he confronted the daycare manager, he was met not with an apology but with a condescending lecture about liability, safety, and — as a cherry on top — a suggestion to “let us park here” while he used his own reserved spots in the back. The audacity was as thick as the morning traffic jam.
The Art of Malicious Compliance
After a failed attempt at reason and a second cold shoulder from the manager, our office owner hatched a plan so perfect it would make even the most jaded r/MaliciousCompliance veteran proud. He told the landlord that, for “compliance reasons,” his company needed to install a security gate with employee access only. The landlord, perhaps eager to keep a professional tenant happy, gave the green light.
Two weeks later, the gate went up. And oh, the chaos that ensued.
From his corner office window, he watched the daycare staff and parents scramble — punching codes, searching for open spots, double parking, and, inevitably, trekking across a quarter-mile of grass from a distant park lot with their children in tow. The daycare manager? She got a friendly wave as she fumed, her empire of borrowed parking crumbling before her eyes.
Lessons in Boundaries (And Parking Lines)
There’s a certain poetic justice here. For years, the daycare benefited from the office’s generosity, never asking, never thanking, just taking. But the moment boundaries were (literally) enforced, the tables flipped. The office owner didn’t resort to towing or confrontation; he simply followed the rules — and installed a gate to make sure everyone else did, too.
It’s a masterclass in setting boundaries, both personal and professional. Sometimes, being the “nice guy” means getting trampled on. Other times, it means quietly, methodically, and absolutely legally reclaiming what’s rightfully yours — and doing it with a smile.
Parking Etiquette, Power Plays, and Community
What makes this story so satisfying isn’t just the outcome (though, let’s be honest, that’s chef’s kiss material). It’s the reminder that respect and communication matter. The office owner had no problem sharing, as long as it was a two-way street. When it became a one-way demand, he responded with precision and a dose of deliciously appropriate malicious compliance.
As for the daycare? Maybe next time, they’ll knock on the office door before calling the tow truck. A little kindness — and a polite conversation — can save everyone a long walk through the grass.
Have you ever faced a parking standoff at work or in your neighborhood? What would you have done in this situation? Share your stories, hot takes, or parking-lot nightmares in the comments below!
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Original Reddit Post: Daycare wants my office to park in our reserved spaces while they use ours too. We did.