The issue began when Linda started parking her car, or her guests’ cars, in the poster’s driveway. After initially letting it slide once, the poster asked Linda to stop multiple times, but Linda often dismissed the requests by saying the driveway wasn’t in use. The situation escalated when Linda parked in the driveway during a visit from the poster’s critical mother-in-law (MIL). The poster confronted Linda harshly, leading to Linda giving her the cold shoulder. Now, the poster wonders if confronting Linda firmly was an overreaction, especially since her husband and MIL advised her to let it go.
So I (30F) live in a suburban neighborhood with my husband (32M). We have a double driveway that fits both of our cars comfortably, and we’ve lived here for about five years. Our next-door neighbor, let’s call her Linda, moved in a year ago.
She’s an older woman in her late 50s who seems friendly on the surface but has started to cause some issues.
It started a few months ago when I came home and found her car parked in my driveway. At first, I thought it was a mistake, so I knocked on her door to ask her to move it. She apologized, saying she had a guest over, and her driveway was full.
I let it slide that time.
But then it kept happening. I’d come home to find her car (or sometimes her guests’ cars) in my driveway. I told her multiple times that it wasn’t okay, but she’d just shrug it off and move the car when I asked, often saying things like, “It’s not like you were using it right then.”
The final straw happened last week. My MIL (the one who isn’t exactly my biggest fan) was visiting, and I specifically asked her to park in the driveway so she wouldn’t block the street.
When we came home from running errands, Linda’s car was there again. MIL was already in a bad mood, and she snidely remarked, “Wow, even your neighbors walk all over you. I wonder why.”
I was furious. I knocked on Linda’s door and told her that this was the last time she was parking in my driveway, period. She got defensive, saying I was being unreasonable since she only does it “occasionally” and that it’s just a driveway, not a sacred space.
Since then, she’s started giving me the cold shoulder, and I’ve noticed her glaring at me whenever I’m outside. My husband says I might’ve gone too far and should’ve just let it slide, especially since she’s older and it’s “not worth the drama.” Even my MIL (shockingly) agreed, saying that I should pick my battles.
But I feel like it’s my property, and I shouldn’t have to keep asking someone not to use it without permission. At the same time, maybe I overreacted by confronting her so harshly.
So, AITA for refusing to let my neighbor park in my driveway and possibly escalating things?
Conclusion
The original poster (OP) is currently feeling conflicted, believing strongly that she has the right to control access to her private property, yet also questioning her own firm response due to pressure from her husband and MIL, who suggest the confrontation was too aggressive for a minor issue.
The central conflict is whether the OP was justified in asserting her property rights firmly against a repeated boundary violation, or if her approach unnecessarily escalated neighborhood relations. Should the OP prioritize maintaining strict property boundaries or prioritize maintaining neighborly peace, even if it means accepting minor infringements?
Here’s how people reacted:
You could try leaving a cone or two up to block her from pulling in. You could even put a “private property” sign on one of them.
Can cars park along the street? If so, next time she parks in your driveway, you park along street blocking your own driveway. Let her be the one to come to your door to ask cars be moved. Wall really slowly to your car to move it.
tldr: screw her and the horse she rode in on.
Or you could randomly start parking in *her* driveway and see how she likes it.
I’m in my 50’s and would never park on someone’s property without permission. Because it’s bloody *rude*.
Old people don’t get a pass just because they’re old. This is coming from a 70-year-old woman.
It’s your space, your permission is required. If she feels you’re being unfair, she can try parking again and see how she feels about paying the impoundment fees when you get it towed.
Neighbor is an entitled and gaslighting absolute piece of shit
Next time, block it in and call a tow truck
Inform her that next time she parks there she will be towed. Ignore her nasty looks.
I’d rather have her glare at me than park on my property.