Reverse Parking Mindset

The Mom Weekly Volume 158: August 18, 2026 

You can read this, or any other previous Mom Weeklies, by going to the home page here.

Notes:

I had fun writing this weekly, and I hope that you enjoy reading too!

Remember how much I love you,

Mom

Reverse Parking Mindset

What do you call the person who is a mother-in-law to your children? What relationship are they to each other?

The reason I ask this is that I was with one of these people (fellow mom-in-law?). She was driving, and we saw a spot for her car, and she said, “Oh, I’m going to back in.” And I said, “Yes!” And pumped my fists. We are kindred spirits.

I don’t understand why people don’t love backing into spaces. I know there are times when it’s impractical or impossible to do so (a person behind you waiting to park, diagonal spaces that prevent parking that way, etc.). 

But when there is time and space to do so, backing into a parking space is the best choice. Change my mind! (isnt’ that an expression the kids use today?)

And with back-up cameras, it’s pretty easy! I’m always so grateful for back-up cameras, and how easy it makes it to parallel park or back into parking spaces.

I would much rather put in the work to back-in park before I go somewhere, and then I can easily drive away when it’s time to leave.

It turns out, the research backs me up.

This transcript of a 2014 NPR story about backing into parking spaces being a mark of ability to delay gratification, and what that means for the financial strength of a country when it’s common (or person, I suppose).

And go here to read an article from a safety website about how reverse parking is safer than the normal way of parking.

This article encourages business owners to actually promote back-in parking as a “keystone safety habit.” 

So, let me encourage you to consider adding this to your safety routine as you drive. Whenever possible, take the few extra minutes to back into your parking space. You’ll have a 

Reverse Parking Mindset in Other Areas of Life

Also, let’s consider using this same delayed gratification mindset to other things.

For instance, everyone knows how much I complain about having Invisalign. But here is one “reverse parking mindset” shift that helps me have a “slightly” better attitude towards it.

One of the annoyances of Invisalign is that you have to brush your teeth and your “trays” (what Invisalign calls the retainers you wear) after you eat or drink something that isn’t water. 

At first, I would take out the trays, then eat my meal/snack, then after a time (you’re supposed to wait 20-30 minutes after something acidic or drinking soda or coffee), you can brush your teeth, your trays, and put them back in.

A slight, but delight-causing change I made: I have started to brush my retainers when I take them out. And it makes all the difference, for some reason. It gives me a bit of happiness to think when I’m brushing my teeth to know I can just pop the retainers back in when I’m finished. This isn’t always possible (just like backing into a parking space), but most of the time I do this, and benefit from that happiness lift.

I’ve started thinking about other ways that I can use this delayed gratification/reverse parking mindset to make my life happier. 

Interesting/Notable

How 10 minutes of drawing can reset your nervous system–(Washington Post gift link)

Dad shared this article, and I thought it was worth a look!

Why I Left the Tenure Track—The Atlantic gift article

Oof, this cover story from The Atlantic is such a saga. What burned me up most about this was the administration being extra-accommodating for language and other performative ways to telegraph enlightened views, but at the same time  trying to quash an effort from adjuncts and service workers to unionize on campus.