Am I a CF? (Parking thread)

[StumpyScot92]

Just looking for a general consensus... I'm heavily pregnant (hoping to pop any day now) but have had horrendous SPD since about week 20 in crutches and was given a wheelchair by week 25.

I don't have a blue badge so the odd time I leave the house I don't use disabled. But if I'm in a car park with lots of parent and child available I have parked there on occasion because it's easier to get my giant bump, crutches/chair out in the larger spaces and they tend to be near the door. I always feel bad doing this because I have no child with me but partner/mum have told me not to be silly and no-one would mind if they see someone with a wheelchair using it.

Would you consider me a CF and be annoyed at me for using a parent/child space?

And yes this was inspired by all the other parent child threads these days, sorry!

[MrTrebus]

This exact thread was here recently, have you posted this before?

[nearly250parkuns]

No using a P&C space is fine.

I actually think we need a halfway house for people with temporary disabilities who don't have a blue badge too. It must be really hard if you're eg on crutches.

Anyway if you're pregnant you have a baby on board :)

[mistermagpie]

I wouldn't consider you a cf at all, you being pregnant is a bit irrelevant as I wouldn't mind anyone on crutches/wheelchair using the spaces.

[Jenala]

I think you're absolutely fine to use them . And I say this as someone who, unlike almost all of MN, hates people using p&c spaces without kids for the simple reason I can't get my baby's seat out in normal spaces and with a toddler too a nornal space is a total PITA to use. Particularly as people park so close.

I'm sorry you're suffering so badly with it.

[TellMeItsNotTrue]

Technically you are parent and child anyway, unless you leave your bump at home

Parent and child spaces aren't legally enforced anyway, and I doubt that anyone would look twice at a pregnant women on crutches using one. I would say don't think twice about it

People who aren't pregnant, don't have DC with them and aren't disabled, can technically use them and unfortunately do

[OuchBollocks]

I did that under similar circumstances.

I agree there ought to be something like a "yellow badge" that a GP can issue for temporary disablement. I found getting out when I had a badly broken leg and needed a wheelchair (someone else driving obviously!) a nightmare because there just wasn't room to get out of the bloody car into the chair in most car parks.

[StumpyScot92]

Thanks folks I kept going out my way trying not to which was just making life harder and had me almost run over a couple of times (apparently I'm invisible in a wheelchair sitting right next to car, shitty time to get super powers) but I was worried I was breaking some big moral code otherwise! Blame the hormones.

Definitely agree there should be a temporary badge available though.

[Changerofname987654321]

What is a CF? Why is it suddenly appearing all over MN?

Fine for heavily pregnant/struggling pregnancy lady to use parent and child spaces.

[TellMeItsNotTrue]

CF = Cheeky Fucker

[LexieLulu]

I would rather park further away with my children and give a parent and child space up for you. You deserve it more than I would.

Hope you feel better soon (or give birth lol), spd is horrible xxx

[cjt110]

I was mahoosive during my late stages and getting out of my car was an almost impossible task. So in the latter stages (think last 2 or 3 weeks) I parked in a P&C space when visiting the supermarket. No one challenged me as it was quite clear parking in a normal sized space would have kept me prisoner in my car

[moggle]

Glad to see this! I'm 30 weeks with twins and need a certain amount of space to be able to open the door widely enough to get out. I always park so as to leave myself this space while still being within my lines but often I'll come back to find someone has parked either over the lines in the space next to me or so within the lines but so close up I can't open the door wide enough (obviously the latter is fine... but just annoying for me!).
It's hard enough when it's just me in the car but when DD is in there too I need space the other side to get her out ideally (but can get her out through the other side). Should've put her seat behind the driver seat really but oh well.
Nearly burst into tears the other day when I got back to the car and found I couldn't get in. Car next to me was parked terribly, over lines and not even remotely straight. Just stood there not knowing what to do and then a man my dad's age came and moved his car... didn't even look at me... twat.

ANYWAY I keep wondering about P&C spaces especially at times when they aren't likely to be busy. But hadn't done it so far. But i do have a car seat in the back so only likely to be berated by someone who sees me parking without DD actually in the car, I would then point my massive fat belly at them. Do you have a car seat yet? Can you get it in the car - might make you feel better!!

[KickAssAngel]

Most P&C spaces do allow pregnant women to use them, if you read the T&C.

When I was 9 months preg. I once had to get DH to back the car out of a space, even though he'd been drinking, because the car next to me had parked so close that I couldn't even squeeze between the 2 cars, let alone open the door wide enough.

[ByThePowerOfRa]

Totally fine to use them imo.

[1DAD2KIDS]

Common sense would dictate that it would perfectly fine. Doubt anyone would have a problem with it. In a way you are a parent with child. Same as I wouldn't have a problem per se with anyone else in reasonable need of wider door access for crutches etc. You would have to be daft to have a problem with an exception like that. This is not an immoral abuse as you are a person in need of such facilities. It would be easier for parents and people who require a space like that if people who didn't need them didn't abuse them.

[tiggerbounce77]

I wouldn't have a problem with this at all, you need the space. Temporary badges would be a fantastic thing, we are currently struggling with a child who has broken her leg and using a wheelchair, i have had to park in disabled spaces at the supermarket as there is no way i could get her in and out im a normal sized space so having a temporary badge would be ideal

[Charolais]

I honestly think mums.net would get more people reading and posting if the silly acronyms were banned. DD, DS, P&C, CF, SPD, PITA, DC, appear just in the few posts above mine.

Mums.net obviously wants more traffic to the site that is why they allow the Daily Mail to publish some threads. I think the next step would be to get rid of the acronyms. I’m tired of trying to decipher the posts - it shouldn’t be that hard to read posts here, after-all Britain is an English speaking country still.

[Briette]

Of course you have a child with you! :)

Makes perfect sense to use the spaces. Sounds as though you're getting the full use out of them and it's well within the spirit of the rules.

[tinysparklyshoes]

Anyone can use a p&c space. There will always be some wanker sniffing at you and wishing they had the nerve to confront you and then will post on here pretending they had done so

[1DAD2KIDS]

Charolais English is one of the most constantly evolving and fluid languages in the world. Throughout its history it has been a sponge for other influences and the inclusion and accepting of abbreviations into its everyday use. The internet and text has added an extra dimension to it. But that is probably somewhat a discussion for another thread?

[SheSellSeaShells]

You are a mother with child - park there - you need the space. I remember trying to climb over a seat while heavily pregnant as I could not get through the door as someone had parked too close for my mammoth bump - ooof that was not fun. I would not think twice if I saw you parked there.

[1DAD2KIDS]

tinysparklyshoes I don't agree anyone should be able to use the these spaces. Its attitudes like that can prevent the people who could really use them like StumpyScot92.

[whoareyou123]

tinysparklyshoes it's up to the owner/management of the car park who should use them, and whether abusers can be issued with PCNs.

I would hope that even if the T&C's didn't specifically say that the OP would be deemed as an abuser.

[missymousey]

Totally fine! I was really annoyed to see a man in a BMW parking in one outside waitrose last week though. That was CF-ery.

[ThePinkOcelot]

When I was pregnant with dd1 I parked in a P&C space. There was a security guy in the car park and he was going to move me on until he saw I was heavily pregnant. He told me it was fine.