to wish that Parent and Child parking spaces were

[WoTmania]

Further from the shop?
The last couple of times I've been to the supermarket with children in tow I've seen

1. A young women talking on her mobile sitting on her own in her car which was in the P&T space nearest to the shop 2)Two able-bodied, childless young women come back to their car, get in and drive off. 3)A man sitting, obviously waiting for someone to come back while two boys (8 & 10ish) sat in the back.

Meanwhile, I end up having to park in an ordinary space and struggle to get my 3 children out of the car (I would go on my own normally but DH is working 12 hours, 6 days of the week s not around to look after them).

AIBU to think that if the P&T spaces were further from the shop less people would use them who don't need them. Walking a bit doesn't bother me. Trying to get 20 month old DD into her carseat while squeezing between my car and a big van parked right on the white line(as happened the other day, I erm 'rearranged' the mirrors but that's another AIBU) does.

when i was pregnant i once got back to the car and actually couldn't get into it due to cars parked too close on both sides. i had to ask someone else to reverse it out of the space. its also very hard to put a baby or toddler in the car and strap in a baby or toddler if you can't open the door properly. however people still use the spaces with older kids (>3) and there is just no need once they can climb in themselves.

Parking spaces are tiny in this country. It's very nice to have a bit more room to maneuver children into and out of carseats. I've had back surgery previously and continue to have problems with it- the bending/twisting required to get him out of the car in some situations makes me cringe just thinking about it.

I can really see which posters are going to be the cantankerous and horrid older women, 'when I had children.....' moaners.....

We have P&T spaces, some of us find them beneficial and use them (I think they are there to be used aren't they?), some of us prefer them to be near the shop because we have more than one child who are close in age and the walk across a busy carpark is not ideal with small children (I have been nearly reversed into twice), some of us aren't martyrs and would rather push a trolley, only, and not a pushchair at the same time, some of us would like extra space to get our small children in and out of car seats....climbing around from one side to the other is not so easy when the car is full of car seats and small children, especially if the car you require is wider than the average car.

I never understand the 'well I could cope without...blah blah' crap on these threads, noone is asking for something that doesn't exist. It just sounds like the attitude that breeds and evolves into the unfriendly older person that parents are a pain and the world should be childfree. Lots of things are easier for us nowadays...there are loads of things our parents generation did without.

Moving P&T spaces further away from the shop is fine as long as there is pavement and zebra crossings to get to the door of the shop.

In my local supermarket the only parking spaces which have pavement and a crossing to get to the door are the disabled and p&c ones. My youngest is now 4 so I don't tend to use the p&c spaces, however negotiating your way accross the car park with 3 DC in tow is an absoloute nightmare without pavements or crossings, especially at this time of year when it is dark when we go shopping.

My big Tescos has done this - We have "extra wide" spaces on the doorstep where the P&T spaces used to be. And P&T spaces a short walk away.

The only thing for me is that the P&T bit is right on a busy main "road" bit of the car park where everyone exits, so can be a bit stressful juggling two under 3's till we get across the "road" and into the store & find an (elusive) double trolley. The trollies are too far away to leave the kids in the car.

Anyway, I tend to internet shop or go shopping on my own once DC are in bed. (shopping at 9.30pm is bliss!)

INternet shopping I don't like. I tend to go on my own if possible but DH has been working either 6-6 or 8-8 and when I've been up with DC since 6am the last thing I want to do is go to the supermarket.
Oh I I posted last time before I said - 3) had no extra toddler sized carseat so very much doubt they were waiting for other parent/adult and toddler

The p&t spaces at our local supermarket are only marginally wider but closer to the door. I would rather have a much wider space to get my two small dc in and walk a bit further. I like the extra room to place the trolley between my car and the one next to us rather than have to leave one of the dc in the trolley at the end of the car where it's vulnerable to people reversing or driving into it.

Obviously they would have to park the trolleys with baby seats and double seats at that end of the car park too.

In answer to your original question, YANBU to think that P&T spaces would be better off further away from the door, they would not get used as much by people who don't need them.

I always park in the P&T spaces at6 my local Sainsburys when i am alone, I really don't care. Mind you it is not an issue realy as I am not mad enough to go shopping in the day when lots of children are about. I just park there because it is right by the front door so is convenient.

I haven't been harangued yet.

The P&T spaces at the local Asda are miles away from the front door and are always empty.

We park in the G&T spaces which means my children are very clever and can't be troubled too much with walking across a car park, and it's a small nod to he fact that I like to drink and drive!!

Exactly cherrybea I was beginning to think it was just me who worried about my children getting crushed.

GetOrf have you no shame

a local car park will issue a ticket if you are over the lines of the spaces.

I applaud this, although it has caused much annoyance locally.
I am ssick of not being able to park because some ignorant tosser has parked badly and so i cannot get into the next space.