Disabled parking badges are for the designated places NOT where the hell you like

[lilmissminx]

Really need a vent! Am sick to death of seeing cars parked in the parent and baby/toddler spaces just because they have a blue badge, and not a child in sight The other way around and you wouldn't hear the end of it about inconsiderate parents etc. I fully agree with the need for the disabled spaces etc, but I don't like having to choose between leaving my baby locked in the car to return the trolley (especially if out of sight) and him getting totally soaked etc if I take him with me.
Disclaimer This is made more annoying for the particular store I am referring to as there are only 2 parent spaces, and more than a dozen disabled badge holder ones. Yet because the parent ones are in between the two sets, they use those and leave all the other badge spaces empty.

this thread has made me feel there is hope. I am so glad that so many people have said how wrong the op is/was.

Yes good point point 2shoes we should take heart from that

The entire post was very angry, I am surprised there were not more aggressive posts, except for the fact that it's been heard before.

Yes, being a new parent is hugely daunting, scary and hard work. But instead of pandering to it, as we do here, why not a bit of straight talking and get on with itness?

It should be enough to have a beautiful baby, who will grow, develop and charm you till the end of your days. A baby who will be carried in the rain under a coat quite happily. In the face of such awesomeness why waste time getting angry over a bonus parking space.

Also if parents just used normal spaces they'd probably get help from others parked nearby. It is second nature for me to take a trolly back if someone is carrying a child or has mobility issues and I'm in that direction. Just as is picking up the bottom of a pram at the station stairs.

Instead of expecting everything to be laid on when you need it, learn to ask for help when you do need it, be thankful for the kindness of others you will receive A LOT as you go further into motherhood. It far out weighs the bad.

(and never underestimate the willingness of nice little old ladies to hold your baby in bus queues whilst you fold the pram, or let your toddler sit on their knee when you are standing on the bus )

Oh honeydragon how well you put it. The op upset me with its suggestion - although I do not think that that was what was intended - that the disabled belong in their place.

I wish the big supermarkets would (as and when they repaint the surfaces) add the wheelchair symbol to the pram or whatever symbol they use for P & C and put the matter beyond doubt.

OFGS Honeydragon - the OP is never in a million years going to let a complete stranger hold her baby! What planet are you on? :o

Christine It'll definitely melt then

Thank you Andrew. But that is it for a reasonable and cognitive post from me .... I have worked hard on my reputation as a gibbering rambling daft prat, and I'd be disappointed if people thought I may actually occasionally think about stuff

i agree that honeydragon sums it up well. perhaps OP would like my life for the day and see what being entitled to a blue badge really means other than being able to park where i like - personally that is the least of our problems. and if the only thing i had to worry about was my kid only being left alone for 30 secs or getting a bit wet then i would be in paradise, just be grateful for what you have because tomorrow that might all change.

Having kids is optional. Being elderly and/or disabled is not.
My Old Ma used to say I wasn't made of sugar and wouldn't dissolve. I never respect P and C places as I think it's just a bit of a gimmick to get people in the store, and increases the sense of entitelement of the yummy mummy brigade. I never park in disabled ones though.

Actually, on the subject of bullying. Maybe some of us are fed up of seeing disabled members being bullied with disablist comments, and having to justify themselves to idiots.

I'd say it's not bullying, it's sticking up for the people who really are suffering!

I'm going to start a campaign to ban P&C places

awww no, they are very convenient when i cant find somewhere else, or if its raining :)

Christine - tbf the second comment about bus queues was for advanced parenting, you know after you've come to terms with the fact that babies heads don't come off and yours probably won't be the first, and that the Health Visitor is not some sort of demi god

Yep Empusa - paper babies are a total 'mare.

Empusa I heart you

HoneyDragon - if you live in Kilburn you get used to hoary old ladies stroking your PFB's cheek :o

Andrewf - the fact that the suggestion wasn't consciously intended somehow makes it worse for me. I would much rather deal with an honest explicit bit of disablist ranting. The op has tried to dress hers up in excuses about why it is so horrid for her papier mâché child to risk some raindrops.

And her followers pop up with the usual blue badge bingo - they are not really disabled you know! My aunt gotnone for her budgie!

I am afraid that after 40 years as a noticeably disabled person I think it is exactly the same as watching a group of chickens try to peck the weaker chicken to death. Some able bodied people seem to have a visceral fear and contempt for the disabled. Are they afraid it might happen to them?

I don't know. I just thought we had evolved a bit further than that. It is disappointing.

When ds1 was born I had to get on a bus to go shopping, try lugging shopping and pram on a bus before moaning about car parking spaces, people with blue badges should park where ever is most convenient for them

Maryz

Hence the comment, I have to stay away from the aaaaaaaargh don't breathe near my pfb threads. I can never trust my self to behave

I really can't see how P with C can begrudge a disabled person "their" parking spot. One is healthy and can walk the other it might be their only trip out all week.

I find it hard to believe that disabled people will ignore disabled parking spots to wind up parents with toddlers by taking "their" spots. If there are disabled spots I am sure they will take them first and only us P&C spots if the disabled bays gave all gone.

When I take my mother shopping, who can't walk far, can't breathe well, get's breathless, needs toilet breaks regularly, getting parked close to the store can mean the difference between going out and being totally housebound.

I feel sure some would like the disabled out of sight and out of mind.

I remember fussing about ds1 being in the rain and mother hissing 'fir goodness sake he won't rust'.

But he has a blue badge now (but spends a lot of time not rusting in the sea - and that has salt in it!)

PFB = Precious first born? precious fucking baby?

Surely with only two parent and child parking spaces the chances must be pretty high that if the blue badged cars weren't parking there, then another driver without a disability, but with small children (also without disabilities) could be taking up the space instead? And, therefore, that would mean that the OP would also not get the parent and child space. Or does the OP believe that if only the drivers in blue badged cars knew their place ("Disabled parking badges are for the designated places NOT where the hell you like") those parent and child spaces would remain open for her and her baby?

Being a bit nicer, the OP does have options if she is slightly inconvenienced by having to park a little further away. These include:

1: Putting a rain cover on the car seat, or rain coat on the baby.

2: Getting a sling and using that to carry the baby when the OP gets out of the car. Or just holding the baby until you get to the trolleys.

A person who does have a disability, or whose child has a disability, that warrants them using a blue badged car does not have those options. If they choose to park in a parent and child space rather than a disabled parking space, then fair play to them.