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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

People using Paret and Child spaces just to wait in the car

84 replies

calamityboo · 19/12/2011 15:16

Just had a little moan about this on another thread, it felt nice to get it off my chest so i thought i would have a great big moan in my own thread.

Went to Sainsburys today in the pissing wet hail with 2 yr old ds, the car park was really full (as you would expect) but thought i would chance it in the parent and child spaces only to find spaces (yes more than one) filled with people waiting in the car for dh or dw to go in the shop alone to do the shopping while they wait with the kids.

I thought the whole point of a parking space is that you park the car to go in the shop, and the parent and child spaces are there for mums with a fat arse like me to be able to get the kids out of the car with out banging the door on the next car over! WTF is the point in waiting on the fat arse space if you dont need to get the kids out of the car????

Parked further away, which if the spaces are full normally would do without issue, but got really pissed off today because there is a little part nearer the door for waiting cars, why couldnt they use them - oh yeah because they have kids in the car so can use the parent and child!

OP posts:

frenchisbest · 19/12/2011 15:46

I am with you on that one, just today had some dry clealing to drop off and shopping to do with my 4 months old and 2 years old dds.. and no parking spaces near the supermarket available...
so walked all the way across busy car park holding baby and toddler, got baby trolley and came back for dry cleaning, but just thought being the christmas holidays it was bound to be busy... just breathe karma will get them... plus most toddler love the rain

FatGoose · 19/12/2011 15:55

i park in them regardless and feel a smidgeon of smugness when i do :)

YuleingFanjo · 19/12/2011 15:56

YAB a bit unreasonable, they have kids so are allowed to be there.

At least they are not as bad as those mean spirited people who deliberately use P&C spaces just because they have some weird life-effecting thing against them. Now that's unreasonable and a little bit odd!

SarahBumBarer · 19/12/2011 16:01

Why shouldn't you be in the space with an 11 year old and a 9 year old? I thought that giving birth to DS meant that I get to use these things until he has left for university! turns 12.

Oh well - there's always at least a couple of disabled spaces not being used that I can nip into for just a couple of minutes.

Whatmeworry · 19/12/2011 16:12

I'm waiting for someone to mention that children do not dissolve in the rain

But they do.... the ones made of sugar and spice, anyway....bluddy messy. And then the parrot eats it and gets sick all over the nodding dog in the back.

FizzyMoonDust · 19/12/2011 16:19

Parent spaces are vital when you have had a c-section and struggle to carry the baby any distance.

TeaCider · 19/12/2011 16:22

Karma doesn't work like that... Some people can have lots and lots of bad luck, others lots of good luck. It isn't balanced for each individual it's a universal balance if that makes sense. And why should karma get them? They've hardly indulged in a little massacre whilst leaving their partner and children sitting in the car.
Threads like these make me want to stick a tent in the P&C spots Occupy style just to annoy people who place far to much importance in these matters.

ramblinrose · 19/12/2011 16:23

How did people manage before parent and child parking spaces?

TeaCider · 19/12/2011 16:23

Ugh my grammar is terrible, apologies.

TimothyClaypoleLover · 19/12/2011 16:27

ramblinrose - I would imagine that once you had children that was the end of shopping and you were chained barefoot to the kitchen sink all day every day.

MollyTheMole · 19/12/2011 16:28

YANBU this chaffs my arse aswell, along with the knob head who swiped the P&C space I had my eye on at the weekend, and got out WITH A 10 YEAR OLD

Mum2Luke · 19/12/2011 16:30

I think the OP has a point, parent and child spaces are for people to get little ones out without bumping next car, not for sitting in while hubby/wife goes to do shopping without their child.

I rarely take my 9 year old now as he makes the bill very expensive, I go when it is very quiet, leaving DS with DH or his big brother/sister.

Happy Christmas to all!

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 19/12/2011 16:31

God some of the arguments on here are so tired. Please think up some new ones, it's so so dull to read. I'm going to make some bingo cards of my own...

Kladdkaka · 19/12/2011 16:32

parent and child spaces are for people to get little ones out without bumping next car, not for sitting in while hubby/wife goes to do shopping without their child

Show me where it says that and I'll never again use one when shopping with my dog.

TimothyClaypoleLover · 19/12/2011 16:34

I don't think there is a sign up saying how you should use the parking space, just that it is for parents with children. Therefore YABU to be annoyed that someone is sitting in the car with a child. I have seen a man sitting alone in the car in a parent and child space but didn't pass judgment as for all I know he had gone back to the car before the woman and child.

Dawndonnathatchristmasiscoming · 19/12/2011 16:36

I went to the supermarket today. Parked in a blue badge space, got dds wheelchair out, got her in it, went around supermarket, came out, went home. Entirely uneventful.

RumourOfAHurricane · 19/12/2011 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

DuchessofMalfi · 19/12/2011 16:42

The parent and child spaces at our local ASDA are no bigger than ordinary spaces. The only advantage they give is that they are right outside the store entrance. As the car park is minute anyway, it makes no difference to me whether I park in a p&c or at the back of the car park. I see it as a bonus if there is a p&c space but don't get angry if there isn't - life's too short .

pantspantspants · 19/12/2011 16:45

They were parents, had kids and parked in a parent and child bay. hmmm can't see a problem.

Kids could of had a melt down as soon as they parked so, instead of inflicting that on others they kept the kids in the car.

Or if kids refused to get out of car.

Anyway personally I should have my own bay marked out for my personal use only as I have two preschoolers, one of whom has hearing loss and luxating hips, one baby, a bigish car, a DP who wisely never comes shopping and can't park for toffee.

First come first served like every normal parking space. Get rid of them, they were only a marketing ploy in the first place.

MosEisley · 19/12/2011 16:51

Agree that some of the arguments on here are tatty with over-use.

It would be nice if people who don't absolutely have to use them had the courtesey to leave P&C spaces for those that do. It would be nice if people were more courteous generally.

I don't know why some MNers have to get their knickers in a twist every time someone suggests this.

Insomnia11 · 19/12/2011 16:51

I actually saw a vacant parent & child space today and was about to drive into it when I was beaten to it by a car containing one male driver & one male passenger, definitely no kids on board. I decided to leave it to karma to deal with them and did another lap of the car park whereupon I was quite jammy myself in getting another regular space.

MosEisley · 19/12/2011 16:53

pants please may I use your parking space when you're not there, as long as I get out of it instantly should you arrive in the car park with your greater needs?!

Kladdkaka · 19/12/2011 16:57

Pants could be onto something here. How about allocated timeshare parking?

MosEisley · 19/12/2011 17:07

oooh, I want a timeshare parking space. Would they pay for me to go on holiday to try to sell me one?

I bet you'd only be able to book space in supermarkets you don't like or far from your home though.

Original poster

calamityboo · 19/12/2011 17:14

Normally would shrug and leave it to Karma, i did expect a few cyber slaps for this, it just really pissed me off today,agree with MosEisley, cant people just be nice and courteous, maybe we are in a minority thinking that

and what is the bingo about? can i play??

OP posts:

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