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

[calamityboo]

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!

YOU CAN ONLY PARK IN A DISABLED BAY IF YOU HAVE A BB
it is simple,

The time I needed P&C spaces most was when DDs were tiny and in an infant seat. I only use them now if DD2 is with us. DD1 is 6 and quite sensible, but more importantly is tall enough to be seen by most drivers which makes it a bit safer. DD2 is very tall for a nearly 3 year old but it still feels far more dangerous to cross a car park with her and P&C spaces are certainly nice to have when we can get one! I don't imagine I'll be using them after she turns 4.

If we are doing the (yawn) comparing disabled spaces to P&C

Someone with children in the car stayed in the car while I assume another adult went to shop.

Where I live- a lady took her mum-who was disabled and had a BB- to chemist. The lady parked, got out, left her mother in the car and got a ticket. Because there was no need for her to park there (on a yellow line) .The driver was able bodied and could have parked in a parking space and walked to chemist. (I'm presuming the mother was safe to leave in the car if she wasn't going to chemist)
The children are safe to leave with another adult in the car, in another space.

YANBU

Perhaps she was safe for a very short amount of time. If I have dd in the car, I will park up and occasionally leave her in the car, however, I need to be able to see her, incase she chokes. She would, sitting in the front seat, look perfectly fine, and you would not know from looking at her, in the car, that she has a disability. Sometimes, it's easier for both of us to leave her in the car, partly because, at the moment, she can stay warm, and partly because it's quicker and easier for us both to not have to set her wheelchair up.

Our local Tescos has issued instructions for the proper use of P&C spaces. It has signs up stating that the spaces are for parents who need extra space for a buggy.

I don't have a buggy - I have a sling. Does this mean I am not allowed to park in P&C spaces? Good grief! I might DIE!

[Throws self face down in carpark and wails despairingly]

[remembers massive pregnant stomach and gets up off ground with difficulty]

That annoys me, but what annoys me more is the people with the teenage child that park in the P&C space, then argue that "it is a parent and child space, I'm the parent that's my child!!"

And the people that don't even have children with them, but think having a carseat in the car is like their P&C parking pass.

The P&C spaces should only be for children who need to be aided to get out of the car.

It isn't about where they are in the car park, in fact I think they should be farther away, it would stop them being so 'desirable' to lazy people, the reason parents need them is so that you can safely get you young child in/out of their car seat and the car without damaging your car doors or anyone else's car.

People don't seem to get that, and think they are only wanted so that parents don't have to walk far with their dc.

Actually when I called anyone who took a P&C parking space a Twat I was reigning myself in somewhat. Delete Twat and replace with something far more offensive please.

So that would be me then. By your reckoning I shouldn't have used the p&c space (which at our local supermarket are wider than the disabled spaces) to enable us to take my severely disabled father out of the house for the first time in over 2 years. It's preferable for him to continue to stay at home in social isolation for another year than for a parent to be slightly inconvenienced while out shopping.

i need to get another BB after Christmas......