AIBU to tell people off who park in parent & child spaces but have no children with them?

[Ameybee]

This does my head in when I'm struggling to get 2 kids out the car in a normal space yet some idiot without kids is parked in the child space!!

I told a lady off today! I said 'do you know this is a parent & child space?' She said 'yeah' I replied 'so you're just being inconsiderate then?' She thought about it then made up some bullshit about her child being 'down there, in that shop!!' - she had just driven in!!! Clearly lying. So, would you say something to someone!???

oh good lord how handy would that be but no - they would come back with £8 worth of Haribo and a pony magazine

Perception - I hadn't realised that. Hmm...maybe in that case it really should be a free-for-all...but I think I'll keep glaring and tutting though

Everlong, that is the most brilliant idea. I shall do this from now on. DD3 can do the shop and I can sit and read the paper/MN/go for a coffee. Even more genius than mine. I salute you.

I think DuPain's statement that 'we have P&C spaces until some government removes them sums up the mis-understanding that exists about these spaces and why some parents seem to believe that they're some kind of entitlement or human right.

That would be hilarious.

"Here DS and DD, this is the weekly shopping budget, knock yourself out."

They'd come back with a trolley full of magnums and a packet of chewing gum each...

Without wishing to drop a massive stealth boast in, DD3 wold pile up the trolley with mussels give the chance. And chocolate, so balanced out.

DD1 would go for Prawns DD2 would buy peanuts and DD3 would buy anything with 'Peppa Pig' on it

Dd1 spent best part of a tenner on biscuits last weekend

She was with DH though so blame to be shared equally, and I reckon she'd probably do a better job of the weekly shop than he would

I've just asked DS what he would buy if I gave him 20 quid and free choice of anything in ASDA.

Easter eggs and pringles.

DD would buy watermelon (she doesn't like it) pineapple (she doesn't like it) and lots and lots of yoghurt.

As I thought, I've just asked the stinking urch for her list.

Mussels
Tomatoes
Mushrooms
Milk
Eggs
Milkshake
Steak
And, not surprisingly, chocolate and Fabs.

She's well sophis! TBF though, she was weaned in Spain and lived on clams and mussels. She refuses to accept they are called clams and insists they are almeja, which is slightly embarrassing and makes me feel like a pushy 'you will speak 4 languages' parent!

Ooh that would be a good thread, ask your child what they would spend £20 on if let loose in the supermarket

This thread could be summed up in five words. Don't be a selfish arsehole. Those words apply to everyone.

On other matters, I just asked DD what she would buy at the supermarket if she had the choice. Her answer? "Chocolate and weetbix and sugar and a toy for you when you were a little girl"

Think she's imagining we've swapped places.

Drives me mad too. But i can't bear confrontation so i never say anything.
In a way i wish they were further from the store entrance as it's the extra space and the sort of protected walk way to the shop that really helps imho.

So what if they're not essential?
Why begrudge someone something that helps them out a bit?

Without my dcs with me i can park either car (one of which is a coupe with huge doors) in any old space and get out easily. When the dcs are with me this is not possible. So i often give up if there's no suitable space.
Some of the comments abot parents using p&c spaces (and, indeed toward parents on general) are quite nasty.
Were does all that aggression come from?

Shaky excellent idea, I shall do that later!

Emily I think its the fact that they're often right beside the door and that some parents insist that, no matter what other people's circumstances, these spaces be kept free for them, which causes the annoyance that these spaces can provoke.

I don't think the issue of assigning extra wide spaces to people with small children and asking that, where possible, they be left free for those people, is unreasonable at all.

What does annoy me is when you see people on forums getting hot under the collar about elderly people, people who are not in the best of health etc parking beside the door when that space 'belongs' to parents with children. Or parents who think that, even if there's no other space free in the car park, you cannot park in that space.

To me it is fair to allocate wider spaces to parents somewhere in the main part of the car park; to treat this allocation as a polite request to customers and not as a command; and to accept that in a situation where there is no other space available to a person without a child, that they are entitled to park there.

Yes, some people are unnecessarily inconsiderate when it comes to P&T spaces. But some parents are also unnecessarily self entitled about these spaces.

At the - exactly!

YANBU i have 3children two with special needs I dont have a blue badge as im not yet claiming dla for one and the other only qualifies for low mobility once she is 5.

I hardly ever get a p and c space. I really struggle getting two sn children and a baby out of the car safely without them running under cars. In a parent and child space there is more room meaning I get out quicker and can stop my special needs children getting hit by cars.

Also with them being close to shops I dont have to walk dc2 far who gets distressed if she has to walk more than 20feet.

I suspect that the reason that P&C spaces are nearer to the store is, at least partly, the fact that if you are designing a car park, and want to include wider spaces, perhaps with protected walkways, for disabled people and for parents and children, it is easier to make this one block, rather than two (or as small a number of blocks as possible) to maximise the use of carparking space. And because disabled parking spaces do need to be as close to the store as possible, this means that the P&C spaces end up with them.

And it is a shorter distance to where the trolleys are stored - though that is something which could be easily sorted by the supermarkets.

Other than blue badge spaces, it's a free-for-all as far as I'm concerned.

One shall park wherever the fuck one likes.

If 'mummies' don't like it, they can convey themselves to the far side of fuck.

Thanks.

What a delightful, community-spirited attitude ShellyBoobs, you must be very proud of yourself.

Lovely, shelleyboobs

Why so much aggression (on both sides)?

notafoodbaby sums it up perfectly, just don't be selfish, have a bit of empathy and consideration for others and surely life would be a bit nicer and a bit easier for all concerned.

I agree that it is selfish to park in a parent and child space when you do not have any children however there is always someone who will do this and they usually will not be affected by what you do or do not say. The main issue here Ameybee is how you feel and whether it is the action of the selfish person that is causing you to feel angry and upset or your thoughts about the person. My suggestion is that you ask yourself how you react when you have this thought and how you would feel without it. Then do what is best for you. You may feel it is in your own best interest to stop having the thought in the first place. :-)