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!???

[gordyslovesheep]

aren't you nice - the age limit on many P+C spaces is 12 btw

if your 'told me off' I'd tell you off right back for being a dick

[babiesinslingsgetcoveredinfood]

gordy

[idiot55]

Im reluctant to post this becasue last time I couldnt believe the inflammatory responses it got however.

years ago a parent couldnt get a parent and child space in our supermarket car park, without going into detail his 2 year old child was accidently killed right next to the car.

Im not saying she died as a direct result of ignorant people using parent and child spaces, but if she had been standing where she was in a parent and child space it wouldnt have happened.

[harrietlichman]

YABU, just gets your kids out of the car, do your shopping and go home. Why we even need these ridiculous 'parent and child' spaces is beyond me. Pathetic.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Harriet - most of us on this thread have agreed that we do not NEED these spaces, but they make taking the kids shopping a bit easier - and I don't think that is such a dreadful thing. Just like we don't need automatic washing machines, or dishwashers or microwaves, but they make life a bit easier, so why not use them if they are available.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Pressed post too soon. I meant to finish by saying that life can be stressful and busy, so why shouldn't we use the odd thing to make it easier. And it is easier to get small children in and out of the car in a wider space. I am not saying it is impossible in ordinary spaces, but it is undoubtedly easier if you have more space.

[Emilythornesbff]

SDTG. Agree.

[NayFindus]

I told MIL about this thread and she thoroughly agreed with the posters that say P&C are a luxury and unnecessary and in her day they didn't have them and coped much better thank you very much. So when I gave her a lift to Tesco today I dropped her off at the edge of the car park. The really, really HUGE CAR PARK.

She was a little bit confused that I didn't drop her at the front door. 'Oh but it's easier for me to exit the car park from here', which was completely true.

She's not talking to me anymore. I can't stop smiling

[Babybeesmama]

SDTG you speak sense! Never once have I said in this thread I think I can't shop without them and the way people are going on you'd think id matched round the carpark with her head on a stick!

They may be a 'luxury' that still doesn't mean its ok to take advantage If you don't need them, its only about common courtesy!

I'm shocked that this thread has gotten quite aggressive in parts, its not hard to state your opinion without swearing or being rude. There are lots of things that are similar - its not illegal to go through the 'baskets only' till at the supermarket but if I was in front of you with a trolley piled high I'm sure you'd think ooh she's a bit inconsiderate! And I wouldn't do it because it is inconsiderate and that's all I mean! Yes I didn't know for certain the lady wasn't disabled (however there were free disabled spaces) or if her guinea pig had just died, etc etc but she said nothing of the sort so high probability she's just inconsiderate!

[andubelievedthat]

537 posts ! re parking !

[Babybeesmama]

538 after you posted

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

539 > 540 now. I like this game!

[Babybeesmama]

Can we get it to 1000 so I stop getting lashed for starting it??

[WestieMamma]

Yes I didn't know for certain the lady wasn't disabled (however there were free disabled spaces) or if her guinea pig had just died, etc etc but she said nothing of the sort so high probability she's just inconsiderate!

No sorry, you're wrong on that. Her saying nothing of the sort only means there's a high probability that she felt she didn't have to justify herself to you. I get challenged by busybodies regularly over my parking. I don't even acknowledge their existence when they speak.

[MorrisZapp]

Of course YANBU. In real life nobody would even debate that. Only on MN do you get opinions like these ^^

[whyno]

Yanbu totally agree

[MagratOfStolat]

I confront people, who will (when they realize I'm as stubborn as a fucking mule and about as immovable as a mountain when it comes to my opinion of right and wrong) eventually move.

I had a brilliant Mexican Stand-off with a woman in a sports car at one point. My DP tried to pull into a P&C space and she tried to nip in before us. She couldn't get in without us moving, and we couldn't get in without her moving. So I got out of the car and asked rather sweetly where her child was, and whether she had lost them in a backseat vortex portal through time and space.

She turned purple with rage and screamed all kinds of profanity at me. But eventually moved. They will all move if you devote the time to your cause. [evil grin]

Honestly though? It's because I'm a stickler for things like that. It's like when people try to pull a full trolley into the "Ten Items Or Less" queue. I will always say something. Because quite frankly I don't give a stuff what people think of me, it's just manners to follow the same courtesies as everyone else follows.

[lannyshrops]

I couldn't get into my car the other day due to 39 week bump and inconsiderate parking of person who parked next to me after I had left the car. I only have. Little car and I was parked nicely in the space. I Had to get in on the passenger side and climb over....probably looked a right idiot! Would I be allowed to use P&C space yet?

[babiesinslingsgetcoveredinfood]

I think it's unlikely anyone (sane would deny you that).

I came out of my midwife appointment at 40 weeks with dd & there was a range rover either side of my car. It was snowing & I couldn't get in at all. I considered the boot as an access route!

The receptionists shouted out the registration numbers but everyone sat tight. V annoying. I was there for an extra 45 minutes!!!

[luanmahi]

Only if it was the last one. It does annoy me as I never parked in one before having children and also don't park in them if I don't have baby with me. But there are plenty of things that annoy me about other people's driving / parking and I'd literally never be able to leave the house if I let them all get to me. Unless it causes an accident, just let yourself feel quietly superior to the other person knowing that you would never be so inconsiderate and get on with your day.

[Emilythornesbff]

Magratofstolat. I envy your approach. Not caring what ppl think must be liberating. My problem is I care too much about this so avoid confrontation unless it's necessary to protect my dc. Mu dh is very assertive. I once asked him how he manage sit and his words were "because I'm not interested in what they think, just that I'm right"

[atthewelles]

Louis I think you are taking these spaces waaay too seriously.

[Indith]

There is a picture on my local FB page of a police van in a parent and child space