parent and child bays

[fairy1303]

Our local supermarket is always rammed. I have often had trouble finding a space. There are some parent and child bays and these are great when I have to take the baby - you need the extra space for the buggy and to be close to the supermarket etc etc.

Today when parking in them, the woman next to me sprung out completely childless.

I know I shouldn't get so annoyed sleep deprived and am anticipating biscuits galore - but she was still parked there when I left and I really wanted to let the supermarket know!

There were other spaces btw, just a bit further away.

[Sirzy]

When I was a child I always had a car seat, and certainly wore a seat belt. I am 30 next year. My parents still managed without needing P and C spaces.

[LittleBearPad]

MrsBucketxx please don't say anything when you feel P&C spaces are abused. You will give all parents a bad name.

I cannot believe you likened allowing parents to use disabled bays to levelling the field. That's an appalling point of view.

[LittleBearPad]

Seriously P&C spaces are not essential. Those of you who think they are so critical are deluded.

If you can't manage to get your children out of a car in a normal space then park away from the shop where there will be more spaces.

If you can't carry two children across a car park go get the trolley and bring it to you car and put the kids in there.

If you can't control your child walking across a car park then get a trolley before you get them out the car.

You can walk further across a car park just carry children or hold their hands - take some responsibility

And finally get a fucking grip.

[Ledkr]

I have a thirty year old and. Two year old!
No there were no designated spaces BUT THERE ATE NOW so what's so wrong with using them?
I'm not getting this thread at all.
It's like saying you shouldn't use a high hair provided in a restaurant because years ago they wouldn't have been provided

[Ledkr]

littlebear I agree totally but what about people who use them when they are able bodied with no child? Surely they are worse!

[Sirzy]

There is nothing wrong with using them if they are there. It is the people who think they know everything about why someone 'able bodied' is using them, or proclaims them to be essential, or compares them to disabled spaces which people have a problem with.

If a space is free use it, if not park somewhere else.

[Ledkr]

I seriously think its the minority who really do use them because they have an unseen disability.
It's normally just the lazy and that's who I have the issue with. Not a big one but it annoys me when's mums get flamed for wanting to use them when wife boy Ferrari drivers get defended.
See earlier posts I have lots of Invisible problems so with a child too I feel if there's a p and c space it's a small perk!

[LittleBearPad]

People have posted that they are 'essential'

They aren't. There are lots of ways to deal with supermarket car parks. Ocado is the best one.

[Ledkr]

Yes that applies to anyone who can't shop without parking 3 ft away from the shop entrance!

[Ledkr]

I've just come to sainsbos with my two yr old partially deaf child who us a bloody nightmare in shops.
I can't lift her or drag her as I've just had neck surgery but I'm parked in a normal space as no p and c.
Absolutely fine but not if some of the spaces are taken up by able bodied childless. Not a huge issue but mildly irritating no?

[raisah]

In my local tescos you cant find a space in the baby area because its full of tractors. Only space big enough for 4x4s so thats where they are parked, most of them dont have baby seats in the back..

[FiftyShadesofGreyMatter]

Jeez how did mothers ever manage before these spaces were invented

[littlemisswise]

ledkr it is a bit shit to have a go at cocacols for still using a P&C space because she is still suffering from SPD after having her baby. Just because you had SPD in your pregnancies and it cleared up doesn't mean everyone else's does.

I still use a P&C space with my SPD if I feel like it and DS2(my youngest is almost 17), only I display my blue badge! My pelvis is held together at the front with plates and pins and fused to to my spine at the back with massive bolts going from my hips. I have around 8 hospital admissions a year for pain killing injections.

Some of us do not suffer with the SPD that is often described on here, where the poster can still run after their toddler, drive, go shopping, walk with out any sticks. I will never walk unaided again due it SPD. You really don't know how badly cocacols is suffering.

cocacols your GP can write a supporting statement to the council if you feel that you could benefit from a blue badge.

[Ledkr]

Well firstly I didn't "have a go" I've been pleasant throughout the thread.
Coco described her spd as "having issues" with it and said it was not a disability, which sounds a different issue to yours for which you have a blue badge.
I still do what I can and my spd is extremely painful when I walk or stand for long and extremely exasperated by carrying my toddler!u mastectomy/radio therapy damage makes pushing a trolley fairly difficult as well.
But this thread isn't about comparing disabilities it's about normal able bodied people selfishly parking in p and c spaces just to be closer to the supermarket.
It's about that facility being available for parents that just might make life a tiny bit easier.
The "hidden disability" point could be applied to disabled spaces too. At the end of the day if you have a disability that affects mobility you get a blue badge which quite rightly trumps everybody!
It would be interesting to see if people who do desperately needed spaces close to the shops would startusing the disabled spaces if the p a c spaces were moved to the back.

[fairy1303]

Ledkr you are bloody marvellous. You have so eloquently summed it all up.

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

Ledkr Excuse me if I've read this wrongly or I'm speaking out of turn but might it be worth you applying for a blue badge? I believe you can get shorter term ones as well as longer ones.

[WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo]

There's no short term blue badge, they're only for permanent disability.

[Catnap26]

I really really hate it so YANBU.

[SauvignonBlanche]

UK government's definition of disability here.

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

Where You can get a badge for the time the assessor agrees, some people have to get theirs renewed yearly and some get lifetime badges.

[SHarri13]

I used to get annoyed but having read lots of similar threads like this over my short years of being a parent I no longer get worked up. People do it all the time.

If someone is enough of an arsehole to park in them they're not going to give a shit what I say to them about it so why bother.

[SHarri13]

And just to add, I mean people who use them
Without genuine need.

[fairy1303]

candy I used to work for the BB department. No short term badges, only 3 years, which is why it is long term conditions only.