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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I know I was a little bit U but surely in these circs I'm a bit allowed?

80 replies

BlueBananas · 27/08/2015 16:11

I went to Home Bargains earlier, it's quite a small car park and I'm pretty sure the spaces are slightly closer together than average spaces
I'm 30 weeks pregnant and I physically can not get in and out of my car if there's a car parked next to me anymore, my bump is just too big, so I parked over the white line meaning I had room to get in and out
A woman getting out of her car near me said "do you know you're over 2 spaces?" I told her I did and explained why, in a kind of laughing at myself way. She didn't say anything in response but as she was walking away I heard her say to her friend "I fucking hate people like that, selfish cow"
I was Shock
So I know I was a bit unreasonable but it's surely understandable? And this reaction was a bit harsh wasn't it?
Also what do others do to get in and out of cars when heavily pregnant? Surely there's a solution that I'm missing

OP posts:
ScarletRuby · 27/08/2015 16:14

Was the car park busy? Could you have parked further away where there were less cars?

RealHuman · 27/08/2015 16:15

She was a maungy bitch about it but you still have to follow the rules and can still get ticketed for parking outside the lines when you're pregnant. Perhaps she thought she was doing you a favour and then when you told her you'd done it deliberately she was put out. Not that it's her business, really.

ChampagneTastes · 27/08/2015 16:15

Depends, were there lots of other spaces available? If there were then you were NBU but if there were hardly any then it might be more reasonable to find another solution (I used to slide out of the seat and then back out along the side of the car).

Fatmomma99 · 27/08/2015 16:16

If they had any mother and baby spaces, I think you'd have been entitled to have parked there, they are wider (no good if the car park doesn't provide them, though)

ImperialBlether · 27/08/2015 16:17

She shouldn't have spoken to you like that but seriously, you can't take up two spaces! Couldn't you park in the last space in the row, so you could get out easily?

MyLovelyFriend2015 · 27/08/2015 17:10

You parked in 2 spaces - YWBU

you should ask them to put some spaces in for expectant mothers, or shop elsewhere

Bullshitbingo · 27/08/2015 17:20

I assume from the op that there were no other suitably large spaces, hence why she had to park over the line. So all the suggestions to park elsewhere are a bit pointless, obviously she would have if she could have Confused.
I've been tempted to so this when there are no parent spaces, as I'm unable to get my two kids out of the car in the 'normal spaces'. I've had to turn around and not go shopping before because I'm too chicken to do what the op did.

BreadPitt · 27/08/2015 17:24

You were rather lucky someone in a smaller car didn't squeeze in next to you so you couldn't get back in because if you'd done that on a small car park and I couldn't park because of it you can bet your arse I'd be squeezing in.

I'm sure your Home Bargains isn't in the middle of nowhere and you could have parked either on the road or on another car park further away.

PamPoovey · 27/08/2015 17:26

You could have parked in a space on the end of a row as suggested above or on a nearby road etc.

YWBU and a madam. Being pregnant isn't a disability that allows you special dispensation.

Sirzy · 27/08/2015 17:28

People not parked properly in spaces really piss me off, it can throw the parking for hours if others then end up not parking quite in their lines because the neighbouring car isn't.

Whatabout · 27/08/2015 17:31

I'm 38 weeks and wouldn't do this, if i was concerned and in a small car park and couldn't get a suitable space i would go back another time. Taking two spaces in a small car park is just unfair and being pregnant is not an excuse.

Osolea · 27/08/2015 17:32

Sorry, but the car park and the rest of the world that wants to use the it doesn't owe you a favour because you're pregnant, yabu. Car parks would never have any space if every pregnant woman and large person thought they had the right to two spaces.

It wouldn't have been so bad if you parked in the far corner of the car park and it wasn't a busy time, but as you haven't included that you did in your OP, you probably didn't consider it important.

I don't think the womand reactin was harsh, although it would have been if she'd said it directly to you.

Original poster
BlueBananas · 27/08/2015 17:33

Back to answer questions -
There was no 'end of row' because they put those stupid planter things at the end of each so I would be equally boxed in anywhere
I did park far away from the shop and yes there were other spaces available
The shop is actually a bit in the middle of nowhere, it's on part of an industrial estate so no roads to park on nearby
And Pam I never said pregnancy was a disability - if I thought it was I'd have parked in a disabled bay Hmm

OP posts:
googoodolly · 27/08/2015 17:33

Wow, you can't take up two spaces just because you're pregnant!

PamPoovey · 27/08/2015 17:36

No roads? Riiiiiight.

Keep making excuses OP. It doesn't change the fact your behaviour was selfish, inconsiderate and thoroughly lazy.

Original poster
BlueBananas · 27/08/2015 17:38

Yes Pam no roads
Well obviously roads because I drove there, but a fair walk away
I'm not making excuses, if you read my OP you would see that I actually said "I know I'm being a little bit unreasonable" so nothing to make excuses for Confused

OP posts:
WeAllHaveWings · 27/08/2015 17:44

If it wasn't busy and there were other spaces and you parked further away from the shop I don't see the harm. If it was busy YWBU. But beware you could get a ticket for it in some places and also some people can be a bit anal and try to prove a point by parking very close beside/behind you/dint your door.

PS. If you think 30 weeks is "heavily" pregnant you ain't see nothing yet!!! (unless you are expecting multiples). Grin

Original poster
BlueBananas · 27/08/2015 17:47

I didn't realise you could get a ticket for shit parking to be fair, I'm surprised I've never had one before Grin
Wings I know I've got a long way to go yet, but honestly I'm huge! My vagina is very nervous that we've got to push this bugger out!

OP posts:
Chelsielouise · 27/08/2015 17:49

It was a bit selfish but I see why you did it. Plus we all do things sometimes and forget to consider others it isn't the end of the world op xx

NobodyLivesHere · 27/08/2015 17:49

there are no roads to park on near my home bargains either pam there is the car park for the shops and then there are a roads around it, at 30 weeks pregnant i'd have been hard pressed to walk very far as i had spd. i can't see what other choice the OP had to do other than she did. I think the woman in question was a bit of a cow and lacking in empathy.

Redglitter · 27/08/2015 17:50

YWVU but then you know that

NobodyLivesHere · 27/08/2015 17:51

however, it has to be said, i have a very tiny car. and when i see people parked over the lines in huge cars i make a point of squeezing her in there. cos i can lol

Shodan · 27/08/2015 17:55

It is annoying, I know- I once parked tight against a wall on the left side to give me room to get out, only to return and find the car on my right had parked at an angle in their space, meaning there wasn't quite enough room for my pregnant belly to get through. Tiptoes and a bit of nifty shimmying solved that one. Usually, though, it worked fine.

As for other times, the only ways around it are:

Only go to places with big space or room to park on a nearby road.
Go with someone else driving so you can get out before they park.
Get a taxi.
Give up entirely on the idea and do something else.
Buy a tiny car that will fit most spaces with room to spare.
Order online.
Put off the idea until you're not pregnant anymore, by which time you might not want the item in question, which will save you money.
Send someone else with precise, detailed instructions on what to get.

Erm... no, that's all I've got.

But you really can't take up two spaces. It's Not On.

contractor6 · 27/08/2015 17:56

If there are plenty of spaces, yanbu, I have spd and cannot get out of car normally have to swing both legs round. Where possible try to park end of row, or next to disabled bay and use the space there.

Itsmine · 27/08/2015 18:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.