Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Parent and child parking! 12 and 9 year old?!

604 replies

AnySecondNow · 18/02/2017 15:30

Just had a row with a woman in Tesco car park. I waited 15 minutes for parking - have to carry a fairly solid 6 month old to the shop (post cesarean - still not 100%!)

Anyway, this family were parked in child and parent bay with a 12 year old and a 9 year old. Both very capable of walking and opening doors! I commented that she was rude to park there, she said she was entitled to. Then her husband complained about me to the management!!!

Wtf!? Ainu??! Parent and child surely means young child that needs assistance??!

OP posts:
harrypotternerd · 19/02/2017 15:46

Here in Australia they are called parents with pram parks, the basic rule is if you have babies/toddlers and are getting a pram out etc you can use them although it is not the law.
I remember when my youngest was born, via csection. I was released from hospital and my partner had to grab some things from the shops, I stupidly thought I was feeling well enough to go into the shops so we parked in a parents with pram park (right next to the door) and by the time we got back to the car (maybe 15 minutes if that) I was in a hell of a lot of pain and then some woman started on me because we had parked in the park and I 'only had one child and she had a toddler and baby'.

clarkl2 · 19/02/2017 17:29

Get over yourself. Anyone with a car parking with children is well within their rights to park. As for 6 months post c-section and "not right" give your head a wobble and stop wallowing in self pity.

flowerfairy6004 · 19/02/2017 17:30

To be honest I totally get why you were annoyed - it's selfish to use a parent and child space if your child is no longer in a car seat. I actually wish they'd put parent and child spaces further away from the supermarket than putting them closer and then people wouldn't park in them as much. For me the requirement is you get the largest space so you can safely open your doors enough to properly secure your kids into their car seats not how far it is from the exit of the supermarket -I'm happy to walk the extra if I can get a space where I've got enough room to get to the car seat without having to contort myself to get my kid in and out of it without hitting the car next to me

Mammyashy1 · 19/02/2017 17:30

Truthfully p&c spaces are a curtiosy. Am I kinda don't blame the husband if you went up to them infront of their children and called them rude. If it is so difficult to carry your child you should have maybe rethought the shopping trip

idtwinplustoddlermum · 19/02/2017 17:32

I think it says parents with children 6 and under on the boards. Just selfish to take the space otherwise. Always amazes me how sodding lazy people are they can't just walk a few extra yards. I have 2 yo twins and can't really get them out of the car in a normal space but manage somehow! I did give an old bloke the evil eye the other day, he was taking up a child space and in said car park I literally can't get them out in a normal space. I hovered for 20 mins he didn't budge...

Notquitewhatiexpected · 19/02/2017 17:37

I would never dreamed of parking in a child and parent place once my children were over the ages of about 5! I would've complained to management rather than front up to them (unless I was in the mood for a rumble).

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 19/02/2017 17:37

I did give an old bloke the evil eye the other day, he was taking up a child space and in said car park I literally can't get them out in a normal space. I hovered for 20 mins he didn't budge

So you sat for 20 minutes giving an elderly gentleman the 'evil eye' because he was in a space you wanted. Jeez.

Ever thought he may have had a valid reason for being there?

If you can wait 20 minutes for one specific car parking space then tbh you have too much time on your hands Hmm

Curlyshabtree · 19/02/2017 17:39

My dts are 9 now and I haven't used these spaces for years now, I would feel bad if I did! They were a life saver when I needed them though. However I think the shops should amend the ages down, or express priority for those under a certain age. If the sign says they are allowed then it will be hard to argue otherwise. Common sense obviously bypasses some folk.

ahhhhhwoof · 19/02/2017 17:41

I have a 3yr old and even if I wanted to I wouldn't be able to park in my local supermarket's p&c spaces. They are full of BMW convertibles with 23 year olds inside presumably waiting for their mates who struggle to carry 35 cans of Stella back to he car. In all seriousness though, YABU you can't just pick fights in car parks. I have a tiny car and have struggled on numerous occasions to get my DD into her car seat as someone has wedged into. R space next to me. Move on. Park further away. Shop somewhere else. Get it delivered to your home.

HorseyGal · 19/02/2017 17:41

12 years old is bloody ridiculous frankly. Good on you for saying something OP!
I have step kids 7&9 and haven't been going in parent and child spaces with them for some time. Now I have 7 month old twins I NEED the spaces (or otherwise I have to park over 2 spaces) or I can't physically get my babies out of both sides.
I think they were being selfish and probably too lazy to walk!! 😡

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/02/2017 17:42

We ALL know that P&C spaces are meant for parents with young children, NOT parents with kids who can get in and out without help, NOT people with hidden disabilities, NOT lazy arsed idiots, etc

Jesus wept. Good to see the crackdown on disablism is still working at it's best... Hmm

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 19/02/2017 17:43

12 years old is bloody ridiculous frankly. Good on you for saying something OP!

For starters read the OP properly. The youngest wasn't 12.

Longsuffering24 · 19/02/2017 17:43

I can't believe how unreasonable some people are on this thread! I'm totally with you OP on this one. It's common sense that these spaces are for those with small children who need help to get in and out of the car. Once your child can get themselves out and walk sensibly to the shop it's time to leave the spaces for those who need them. I have been there with my toddler and when he younger that I could barely get the door open wide enough to lean in to undo the straps etc and there's no safe place to put a push chair. It's plain and simple selfish to use them when your children are older. Thankfully a lot of supermarkets are now changing the signsubject to specify that they are for young children.

Sunshine90 · 19/02/2017 17:44

Definitely NOT ok for them to park there - this is such a problem that a lot of supermarkets now specify as parent and toddler / baby parking! I think it's disgraceful. I have a 2yo and a 6 month old and it does my head in

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 19/02/2017 17:45

I think they were being selfish and probably too lazy to walk!!

Think what you like, doesn't make you right.

As for NEEDING the space as the aren't a legal requirement if they were to get rid of them you would HAVE to park elsewhere.

Notquitewhatiexpected · 19/02/2017 17:45

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Sunshine90 · 19/02/2017 17:46

Lazy selfish ignorant people at their absolute finest I think!

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/02/2017 17:47

Good on you for saying something OP

She didn't just say something.

She had a row.

With a stranger.

In front of strangers DCs.

That much so her DH thought it justified management being alerted. That is not just saying something.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 19/02/2017 17:48

Anyway, i nipped in and on my way out saw his 'disabled' daughter pushing the trolley, chatting happily to him; I just laughed at him, he said she was autistic.

Sorry didn't realise those with a disability had to look miserable and how dare they laugh.

You have no access to their medical records. You sound exactly like someone who had a go at me for pushing a trolley.

PurpleDaisies · 19/02/2017 17:48

Anyway, i nipped in and on my way out saw his 'disabled' daughter pushing the trolley, chatting happily to him; I just laughed at him, he said she was autistic.

Autism isn't a valid disability? Why did you put disabled in inverted commas?

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 19/02/2017 17:49

Disabilism alive and well still.....

Frillyhorseyknickers · 19/02/2017 17:51

Parent and child spaces rely on the people using them to have common sense, which evidently lots of people lack.

I think they should ban them altogether - they're just an excuse for lazy arsed entitled mothers to argue with each other in the car park like an episode of Corrie!!

People managed without them for generations - just park at the far end of the car park and walk?

If the issue is your car - change it?

Postchildrenpregranny · 19/02/2017 17:52

Friend of mine recently parked in a parent and child space with her 93 year old mother (all disabled spaces were full .she has a blue badge ) Was this unreasonable ?

AwaywiththePixies27 · 19/02/2017 17:54

Anyway, i nipped in and on my way out saw his 'disabled' daughter pushing the trolley, chatting happily to him; I just laughed at him, he said she was autistic.

Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?! Shock

clarkl2 · 19/02/2017 17:55

If you're shouting at people in car parks i would say you probably need to speak to your GP and talk through your issues!
FfS "not right" 6 months after a c-section!!
I had an emergency c-section, my son was compromised and 4 days later i was doing the school run with my 4 year old.
Mind over matter

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.