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

[AnySecondNow]

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??!

[AwaywiththePixies27]

The matter of rights and responsibilities doesn't apply. It's not a legal issue - no one has the 'right' to these spaces. We're back to repeating the fact that they're a marketing ploy and not a legally-binding contract.

shotgun but that's the whole point. They try and liken it to a legal right, when it's not, then when they have it pointed out to them they take offence and say anyone who sensibly points out is legal is an entitled twat. Odd that isn't it?

I've got some caramel nibbles if you want those instead shotgun? Just don't tell the kids I'll make out I forgot them.

[Spikeyball]

We don't know whether or not she needed it.

[Willow2016]

Errrr excuse me but if you have sweets you need to share them with the whole class..

[Everanewbie]

Ah missed the abuse part. Clearly abuse unreasonable. If you read my post I said that i felt an argument is unjustified.

I think the obligation to a 12 yo child to not have to walk 5 minutes is less compelling than the obligation to be considerate, but I really don't think I'm going to win you over to my point of view am I?

[AwaywiththePixies27]

It's not the first time she's done it either ever. The OP openly admitted this isn't the first time she's done it.

I'll tell you why I'm so against it. Is the verbal abuse she gave out.

I took my DCs out to the cinema one time when a little boy hit my little girl who'd just came out of hospital the day before. (It was Christmas and was a treat). I let the mum in front of me know. I would have been happy with her just telling him to stop it. Didnt even expect an apology. She turned around and said "well he's only 4 so we'll leave it shall we?". Well that was like a red rag to a bull to me and she took great offence when I pointed out my DS was also only 4 and as yet has managed not to twat random strangers in queues. I'm ashamed to say, a massive argument ensued in front of both of our children.
I learnt the hard way, and I make a point of smiling, gritting my teeth and letting it go when someone's rude now and never arguing in front of DCs. Because my DCs still remember that argument to this day four years later and I still cringe when I remember it.

The OP really has got to let this go before she ends up being one of those people who's constantly arguing over things which in the grand scheme of things, really doesn't matter all that much after all.

[AwaywiththePixies27]

hands some chocolate over to willow2016*. Sorry I had lollipops too but the DD has taken them into school for her birthday. Children these days, mind you it saves what little teeth I have left I suppose

[Willow2016]

Thank You.
I have toffeefee They are for an extra wrapped pressie ds2' birthday next month but I can get more. Passes one over

[AwaywiththePixies27]

If you're all still here on Friday I've got batman and superman birthday cake too. One of you lot can bring the gin though, sorry, tea, I meant tea...

[Willow2016]

Its my ds1s birthday tomorrow. DS2 and I will be baking the cake (chocolate, choc frosting ) tonight, will save you some and we can swap

No ordinary (gin) tea, have home made sloe (gin) tea though if thats any use?

Why wont strikethrough ever work for me?

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

I'll join in the chocolate and sloe gin game if I may. No need to sacrifice the dcs' nibbles Away, although I'm not keen on Oreos their chocolate and ice cream is in a different league entirely just don't tell DD I forgot about the orang-utans momentarily.
Morals aren't really at play here Ever. I have a carparking pass for the faculty carpark at my uni; yet nearly every time I try and park there, it's full with teacher training students from courses that don't take place on that campus. So, morally, they should be thinking 'well, I won't park here even though it's convenient for me and there's a space, but I won't because Shotgun a student from this campus might not feel like parking on the street and walking in need the space more than I do.
Do you think that ever happens? And should those people feel guilty that poor little me, with my £50 a year pass, can't get in to the space I've paid for on my own campus carpark? Nothing to do with morality and it's disingenuous nonsense to bring morals into it.

[AwaywiththePixies27]

I have strawberry cheesecake now starting to realise I have a problem. It doesn't count though as tonight's pizza is covered in vegetables

[expatinscotland]

Would to god the supermarkets got rid of those fucking P&C spaces or put them at the back of the car park. I'd happily patronise a supermarket that did this. Also wish the bus companies had to balls to ban all unfolded buggies or it could be legislated they had to be folded up.

[AwaywiththePixies27]

expat I think something is in line regarding something to do with the Doug paulley case re buses. I know because I asked recently after my mum witnessed a lady with a shopping trolley have the gall to ask a man on crutches to move out of a fold down sear in the wheelchair area for her to (bus was packed) . Then watched a poor old man last week look absolutely terrified as he tried to negotiate coming back down the stairs with his walking stick. No selfish twat had offered up their seat for him. (I'd got on afterwards and hadn't seen the exchange but someone told me about it). Probably out of 'principle' but the fear was etched in that poor mans face. I didn't complain, I genuinely asked what their policy was. I was told that the drivers cant insist on giving someone like walking stick man a seat but that something was in line with regards to 'revision to the bay area'. It'll be interesting to see what it is as they didn't elaborate further than that.

Sorry I digressed. DD is back with her lollipops now.

[MerchantofVenice]

We all have responsibility, in a civilised community, not to act like a dick.

Just because it's not a legal right or wrong, doesn't mean there is no moral right or wrong. Or do some of you consider it fine to do absolutely anything as longas it's not technically illegal.

The issue has been clouded by the fact that the OP herself behaved badly. But some people seem to be using that as a reason to claim that the very act recognising that a driver might be taking up a p&c space wrongfully (that's WRONGFULLY, as in against the intended purpose, not 'illegally' as, yawn, we know they're not a legal right) is somehow unacceptable.

Fact: if you are not transporting a small(ish) child or someone with a disability, then no, those spaces aren't intended for you. You might be able to jump up and down triumphantly and expain, Erin Brokovic- style, that there's no law on earth that can make you move... but you're still a dick.

It annoys me on this thread that people are lumping together the people who quietly get annoyed at the idea of people abusing the spaces (which we know happens) and people like the OP who pick fights without knowing all the facts.

And of course people can manage without p&c spaces. Obviously. Just like i can manage without a family-size Dairy Milk. Doesn't mean I wouldn't be justifiably put out if some wanker pushed me out of the way to grab the last one off the shelf.

[AwaywiththePixies27]

Speak for yourself Merchant I cant manage without a family sized dairy milk.

[JerryFerry]

P&C spaces are NOTHING to do with consideration or decency, and EVERYTHING to do with the store being PR savvy. Anyone who considers they have a right to such a space is sadly deluded.
Go to any supermarket or mall and count the number of people with children in tow. Then count the number of P&C spaces outside. No correlation, I guarantee. In fact the number of special snowflake parking spots is more likely to align to the number of (smart) people shopping without children.
You've been had!

[ruthieruthuk]

I see people park in the parent and child parking who dont even have kids, Ive not only seen this once but on a number of occassions

[flowergrrl77]

Just to ask, how would you feel with the information regarding my personal situation.

I have 3 children, a 15 yr old, a 12 yr old and an 8 year old.

The 15 year old used to have a disability badge, but stricter guidlelines from Cameron meant he lost it. The 8 year old has the same condition.

You can't always tell that they're disabled.

Would you have accosted me?

Did you know that those with disabled badges are TOLD to use parent and child spaces if the disability ones are full? So please do not accost a wheelchair user with no child!

[AwaywiththePixies27]

The sensible ones amongst us know that flowergrrl77

[ruthieruthuk]

Ive never gone to a supermarket and seen no disabled places available, theres usually plenty to go around! Well there is in Leeds, at Crown point there is more disabled places than child and parent parking, i wouldnt have a problem if a disabled person was using a space if there was no disabled parking available, however i would it they choose to park there and there was ample disabled parking

[Sirzy]

If you read the thread you will see people have outlined numerous reasons why the "parent and child" space may be more suitable for the disabled person.

And as for there being more disabled spaces than p and c - I should bloody well hope there is!

[redandwhite1]

I have a 2.5 year old. If there are no spaces ah well maybe next time, the shop can't give loads of spaces to p&g I know a shopping centre with none at all! If they are busy just go the next row along! Or go at a quieter time

And I believe most spaces are up to 12 years old

[LucklessMonster]

The OP hasn't been able to carry her child in six months presumably, since she can't do it because of the C-section. I'm very surprised she's going shopping instead of getting serious medical attention...

[Seryph]

I suspect the P&C spaces are for under 12's because children should be in child seats until the age of 12 OR over a certain height, so there is every chance that a nearly 12 year old might well be still in a car seat.

Still, P&C spaces should really be for those who need extra space like for getting prams/pushchairs out.

[Clnz4fun]

I can see the reasoning for still using them up until that age. I was going 5 mile an hour in a school car park and a girl about 9 I'd guess ran into the Rd without looking, can just as easily happen in a shopping centre car park with less than careful drivers.

I can understand that in that moment your needs were greater than theirs but they were already there. First come first serve really.