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??!

I have had a few people bitch and moan at me before as I have parked in a P&C space with a 9 year old. They don't think before they start a rant to ask WHY I might feel the need to park there. If they did I would happily explain why -my son has ASD and it is occasionally a danger to himself to walk across a busy car park. I have to have a firm grip on him and he is pretty big and strong now so it is getting more difficult to prevent him from jumping/excited movements/running/noise panics. In no way is it to do with laziness or bigger spaces, although I am sure for some people it is. Keep an open mind and don't fly off the handle automatically without knowing what is going on in somebody else's life.

Maybe part of the reason for P&C spaces for beyond the under 2s is so that shorter children don't have to cross the full length of the carpark where they can't easily be seen?
I know weaving through the car park with my two when they were younger (shorter, wilder) was always a bit harrowing. Either way there is no P&C law, so YABU.

People managed fine before they existed. They're a gimmick.

She's broken zero rules, but then she has taken the piss IMO. My youngest is 4 and still legs it without hand holding etc, so I use them. Older kids don't really need them. But then there could be more to the situation. Her children could have disabilities or needs which make them younger mentally etc. Best to say nothing and bite your tongue!

I parked in Sainsburys today, a bit away from the entrance, but right next to the pedestrian crossing that takes you to the paved walkway. No weaving through cars was done.

BWatch on these threads people always wonder why the spaces are so close to the door, and I always think how obvious it is - so that children don't cross a busy car park! Yes parents should watch their children but it isn't always that simple and i for one appreciate the closeness to the store with a rather dosey 3 year old who can easily slip out of my grip!

Just had a row with a woman in Tesco car park. YABU on that count alone. There is no reason to play Vicky Pollard and row in a car park. Surprised you have to ask.

They said they parked there so their 9 year old wouldn't slam the car door into other cars. They told me their ages (though I would have guessed the kids were older) I was on my own. All trolleys are by the store entrance. The manager said people should use their common sense. Parking is a contract between land owners (Tesco) and land users. So, no you can't park anywhere you want.

I watched the kids get into the car and they didn't need assistance to get in or out of the car.

Surely the woman, having had kids herself, would understand how hard it is to get a baby/toddler in and out of the car - clearance needed, etc.

I wasn't overly aggressive, just suggested it was inconsiderate of her. Most ppl call it parent and child/toddler parking for good reason!

Ds 11 has a bb because of his learning disabilities. I often prefer to park in the p and c spaces because they are in a quieter part of the car park and so he is less likely to have challenging behaviour because of sensory overload and anxiety. I'll still use them when he is older than 12. If anyone made a comment they would be told what they can do with it.

brasty that's the second time today on MN I've seen the word Sainsbury's be linked to their website, wonder if it's a MN glitch or bizarre way of advertising?!

I watched the kids get into the car- you didn't wait in the car park for her to leave did you?

Cherry there's an explanation in Site Stuff about the links.

And she was with her child op

Older kids are more likely to throw their doors open without thinking about the car next to them so probably safer for them to park in those spaces.

They should put these spaces at the back of the car park, with a paved walkway to the shop entrance. Then only those who really need them would use them.

Wine maybe, and the galling thing is, I park in the middle of an empty row on purpose!
Didn't stop other cars practically climbing in my boot.

The 8 months pg one though, I couldn't use the P&C space (only for once you had the baby) so I suppose the other driver didn't know.
Still not good driving though, parking that near.

I wasn't overly aggressive, just suggested it was inconsiderate of her.

Not your place to say anuthing. You aren't the car park police.

Most ppl call it parent and child/toddler parking for good reason!

They are a child. Unless 9 year olds have suddenly become adults!

YABU.
They are perfectly entitled to park there.
Your reasoning for them not parking there doesn't make any sense.
What if you parked there and a single mother of twins needed the space?
Would you be happy with you calling her selfish for taking 'her' place?

Stupid bloody P&C spaces should be banned. They cause far more trouble than they are worth.

My rule was once out of car seat out of parent parking. I haven't used them for 4 years or so my kids are 9&11

"Parking is a contract between land owners and land users"

😂

I apologies in advance, but I just don't get the parent and child parking spaces at all! Granted my Dd is only 4 months. But I've never felt the need to park in one and I'd never wait 15 mins to park, I'd find another supermarket rather than do that.
I usually go to the furthest point of supermarket car parks where it's quite anyway and it's literally a minutes walk away to the entrance.

The 8 months pg one though, I couldn't use the P&C space (only for once you had the baby)

Of course you could have. You were lugging a baby around, and needed the extra space. That is what they are for.

I thought they were only for parents with young children still in toddler car seats(who were also with them). I know someone who keeps a car seat on her back seat in order to use them. When I had little ones I was never lucky enough to get a P&C space so always had to run the guantlet. Car parks are so dangerous with little ones - thank goodness for home delivery!

Parking is a contract between land owners (Tesco) and land users. So, no you can't park anywhere you want.
I don't understand how this applies.