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??!

[maybeshesawomble]

Maybe they'd also waited 15 mins plus for a space and the P&C one was the first available. Or do you mean you waited 15 mins specifically for one of those spaces and berated the family when they returned to their car?

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

Parking is a contract between land owners (Tesco) and land users. So, no you can't park anywhere you want.

Jeez...

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

I'm absolutely certain that one of the major supermarkets here calls them "Parent and Toddler" spaces rather than "Parent and Child." I know this because I remember wondering at what age DD no longer qualified - she is 5.

Assuming the wording at Tesco is "Parent and Child", then I would expect that to reasonably include any child that is still young enough to need help being strapped into a car seat.

For me personally, I would use a P&C space with DD if one was available, she is 5 & needs to be clipped into her car seat by an adult (so a little extra door space to get in is useful) whereas I would know that parking in a P&C space with 15 year old DS2 is royally taking the piss.

If the wording was "Parent and Toddler" then that would imply the spaces are intended for pre-school children wouldn't it?

If people don't want their DCs randomly opening car doors into other parked cars then they need to be using the child locks on their doors. They work wonders for things like that!

As for actually accosting someone with children, albeit children you feel less worthy of the space than your own, well, that's just out of order. I'm not surprised the family complained TBH.

[maybeshesawomble]

loinnir makes a good point - online shopping. If it's that much hassle get a delivery.

[MsJamieFraser]

Yabu, how do you know their ages


I have a 11 and 7 year old, we park on P&C spaces if we can.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Winter , I did ask about using one , only Asda let Pg women use spaces at the time.(They had seperate Mum-To-Be spaces) My DS is 17 now so this was way back when P&C were new to me.

And, IIRC, they were up to 5yo but I reckon its all changed now.

[AnySecondNow]

Sigh. Ok, I should have just complained to the management. But I tried that last time and they said "there's not much we can do about it" (ppl parking there without kids).

In my defence I haven't slept in six months...

Also, in hindsight, and as someone carrying a fair bit of baby weight still myself, I think she only parked there because SHE needed the extra room. Sorry, but true.

[Sallystyle]

I have parked in them before with older children. Not as a rule but my local Aldi is a nightmare to park in and if it's the only space available I park there because if I don't someone else will. It's dog eat dog in that car park!

If someone had a go at me for it I would laugh. It's a nicety, but like millions of parents had to do before the invention of these spaces, they can manage.

[TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents]

Parking is a contract between land owners (Tesco) and land users. So, no you can't park anywhere you want

You can, other than accessible spots, since you have not agreed to any contract, nor have the land owners told you of what it consists of. If you park in a P&C instead of a regular spot, no-one can do anything about it. There is no contract regarding these spaces, unless explicitly signposted in the correct way.

[CherryChasingDotMuncher]

Parking is a contract between land owners (Tesco) and land users. So, no you can't park anywhere you want

Eh? Surely if this was true it would apply to everyone and all spaces?

[iamavodkadrinker]

How do you know how old the kids were? Yet more jackanory.

[MyWineGlassIsHalfFull]

We've all been tired op. I've never rowed with anyone over a p and c space and I had two under 15 months.

You've complained previously?
Now you're calling her fat?

Yabvu

[Willow2016]

Yep it was annoying.
Yep kids are heavy but that is neither here nor there for other people apart from yourself.
Yep she probably didnt need to park there for any health reason.
Yep some people are inconsiderate and lazy, they are out there in their droves.
BUT
Unless there is a sign with designated child ages on it
OR
You owned the parking space she had as much right as you to be there. Accosting her wasnt going to solve anything or make her mover faster or make her think twice next time. These spaces are a courtesy not a legal requirement.

[Hercules12]

The family must have thought you were unhinged...

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

Sigh. Ok, I should have just complained to the management. But I tried that last time and they said "there's not much we can do about it" (ppl parking there without kids).

So you are a regular complainer then. They must love you.

Do you have a crystal ball to know if any of these people you complain about have no disabilities?

I think she only parked there because SHE needed the extra room. Sorry, but true.

Aren't you a delightful peach

[MTB1003]

How do you even know how old they were?????

[AwaywiththePixies27]

Parking is a contract between land owners and land users"

It really isn't.

just had a massive row with a lady

I wasn't overly aggressive

Well, which one is it? If you had a massive row of course you'd come across as aggressive.

I have a 10yo who is built like a brick shithouse is almost my height and an 8yo with ASD who has no sense of awareness of danger. I'll use P&C spaces as long as I need to and woe betide anyone who tries to tell me off like a scolded child.

Of course YABU.

[maybeshesawomble]

Previous complaints too? You do know that having a baby does not afford you divine rights?

[Devilishpyjamas]

Waiting 15 mins for a p&c space is completely bonkers.
Park the car & fetch a trolley if you really can't carry a 6 month old.

[TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents]

So you accosted complete strangers in a car park, harangued them to the point they had to go and get management, and you were still rowing when the manager came out?
How long were you shouting for?

[brasty]

OP outside of mums net, most people recognise that a 9 and 12 year old in the situation you describe, do not need P&C spaces. Ridiculous.

[AwaywiththePixies27]

Also, in hindsight, and as someone carrying a fair bit of baby weight still myself, I think she only parked there because SHE needed the extra room. Sorry, but true.

What's her weight got to do with anything?

You sound lovely.

[TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents]

OP outside of mums net, most people recognise that a 9 and 12 year old in the situation you describe, do not need P&C spaces

I don't think that is the point!

[Hercules12]

For your own sake, you need to force yourself to not care about this. Just avoid the spaces altogether so out of sight and out of mind.

[GogoGobo]

you had a baby 6 months ago, not 6 hours ago!
YABU OP and a total drama queen too OP