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??!

Love a parent and child thread even though it's been done literally hundreds of times here.

When mine were little supermarkets closed at 6 every fucking night and worse there were restrictions on alcohol of a Sunday.

Stop whinging about absolute bollocks

Ah yes I see that now greatthat.

Sorry Elland

As you all were.

Stop whinging about absolute bollocks

Im pretty sure you could use this answer for 99% of Mumsnet threads 😂

Ha Away I'v honestly never had any issue, managing in a normal space. And my cars only 2 doors! My boyfriend just said it's because he taught me to park properly!
pictish I'd not really care no. I really don't see car parks as the massive battle fields some people do though, I've never been run over in one and don't know anyone who has.

Awaywiththepixies
I'll explain further as it seems you have misunderstood what I classed as selfish.

I didn't mean both adults should go in to the shop or no adult can wait in the car but if no kids are leaving the car and only one adult is going in to the shop alone with no children then they could park in a regular space as they would not require the extra space a p&c space has. (I will add if they have no illnesses, disabilities just before anyone jumps in their high horse)

Thanks greatthat that is what I meant.

Awaywiththepixies Sorry cross post! I would never begrudge your dad or anyone with health issues then spaces, I would rather them have one.

Hidden issues aside

The thing with hidden issues is that they are hidden, so what may have looked like a NT able-bodied 12 and 9 year old may not have been. One of mine has a blue badge but we often get side remarks about parking in disabled bays as she can walk. If there is a limited amount of disabled bays I would park in a P& C space.

On the fence here. On the one hand in my local Tesco the P&C spaces are for children up to 12, and I assume it was the same at your branch, so technically she did nothing wrong, so having a go at her was uncalled for. BUT, I personally think P&C spaces should be for parents with young children really (say under 5's).

I know some people don't agree with P&C spaces, but I have a 2 year old and a 3-month old and the baby car seat in particular is a real PITA to get out if you haven't got much room. On several occasions I've been away from my car and in the intervening period had people park close enough to my car that I physically can't fit the car seat in through the available door space, so have to scramble across from the other side of the car leaving the toddler milling dangerously around in the car park whilst I do so (since I wouldn't be able to scramble myself and the baby car seat across the back seat if she was securely in her car seat at the time). I've also had people parallel park so close behind my car that I can't open the boot to get the buggy in. People do forget how hard it is sometimes to do these basic things with young children if you don't have much space, so I very much prefer to use P&C spaces if they are available. I'm sorry but most parents of 9 & 12 year olds don't have these issues (bar the usual Mumsnet caveat of if the child has SNs etc).

I parked in p&c when I was pregnant as I had an embarrassing situation once when I couldn't fit between the cars. I also parked there the first time I went shopping post c section, but left the baby at home. In my defence it was not long after my section and I was still moving at a snail's pace!

I feel on edge if I use them these days and I have 4 under 10! Youngest is 3... I definitely only use them if I have her in the car.

But... you don't know the family circumstances so you were slightly U to confront them. They were BU to take it to the store management - seems unnecessary escalation!

I know some people don't agree with P&C spaces, but I have a 2 year old and a 3-month old and the baby car seat in particular is a real PITA to get out if you haven't got much room

It's not that people disagree with them. It's that people disagree with some others thinking they're a god given right and anyone who's child is out of nappies is aselfish tit for using them.

They were BU to take it to the store management - seems unnecessary escalation!

I dont think the family were U to go to management. The OP has already admitted to 'having a massive row' with them.

no one NEEDS P+C space - doesn't matter if their kids are 6 months or 16 - they aren't needed just wanted

grip OP - buy one

They're absolutely lovely. But if they're full, they're full. What kind of person hangs around for FIFTEEN minutes waiting for one to become free and then berates the people parking there because she has decided, by some calculation all of her own, that it is rude of them to park there?

I really hope you look back on this thread when your child is older OP and cringe at your PFB-ness

In the interests of fairness, the OP didn't say she had a massive row - someone else did. She said she had a row.

You're ridiculous.

You're ridiculous.

Can I ask why people are talking of taking baby infant carriers out of the car at the supermarket? Why do you do that? A car seat stays in a car surely?

I have popcorn too

Anyone can use them really, as has been pointed out. Usually guide is 12 years.

Did he/she tell you the exact ages of the children, as you seem to know?

They are only for children in CAR SEATS that require you to assist them getting in and belting them in so you canines your doors wide enough to get them into the seats not just because you have a child with you. I've had to put DS on the floor in his car seat in the car park before now and reverse out a few feet so the door could open wide enough to get the car seat in! Makes me so mad when you then see people without a baby or young child with them using the P&C spaces!

I think that when you have your first child you feel you must make use all brand new! available perks!
In view of ones new status ( of course)
In time, new Mum will realise they are just a silly gimmick- a bit like lots of items in the baby catalogue!
This would explain why op waited for her space.

There are so many people who believe their situation trumps everyone elses.

Whether it be I have a young child, I have two children, mine won't behave, I can't control them, I/the children have a disability, my parent has just had surgery.

What do these people do if the P&C spaces are full - go home?

If their whole shopping experience depends on parking in a P&C space then they really need to rethink shopping.

If the P&C spaces where at the back of the carpark I bet they would be empty.

For gods sake! * can open not bloody canines!

Who says they are only for children in car seats? And anyway a 9 year old should be in a car seat so that is a mute point anyway!

JigglyTuff sorry I think that was me.

Nevertheless OP did say she had a row with them. Most of us manage to go about our daily business without causing any sort of row to be honest.

Well, unless you count my DCs who could start an argument in an empty phonebox with no money.