To be suprised

[1DAD2KIDS]

I parked at the supermarket with my toddler in a parent and child space (1 of only 2 spaces). A woman parked in the other parent and toddler space next to me. It was clear she didn't have a child with her. I pointed out that it was a parent and child space. She said I have a car seat. I pointed out that having a car seat was not the same as having a child with you. I was expecting abuse or her to just walk off but surprising she mumbled something (I didn't hear) got in her car and drove off.

One part of me felt a bit of a dick, I mean who made me the parking police. But then I thought no. There are only 2 parent and child spaces in the carpark. Its massively selfish and unfair for her to take a space away from someone who has to get young children out of the car just because she was to lazy to park further away.

Being anti-social, for using a parking space that's really just a courtesy from the supermarket? Did she mark her territory in some way, prop herself on her car bonnet while drinking Buckfast or start throwing paint at passersby? Hardly "anti social" behaviour to park your car, even if someone thinks you've parked in the wrong place.

People are constantly being unreasonable, all around you. But nobody asked you to confront everyone, did they? You don't know what other people have going on, and P&C spaces are not enforceable by anyone, least of all you.

and the phrase is still inane no matter how many people use it.

Thought it was time for another one of these threads, must have been a week since the last one. Brace yourself OP. Only disabled people and the elderly are allowed to actually park up at supermarkets according to MN. Everyone else should walk, get the bus, use a sling or use a donkey to carry their shopping

Groundhog Day

I don't know why but a lot of people on MN have a massive problem with P&T spaces and those who use them.

No they are not enforced but it's common decency to not use them if your don't have a child with you.

Things such as queuing etc aren't regulated either but common courtesy. Yet if a person jumped in front of the queue I'm sure most people would say something.

MN logic for you 🤔🙄

I just wish parking spaces in were all bigger in general. They really pack them in, with only revenue in mind.
I could barely get out of my car sometimes when I was pregnant.

She probably dashed home to retrieve the child who should have been in that car seat!!

Yes you did the right thing. Yes they are a courtesy space for parents but I don't understand why people get so wound up about parents having this option. The spaces are bigger for a reason to allow parents to get car seats in and to get their kids in safely. Why would anyone without a child be selfish and park in these spaces?

I don’t get too het up about P&C spaces, especially now my dc are too old for me to need them ( if I ever did) but I have to say the “but I’ve got a car seat”argument does piss me off

Maybe she was picking up children from nursery/childminder and she uses the supermarket carpark to park, so would be back in five mins with children and buggies in tow. That happens near where I live, as there's an estate that has no vehicle access, just pedestrianised walkways.

MoistCantaloupe
No, its not unreasonable to have parent and child spaces at all, not what I said.

Well could be argued that it is, just look at the entitlement and arguments that these spaces create.

I parked in a P&C space the other night at our small local Co-Op. Woman pulled in next to me in a P&C space. As I was getting out I noticed she had 2 booster seats in the back, and no child in either. I stared her out a bit as I was getting out with my 3 year old.

Eliza9917

Sorry, I don't follow.
I said it is reasonable to have parent and child spaces. But I don't think it's necessary to make yourself car park police.

Eliza9917...I get you now! You're talking about the space, not my comment

One gloomy Saturday morning I turned into my local Aldi carpark and it was packed, except for two P&C spaces. I took one, went it and did my shopping with one parking police moron screaming at me inside the shop that I took the space of some deserving mother with her little ones.
I just spent 4 days holed up in my house, unable to leave it because I was sick with flu and my DD was even sicker, unable to get under 40 degrees for two days and only improving slightly afterwards. She couldn't breath properly because her nose was completely stuffed, hallucinating and crying when I was trying to give her a suppository. DH was on a business trip the whole week so I had to wait for him to get home to actually get some shopping done. I slept about 6 hours altogether during that time as I was working from home and had to work during the day. We have absolutely nobody around and I didn't want to ask my elderly neighbours to look after DD (even though they wouldn't have minded) because she had such a bad flu.
Needless to say, I was way too exhausted to give a flying fuck about where I parked and was pretty unemotional about the abuse given by the guy. I was happy that I could go and buy some orange juice for DD and that her temperature was approaching normal.
P&C spaces aren't protected by law, they are a courtesy. While I understand and know from my own experience that they make our lives easier, that experience made me much more relaxed about those spaces.

that people would tell you to fuck off in this situation.

@MoistCantaloupe

Yes, same principle that is applied to children, if they can't play nicely together with a toy, its taken away.

If these spaces causes such contention, maybe its better to remove them.

It was clear she didn't have a child with her. I pointed out that it was a parent and child space. She said I have a car seat. I pointed out that having a car seat was not the same as having a child with you.

It might have been neutral territory for a RP/NRP hand over, you know meet in Morrisons carpark/cafe, hand child over etc.

She might have moved because she found you threaening, even though you say you weren't.

Or indeed she might have just parked there absent mindedly forgetting she had the car seat in the back but no child (one can only speculate what hapend to the child - OMG what if she was recently bereaved?) and made a simple mistake.

But never fear! One part of me felt a bit of a dick leapt to the rescue to point out the error of her ways.

I have parked in a p and c space without my children before. I was on autopilot as I normally have the kids with me all the time and I didn't realise until l left. My only saving grace was it was about 9pm and there were no other kids about.

P and c are a courtesy but a godsend when strapping kids on their seats as my body doesn't bend like it use to!

I don't know why but a lot of people on MN have a massive problem with P&T spaces and those who use them

Thye don't in the slightest. They just don't like the wankers who tell other people where they can park.

YABU

Why on earth do car parks have specific Parent/Child parking spaces? You are not ill, not challenged by physical ailments (or you would surely park in a disabled space). Why do parents have the right to park right by the door just because they have a kid? Its all a bit entitled is it?

There should be a number of extra wide spaces in car parks for everyone to use so that people carrying large items etc can use these spaces too.

I'm with you OP. P&C spaces on mn are, for some reason, put in some weird class of their own where no-one with children is supposed to use them or you're terribly "entitled".

Obviously their correct use isn't enforceable by law but that's the same for loads of things that, on other threads, would get calls of "cheeky fucker" and "stand up for yourself".

I was reading a thread the other day where a poster was complaining that food that was provided at an event was supposed to be for members only but that one particular member got their entire family (of non members) up who scoffed all the food. Pretty much everyone said she should take action, say something to the member doing it, complain to the organiser etc. No one said the poster was "entitled" and the food should be taken away from everyone because it was causing arguments. Fairly sure who eats the food can't be enforced by anyone in that case either so not sure why it's different in this case?

Its all a bit entitled is it?

The ones who are entitled are those who do not have a reason to use the spaces.

It's basic consideration not to park in a space that is not designated for your use.

tinysparklyshoes

Should have gone with your first instinct, you were totally a bit of a dick.
I would have told you to fuck off.

Why would you have done that?