Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Mother and baby parking

461 replies

crispysausagerolls · 10/09/2018 14:33

Went to the supermarket today with my baby and really could’ve used the mother and baby space to get my car seat in and out etc (especially hard as I have a 2 door car). Just as I arrived a woman without a baby pulled into the mother and baby spot, without a baby. My mother asked her what she was doing and she said she was waiting for a child. 2 mins later a middle aged woman came out of the supermarket and got into the car and she started to drive off. So she had lied. I said thanks to her in a sarcastic way as i was struggling to get my baby out in a tight space (very passive aggressive of me I know but DS hates the car and had been screaming and I was so irritated by not having the space) and she started spouting off about being heavily pregnant and blah blah blah. Which was all completely irrevelant (if even true) because she didn’t get out of the bloody car anyway!

AIBU to think the mother and baby space isn’t somewhere to just wait for a mate to come and join you in the car? People genuinely need the extra space provided by them!

OP posts:
Original poster
crispysausagerolls · 10/09/2018 18:49

The point is that you don't know who is being lazy and who isn't so you should keep your nose out of it instead of acting like an officious little busy-body who feels the need to police the car park.

😂😂😂 hahaha!!! I wasn’t wandering around the car park looking for people to scold! How funny! I wanted to park in the specific space she went into right in front of me without a baby or child in her car. But thanks for the laugh st how you’ve interpreted that.

OP posts:
EwItsAHooman · 10/09/2018 18:53

My comment was directed to the PP who posted the comment that I quoted but you're welcome for the laugh Hmm

WizzbangWallopWot · 10/09/2018 18:59

@ChipsAndKetchup you seem more irritated that he was posh with a posh car than the fact he parked in P&C place!

Jealous?

Surreynewmum123 · 10/09/2018 19:23

OP agree with you 100% - surely this is about common courtesies and being considerate and thoughtful for others’ needs. It’s really not easy navigating with a little baby or infant.
Where’s the human kindness!

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 10/09/2018 19:41

rest of the carpark was full and the only bablys available were P&C

This actually happened to me on the day my mother died. We were taking it in turns to sit with her and I needed to pick up some sandwiches for my father and I on my way to the hospice to relieve him so he could get a few hours rest at home. It was busy. I didn't have time to drive around the car park for hours, so I parked in a P&C space for the 10 moms tops it took me to get what I needed.

I got a mouthful of abuse from an entitled arsehole who then tried to block me getting to my car so I could get out. I didn't give her any reason because I didn't want to tell a complete stranger that I was on the way to see my dying mother because it was upsetting and private and why the fuck should I have to justify my actions.

Frazzledkate · 10/09/2018 19:53

I understand there are exceptions to the rule but where do you draw the line? Are we expected to not say anything if someone jumps a queue for instance? Just in case?

Sirzy · 10/09/2018 19:55

If you really feel the need to interfere tell the staff and let them do any dealing with that’s needed

Ilovethemapples · 10/09/2018 20:07

very annoying indeed. Today, I happened to see a middle-aged man solo taking a family space while I had to park further away in a narrow non family space with my son. I've seen this many times before, in fact I often go first thing in the morning to pick up some bread and there is a woman by herself who tends to park in the family spaces. Not worth saying anything , some people maybe rude enough to insult you and they will still do it anyway.

Original poster
crispysausagerolls · 10/09/2018 20:12

If you really feel the need to interfere tell the staff and let them do any dealing with that’s needed

This misses the point though. I’m not interested in snitching on someone or getting them into trouble - i was right there and needed the space and she didn’t appear to. So why not ask at the time, when she might have moved and I might have been able to park there? Makes much more sense to just ask someone.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 10/09/2018 20:17

Because a) it’s not your job and b) you don’t know what upset it will cause. If you paid any attention to the thread you would see some of the shit people had gone through because of nosey people like you who think having a baby gives them a right to interrogate people.

nhssecretary · 10/09/2018 20:19

I've parked over the line in a space before to make my self more room and there's always some self righteous little bastard who parks beside my fucking car practically touching it trying to teach me a lesson

Original poster
crispysausagerolls · 10/09/2018 20:19

sirzy

I have read the responses but I still maintain that it’s the exception not the rule that people who park where they aren’t supposed to have extenuating circumstances and aren’t just arseholes who don’t care about who they inconvenience. But we won’t agree I can see so I’ll leave it there

OP posts:
nhssecretary · 10/09/2018 20:20

I always see lazy little bastards parking in mab spaces with no children
It's infuriating but don't park in two spaces or some pious little fucker will block you in

ChipsAndKetchup · 10/09/2018 20:24

@WizzbangWallopWot jealous??!? Of a fat posh lazy twat? Errrr no.

Timeisslippingaway · 10/09/2018 20:27

I was in a car park recently, couldn't get a p&c space which was fine so parked in a normal space. When I came back out a new car was on the right hand side and had left the car at an angle. I could barely fit by myself never mind get the back door open for the child I had with me. I had to climb through the car with a child that weighs around 3 stone and walk round the car to get to the driver seat. There was about a 3 inch gap between the back of the 2 cars. I left the CF a note.
I know that's not about a P&C space but people that are too lazy to lark properly really piss me off too.

Poloshot · 10/09/2018 20:28

She might have been picking her mom up so fulfilled the mother and child criteria

starzig · 10/09/2018 20:28

Not everyone with mobility problems gets a blue badge. You don't automatically get one after an operation for example.

EwItsAHooman · 10/09/2018 20:29

It's a parking space. If someone is in it then presume they have a reason to be there, move along and park elsewhere. Yes it's nice to have extra space, I myself prefer P&C parking especially when I'm out with my 9yo, but it's not essential. It's something that is nice to have when it's available but the world doesn't end if the spaces are full.

cadburyegg · 10/09/2018 20:29

Whilst I agree that many people do misuse the spaces and it does make my blood boil when I’ve had a bad day (3 yo, 6 month old, little sleep etc) as the spaces do make my life a little easier... I would never confront anyone. A friend of mine injured her knee 4 years ago and needs space to get out of the car, she physically can’t do it in a normal space so the choice she has is either not go into supermarkets or park in p&c spaces because she doesn’t qualify for a blue badge.

starzig · 10/09/2018 20:31

I would just leave the kids with their dad. Problem solved. I'm sure kids don't really want to be trailed round a supermarket anyway.

Original poster
crispysausagerolls · 10/09/2018 20:37

starzig

Thnks for that very helpful suggestion. My husband was at work and my baby is breastfed so has to come with me anyway. Sometimes when you need food or milk or nappies you have to gasp take your baby with you to the shops. Silly me for daring to leave the house with my child! 😂

OP posts:
Marie0 · 10/09/2018 20:47

I have to say I really wish people would just mind their own business. As PP people do not have to justify where they park in supermarkets.

I get looks all the when shopping with my 11 year old who looks perfectly normal. I have a blue badge (he has autism so not an obvious disability). I display my badge on the dashboard but some people who see us get out of the car from the side or from a bit further away look at us and shake their heads.

I have actually approached some of these people staring and politely asked them if everything is ok as they seem to be looking a bit miserable, or 'Hi, if you'd like to come a bit closer I would love to show you my badge'.

That's only if I'm in a good mood! Clearly in this case the person was probably a dick and parking where they shouldn't but really you should just park further away and mind your own business. Christ life is too short!

GreenMeerkat · 10/09/2018 21:39

Did you know the woman in the car was heavily pregnant when you told her off?

Original poster
crispysausagerolls · 10/09/2018 22:18

GreenMeerkat

She said she was AFTER she had started to drive off. If she was or not I have no idea as I couldn’t see and she didn’t look it. But it was completely irrelevant to the discussion as she didn’t get out of the car and had said she was waiting for someone (a child, which was a lie). And since she didn’t want to get out of the car herself, the pregnancy was irrelevant.

OP posts:
BrokenWing · 10/09/2018 22:29

Arguing with strangers and shouting out of car windows over a parking space is pretty poor behaviour and something you should make an effort to learn to control now before your child is old enough to understand.

Surely your mum could have taken the baby out of the car before you parked it if the other spaces were so tight. No need for a public rammy.