Mother and baby parking

[crispysausagerolls]

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!

They are a luxury, one I'd never heard of before moving to the UK and seeing so many people whinge about them on MN.

To answer a PP, if I got onto a bus with a buggy, or a broken leg or heavily pregnant and there were no other seats and someone who appeared to be fine was in the priority seat then yeh, I might ask them nicely if they need to be there? Why? Because there is a low chance of them having a hidden disability statistically but a very high chance of them just sitting there because it’s convenient to them. It’s baffling to me that other people are saying they wouldn’t rather have a quick and polite conversation about it, when i read on here all the time how many passive aggressive people have tutted or said unpleasant remarks under their breath instead. All the person would have to say is “it’s not your business” or “I don’t want to explain”. They don’t need to disclose their reasons but I would still want to ask if I really needed the seat.

Well I apologise for being confusing.
They will never agree unfortunately they want is all crammed in like sardines no matter how inconvenient.

Actually maybe 9/10 I wouldn’t say something. But if it was a day like yesterday where my baby was screaming and I was just seeing red about minor and insignificant perceived injustices i would 😬

The fact is OP that woman didn't need that space as much as you because you. You know that because you watched her sit in the car and wait for an able bodied person with no child to come out of the shop and then drive away. She should have been more curtious and parked elsewhere but I'm affraid in life that's just what people are like and it really will never change. I've been doing what I do for a living and had my own children and encountering this for 10 years and it's always been the same.

OP if you are that concerned about it, maybe a more positive approach would be to campaign for more P&C spaces? As disabled people have done for years,

Rather than take away disabled facilities.

Can I just say that sliding rear doors are an absolute asset to anyone with kids in car seats. You can get them out in any really small space. If I had small kids again I'd definitely pick a car with them!

claw

Eh?! Where have I said about taking away disabled facilities?

This really isn’t some mega issue about campaigning for spaces for parent and child because I agree they are just nice to have an a not essential. It’s more about selfish wankers being inconsiderate, but as a PP said I’m sure it won’t be the last experience I have and I’ll make sure to stock up on biscuits to get me through any future encounters 🤷🏻‍♀️

My apologies OP I posted on the wrong thread!

There is another thread about disabled parking, meant to post my comments there

There are a lot of people stating that they would tell someone to fuck off who politely asked them why they are in a P&C space when it doesn't appear that they need it.

If you escalate the situation, don't be surprised when someone escalates it further. A punch in the face often offends, as they say.

(If you escalate the situation, don't be surprised when someone escalates it further. A punch in the face often offends, as they say

So if I tell you to fuck off for interrogating me, you're going to punch me in the face, and you think that would be my fault?

You know what else might offend you? The prison sentence for assault.

crispy why would you ask if they needed to be there? Why not just ask if they would mind allowing you to sit there as you have a broken leg or whatever?

@TheWinterofOurDiscountTentsMk2

Where did I say that I would do it?!

I wouldn't be brawling over a parking space 😂

But if you wish to escalate a situation, don't be surprised when someone escalates it further.

“Interrogate” and “challenge” are such aggressive words! Why does everything have to be so aggressive or defensive? Why can’t people just have a reasonable dialogue?

claw

You are right, that’s probably the better way of phrasing it. I would find it more polite to ask if they needed it more though, if you can see what I mean. A bit like with the last biscuit on the plate you ask if anyone wants it, not if you can have it. Might just be me though (what I’m saying makes sense in my head)

But if you wish to escalate a situation, don't be surprised when someone escalates it further

You're supporting and normalising people punching others in the face for not answering questions. You're not funny, and neither is violence.

“Interrogate” and “challenge” are such aggressive words! Why does everything have to be so aggressive or defensive? Why can’t people just have a reasonable dialogue?

Why can't people mind their own business? Yes, it isi aggressive behaviour, so why not stop it?

No one is normalizing violence but you can't be sure of how people will react. I'm sure that pp didn't mean she would personally punch someone in the face. People are so dramatic on MN sometimes.

crispy my son has a hidden disability. He might well sit in the seats you describe on a bus. Not due to physical disability, because it’s close to door, in case his anxiety gets the better of him, noise, crowds etc.

If you asked him if he needed to be there, his anxiety would cripple him, he would feel judged and probably get off the bus. Get lost etc.

If you asked him if he would mind giving up his seat due to your broken leg etc. He would gladly do so.

He cannot travel alone, due to the above. A bit of consideration goes a long way.

I like to think a kinder approach is to assume someone may have a hidden disability, rather than not.

• normalising

People are so dramatic on MN sometimes.

Yes, that would be the twonk telling people to get ready for a punch in the face while parking. Maybe in whatever shit hole she lives in that may be true, however normal people don't think like that. But then neither do they harangue strangers in car parks in the first place.

That's insulting!

Clearly you think it's ok to say someone comes from a "shit hole" because you disagree with them. I wonder where you come from with an attitude like that.

Winter of discontent the irony of you keep calling others aggressive

And if anyone states they would tell someone to 'fuck off' for being asked a question when they are somewhere they shouldn't be, they are the ones who belong in the 'shithole' area.

Amazing how many having a go at the op for asking a question that have potty mouths themselves

Clearly you think it's ok to say someone comes from a "shit hole" because you disagree with them

no, its because they seem to think its normal to get punched in the face while out and about. Do you?