Waitrose Mum & Baby carpark - parking without child!

[NZMummy15]

So today I parked at Waitrose (in a normal car park as didn't have the kids) and noticed a middle aged woman had parked in the mum and baby carpark (with no kids).

I went up to her in Waitrose and said you've just parked in a m&b carpark but you don't have any children with you. To which she replied I have a baby it's just not with me and I'm in a hurry, anyway who are you the police? Long story short I said she shouldn't be there and also mentioned this to the customer service desk who didn't care.

When I was putting my groceries in to the car she came over to me and said I shouldn't judge without knowing the full story and she actually has medical problems. I said she should be parking in the disabled car park then if that's the case, but of course did feel a little bit bad about whether I handled it right and if she was telling the truth as she didn't mention any of that earlier?

What would you have done it that situation? It's making me feel really awful now, but on the flip side I know how awful it is when you can't get a car park and you have a small baby/child so it always gets my back up!

This again. YABVU. Not everyone who has a disability can get a blue badge, but they can still struggle in car parks. Also sometimes there are no accessible spaces left or the P&C spaces are closer.

What would I have done?
Well I would have carried on with my day and not followed a random person round Waitrose to tell them they had parked in the wrong place
Also... she can only park in a disabled bay if she has a blue badge which are ridiculously difficult to obtain

YABU. Those spaces are not an entitlement nor are they legally enforceable. It’s just a helpful gimmick for parents. Disabled people should take priority over parents and children for any spaces.

Blue badges are not handed out easily. I battled for 2 years to get one for my severely autistic child. You had no right to question her.

OMG, how very dare they!

YABU and many other things as well.

I said she should be parking in the disabled car park then if that's the case

Here we go again, it's like groundhog day. You do realise that you need a Blue Badge to park in a disabled space and that they are bloody difficult to get?

Personally I think you should mind your own business. If I'd been the woman I certainly wouldn't have justified myself to you.

Yabu. Mind your own business

Waitrose has two separate car parks? Do you mean spaces? Anyhow, YANBU. I'm surprised you don't already know that many people with mobility issues do not qualify for a blue badge, councils don't hand them out willy-nilly.

I probably would have rolled my eyes internally but I wouldnt have bothered confronting her or reporting her to customer services (what could they do about it?). Life is too short to get worked up about that sort of thing.

There was a thread on this recently and I've learned that according to MN, parent and child spaces are for anyone who fancies using them.

So next time you know not to say anything

Yes she was probably being cheeky to park there but she could have had medical issues/a hidden disability but no blue badge. And really, what does it matter to you, it’s not as if you had a baby in tow and were denied a spot because she took the last one. Deep breath, let it go, get on with your day.

YABU to call it "mum & baby" car park for starters.

You need to wind your neck in , the parent and child bags are not legally enforceable and you know nothing about this lady who you have harassed

There was a thread on this recently and I've learned that according to MN, parent and child spaces are for anyone who fancies using them

I know, it's crazy.

If she has a disability though, that's fair enough.

The parent and child spaces in our main supermarket are usually filled by older people and white van men. The supermarket is rarely busy so it's just as easy to park a bit further away if you need a wider space for getting car seats in and out. Nobody seems overly bothered.

If she has a disability though, that's fair enough.

But why should she have to justify herself to some busybody with nothing better to do with their time?

I said she should be parking in the disabled car park then if that's the case

You obviously don’t know how hard it is to get a blue badge.

It's none of your business where she parks.

YABU (and even more for making a thread about it)

Yes all these threads about mother and babies car parking spots are ridiculous. Actually thinking back to when my son was a baby I was out with a friend who also had a baby and she was outraged that someone had parked in one with older children. She was thinking about leaving a note but I don’t think she did. I was kind of indifferent because I didn’t drive so wasn’t as invested in the politics of car parks. This sounds incredibly bitchy but I have to say that when people have small lives, small problems seem a lot bigger. I wonder if people who care so much about these car parking places need to expand their worldview a bit and realise that having to bring children through a car park isn’t the end of the world. I would never confront anyone about it because a, I’m lucky to be able to walk and b, there are many hidden disabilities and c, it’s not your job to police complete strangers.

Wow I got so many stamps on my bingo card from this one thread!

Where still calls them mother and baby spaces?

You were self righteous. Next time go to Morrison's.